1. The Weimar republic • Germany lost WWI • Kaiser Wilhelm II (Emperor) of Germany fled the country • New government (Weimar Republic) was formed and Friedrich Ebert was elected the leader • Faced many problems: • Government was weak, many opponents • Lot of political parties (people disagreed) • Blamed for surrendering in WWI • Germans didn’t believed they lost the war and thought the fight should continue • Economic problems (depression, inflation)

2. The Weimar republic • Ruhr Crisis (1923) • Germany failed to pay reparations to France and Belgium • F and B invaded the Ruhr, an important German industrial area • German workers went on strike to protest, Germany printed money to give to the workers…this caused inflation

3. The Weimar republic • The Beer Hall Putsch • Hitler led a Nazi rebellion against the government in Munich, Germany • Police stopped the rebellion and killed 16 rebels • Hitler was arrested and spent 9 months in jail • Wrote “Mein Kampf” (“My Struggle”) which outlined his beliefs for the future of Germany

4. Ebert died in 1925, Paul von Hindenburg became new president of Germany • Gustav Stresemann becomes Foreign Minister of the Weimar Republic • Stresemann played a major role in helping Germany regain strength after WWI The Weimar republic 1924-1929

5. The Dawes and Young Plans • France agreed to leave the Ruhr • Two year freeze on reparation payments for Germany • Less money paid by Germany • America offered huge loans to Germany • These plans were huge successes for Germany and Stresemann The Weimar republic 1924-1929

6. The Locarno Treaty (1925) • Germany agreed to the borders created by the Treaty of Versailles • Meant that Germany would not try to expand their power into France • Germany was invited, and agreed to join the League of Nations • World optimism that peace could be maintained…hatred from WWI was over • France wasn’t convinced though…still distrusted Germany, began to build the Maginot Line The Weimar republic 1924-1929

7. Maginot Line-French fortifications on German border The Weimar republic 1924-1929

8. German Culture • Weimar republic allowed free expression of ideas • Poets, artists, musicians, architects and film stars flourished during this time • Growing gap between the rich and the poor ***What will this lead to*** The Weimar republic 1924-1929