2. The
1923 crisis began when Germany
missed a reparations payment. This
situation spiralled out of control and once
again the German people were unhappy
and in financial difficulty, so uprisings
occurred throughout the country.
3. Summary
In
1923 the Weimar Republic nearly
collapsed. Put the events in the correct
order to see how the situation escalated
out of control.
4.
Germany missed a reparations payment
so
The French invaded the Ruhr
so
German workers went on strike
so
The government printed off paper money
so
There was hyperinflation
so
There were Communist and nationalist
rebellions
5. Hyperinflation
The sudden flood of paper money into the
economy, on top of the general strike - which
meant that no goods were manufactured, so
there was more money, chasing fewer goods
- combined with a weak economy ruined by
the war, all resulted in hyperinflation.
Prices ran out of control - eg a loaf of bread,
which cost 250 marks in January 1923 had
risen to 200,000 million marks in November
1923. German's currency became worthless.
6. There
are lots of
almost amusing
stories about
people's wages
and examples of
just how fast
inflation pushed
prices up during
the crisis:
7.
People collected
their wages in
suitcases.
One person, who left
their suitcase
unattended, found
that a thief had
stolen the suitcase
but not the money.
One boy, who was sent
to buy two bread buns,
stopped to play football
and by the time he got
to the shop, the price
had gone up, so he
could only afford to buy
one.
One father set out for
Berlin to buy a pair of
shoes. When he got
there, he could only
afford a cup of coffee
and the bus fare home.
8. But remember:
Some people made
fortunes during the
crisis. One man
borrowed money to
buy a herd of
cattle, but soon after
paid back his loan by
selling one cow.
People on wages were
safe, because they
renegotiated their
wages every day.
Pensioners on fixed
incomes and people
with savings were the
most badly hit. One
woman sold her
house with the
intention of using the
money to live on. A
few weeks later, the
money wasn't even
enough to buy a loaf
of bread.
9. Rebellions
Unsurprisingly, the hardships created by
hyperinflation led to many uprisings as groups
struggled to take power from Weimar.
A nationalist group called Black
Reichswehr rebelled in Berlin.
A fascist group called the Nazis attempted
a putsch in Munich.
Communists took over the governments of
Saxony and Thuringia
Communists also took over the Rhineland and
declared it independent.
10. Revision tip and answer
preparation
Revision tip
Remember that a question about how the events of
1923 affected the German people will need a very
different answer to a question about what
happened in Germany in 1923.
Answer preparation
As part of your revision, think about
the arguments and facts you would use to explain:
Why there was a crisis in Germany in 1923.
Why Germany suffer hyperinflation in 1923.
How hyperinflation affected Germany in 192
How close the Weimar Republic came to collapse in
1923.
11. 1. What started the crisis of 1923?
A rebellion in Berlin by a nationalist group
called Black Reichswehr.
A flood of paper money.
Germany missed a reparations payment.
2. Which part of Germany did the French invade?
Ruhr
Rhur
Wehr
3. Why did the French invade Germany in 1923?
As a protest against the general strike.
To take back Alsace-Lorraine.
To take payment in kind.
4. What is hyperinflation?
Too much paper money.
People getting their wages in suitcases.
Prices running out of control.
5. What was the price of a loaf of bread in
November 1923?
200,000 million marks
200 million marks
200,000 marks
6. When did the German government call off the 1923 general
strike?
February 1923
September 1923
November 1923
7. Which of these groups was not a right-wing terrorist group?
Black Reichswehr
The Red Army
National Socialists
8. Which of these statements is not true?
Communists took over the Ruhr and declared it
independent.
Communists took over Saxony and Thuringia in 1923.
Communists took over the Rhineland and declared it
independent.
9. Which of these statements is not true?
People on wages were relatively safe during the
hyperinflation.
Some people made huge amounts of money during the
hyperinflation.
People on fixed incomes were safe during the
hyperinflation.
10. Which of these statements is not true?
The crisis of 1923 was solved and the Weimar republic
prospered.
The crisis of 1923 brought down the Weimar government.
The crisis of 1923 made many German people long for a
"strong" government.
12. 1. What started the crisis of 1923?
A rebellion in Berlin by a nationalist group
called Black Reichswehr.
A flood of paper money.
Germany missed a reparations payment.
2. Which part of Germany did the French invade?
Ruhr
Rhur
Wehr
3. Why did the French invade Germany in 1923?
As a protest against the general strike.
To take back Alsace-Lorraine.
To take payment in kind.
4. What is hyperinflation?
Too much paper money.
People getting their wages in suitcases.
Prices running out of control.
5. What was the price of a loaf of bread in
November 1923?
200,000 million marks
200 million marks
200,000 marks
6. When did the German government call off the 1923 general
strike?
February 1923
September 1923
November 1923
7. Which of these groups was not a right-wing terrorist group?
Black Reichswehr
The Red Army
National Socialists
8. Which of these statements is not true?
Communists took over the Ruhr and declared it
independent.
Communists took over Saxony and Thuringia in 1923.
Communists took over the Rhineland and declared it
independent.
9. Which of these statements is not true?
People on wages were relatively safe during the
hyperinflation.
Some people made huge amounts of money during the
hyperinflation.
People on fixed incomes were safe during the
hyperinflation.
10. Which of these statements is not true?
The crisis of 1923 was solved and the Weimar republic
prospered.
The crisis of 1923 brought down the Weimar government.
The crisis of 1923 made many German people long for a
"strong" government.
