Germany 1919 – 1945: Introduction

Germany in 1919

Introduction

• This topics looks at the problems faced by Germany after World War I
• It describes the economic and political developments of Germany
•  and the characteristics of Nazi dictatorship
• as well as Hitler’s domestic and foreign policy
• Beware of the common error that students make when spelling German and Germany
• The country is known as Germany in English
• Citizens of the country are known as Germans (plural) and German (singular)

The Weimer Republic

• After the end of WWI, the central powers were defeated and Germany was given harsh terms in exchange for peace
• Germany had to put a democratic government in place
• The Kaiser during that time refused but Germany lost its ports in Kiel and this led to uprisings in the country
• The Kaiser later abandoned his throne and took refuge in Holland
• Fedrich Ebert a socialist then became the leader of Germany
• The first elections in the Weimer Republic were held in January 1919 and were won by Ebert

To access more topics go to the History Notes page.