Europe 1914

Europe in 1919Europe in 1919

The Weimar Republic

• Germany: largest experiment in liberal government in inter-war years (except Soviets)

• Constitution enacted in city of Wiemar - Germans associate government with their non-defeat - seen as imposed government - most wanted Kaiser Wilhelm back

• Constitution allowed small parties in Reichstag (parliament) - gave president dictatorial powers in emergency.

Continued

• The republic also lacked broad popular support.–It was viewed as the government that had

saddled Germany with the humiliation of the Versailles treaty.–In the early 20s there were a number of

violent uprisings, but they failed–There was massive inflation, due to the

reparations imposed by the allies.

The German Government: 1919-1920The German Government: 1919-1920

Weimar Germany: Political Representation

[1920-1933]

Weimar Germany: Political Representation

[1920-1933]

Political Parties in the Reichstag

May 1924

Dec. 1924

May1928

Sep.1930

July1932

Nov.1932

Mar.1933

Communist Party (KPD)

62 45 54 77 89 100 81

Social Democratic Party (SDP)

100 131 153 143 133 121 120

Catholic Centre Party (BVP)

81 88 78 87 97 90 93

Nationalist Party (DNVP)

95 103 73 41 37 52 52

Nazi Party (NSDAP)

32 14 12 107 230 196 288

Other Parties

102 112 121 122 22 35 23

From the German Point of ViewFrom the German Point of View Lost—but not forgotten country.

Into the heart You are to dig yourself these words as into stone: Which we have lost may not be truly lost!

The “Stabbed-in-the-Back” TheoryThe “Stabbed-in-the-Back” Theory

Disgruntled German WWI veteransDisgruntled German WWI veterans

German “Revolutions” [1918]German “Revolutions” [1918]

German FreikorpsGerman Freikorps

• German officers private armies

Sparticist PosterSparticist Poster

• Sparticist was a left-wing Marxist revolutionary movement organized in Germany during World War I

The Spartacist LeagueThe Spartacist League

Rosa Luxemburg[1870-1919]

murdered by the Freikorps

Rosa Luxemburg[1870-1919]

murdered by the Freikorps

The French in the Ruhr: 1923

The French in the Ruhr: 1923

• In January 1923 French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr coalfields in order to enforce German payment of reparations stemming from the First World War. The Germans, unable to resist militarily, responded with acts of civil disobedience, strikes and riots; in turn, these actions were met with measures of repression by the occupying forces.

The French Occupation of the RuhrThe French Occupation of the Ruhr

Weimar Germany• After French invade Ruhr Valley and stop

German industry, economy collapses

• Rates of German mark to U.S. dollar conversion:– 1914 - 4 to 1

– 1921 - 64 to 1

– 1923 - 800million to 1

• Savings wiped out, but debts easy to pay.

The German MarkThe German Mark

The Beer Hall Putsch• Putsch - attempt coup against the government• November 8, 1923 - crowd gathers at the

Burgerbräukeller to hear Erich von Ludendorff, prominent WWI General, speak - Hitler takes over

• Hitler and Ludendorff arrested & tried for treason - both jailed - Hitler becomes national figure during trial.

The Beer Hall Putsch: 1923The Beer Hall Putsch: 1923

Hitler in Landesberg PrisonHitler in Landesberg Prison

Hitler’s Plan

• Writes Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in jail - outlines political views including plan for Germans to have “lebensraum” (living space) by conquering surrounding areas

• Seeks legal path to power.

Gustav Stresemann

• Leader until death in 1929

• Stops putsches of Hitler and communists

• Introduces new currency

• Dawes & Young Plan - restructures German debt.

The Dawes Plan (1924)The Dawes Plan (1924)

1925 Locarno Agreements

• Revision of Versailles Treaty - stabilized western border - France leaves Ruhr and Rhineland - eastern border un-addressed

• Italy and Britain vow help to the invaded

• Allies giving control of German affairs

• Germany invited to join League of Nations

• 1928 - Kellogg-Briand Pact signed - outlawed war as an instrument of foreign policy.

Locarno Pact: 1925Locarno Pact: 1925

Locarno Pact: 1925Locarno Pact: 1925

GustaveStresemann(Ger.)

GustaveStresemann(Ger.)Aristide

Briand(Fr.)

AristideBriand

(Fr.)

Austin Chamberlain (Br.)Austin Chamberlain (Br.)

Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919.

Germany signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by arbitration only.

Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919.

Germany signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by arbitration only.

Kellogg-Briand Pact: 1928Kellogg-Briand Pact: 1928

15 nations committed to outlawing aggression and war for settling disputes.

Problem no way of enforcement.

15 nations committed to outlawing aggression and war for settling disputes.

Problem no way of enforcement.

Great Britain After the War• Economic Confusion

– The new government in 1919 was a Liberal-Conservative coalition.– The economy was depressed throughout the 1920s.– After 1922 government welfare was the normal means of income for thousands

of British families• First Labour Government

– In 1923 Labour took over. Though Socialistic in outlook, they were non-revolutionary.

– This was the beginning of the end for the Liberal party.• The General Strike of 1926

– In 1924 Labour fell, and the Conservatives took power again.– In order to make their industry internationally competitive, British management

attempted to cut wages.– In 1926 coal miners went on strike, followed by sympathetic workers in other

industries.– In the end, they capitulated, but there was continued unrest.

• The Empire Crumbled– In the 1920s India gained independence.– In 1921, most of Ireland gained independence.

Ramsay MacDonald: 1924, 1929Ramsay MacDonald: 1924, 1929

Labour PartyLabour Party

• Labour Party takes over under Ramsay McDonald – Liberal Party sides with Labour

Breakup of the British Empire• Already formed commonwealth with Canada and

Australia - not completely independent - maintain loyalty to mother country

• Gave Ireland (except northern counties) same status after Irish Easter Rebellion of 1916 - Brits put down, execute leaders

• 1918 Sinn Fein elects member to Parliament, government refuses to seat them

• Guerilla war breaks out.

Irish Independence• Eamon de Valera and Michael

Collins lead new rebellion - de Valera rises to president of Ireland, Collins killed by IRA

• 1921 British grant limited independence in Commonwealth for allegiance to crown

1926 General Strike1926 General Strike

Trades Disputes Act (1927):

All general or sympathy strikes were illegal.

It forbade unions from raising money for political purposes.

Trades Disputes Act (1927):

All general or sympathy strikes were illegal.

It forbade unions from raising money for political purposes.

France

• Legislature becomes conservative

• Georges Clemenceau driven from power for being too lenient on Germans at Versailles

• Rapid turnover in leadership after WWI.

• France seeks alliances to replace Russia, Britain

Raymond Poincaré & the Conservative Right

• He sent French troops into the Ruhr in 1923.

• Pushed for large-scale infrastructure reconstruction programs [counting on German reparations to pay for them].

• After 1926-29:

• New taxes & tightened tax collections.

• Drastic decline in govt. spending that stabilized the franc [the threat of runaway inflation was avoided!]

Edouard Herriot & the

French Socialists

• 1924-1926.

• Progressive social reform.

• Spoke for the lower classes, small businessmen, and farmers.

• Committed to private enterprise and private property.

• Fervently anti-clerical.

Themes in Early Modern ArtThemes in Early Modern Art

1. Uncertainty/insecurity.

2. Disillusionment.

3. The subconscious.

4. Overt sexuality.

5. Violence & savagery.

George Grosz

Grey Day

(1921)

George Grosz

Grey Day

(1921)

DaDa

George Grosz

The Pillars of Society

(1926)

George Grosz

The Pillars of Society

(1926)

DaDa

Picasso Studio with Plaster Head [1925]Picasso Studio with Plaster Head [1925]

Cubism

Georges Braque Still Life LeJeur [1929]Georges Braque Still Life LeJeur [1929]

Cubism

European Debts to the United StatesEuropean Debts to the United States

Stock Market Crash

• Americans take money out of European investments and put them into booming stock market in 1928

• stock market crashes in 1929 as a result of virtually unregulated financial speculation

• people cannot pay back loans to banks and many banks collapse

• little money invested in Europe

The Great Depression [1929-1941]The Great Depression [1929-1941]

Paris in 1930Paris in 1930

London in 1930London in 1930

German Unemployment: 1929-1938German Unemployment: 1929-1938

The End of Reparations

• As the German economy worsens, American president Herbert Hoover announces a one-year moratorium on all payments of international debts

• the Lausanne Conference in 1932 effectively ends reparations

The Great Depression [1929-1941]The Great Depression [1929-1941]

Decrease in World Trade: 1929-1932Decrease in World Trade: 1929-1932

German Election Results in 1933German Election Results in 1933

The “New Napoleons?”The “New Napoleons?”