Why was the early Weimar Republic, 1919 to 1923, so unstable?
The founding of the Weimar Republic and the problems it faced from 1919 to 1923: the Treaty of Versailles and the 'stab in the back', political extremism from left and right (the Spartacist uprising, the Kapp Putsch), the 1923 crisis of the Ruhr occupation and hyperinflation.
A focused answer on the unstable early years of the Weimar Republic 1919 to 1923, covering the Treaty of Versailles and the stab in the back, extremism from left and right, and the 1923 crisis of the Ruhr and hyperinflation.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point covers the unstable early years of the Weimar Republic, 1919 to 1923. You need to explain the founding of the Republic and its problems: the Treaty of Versailles and the "stab in the back", political extremism from left and right (the Spartacist uprising, the Kapp Putsch), and the 1923 crisis of the Ruhr occupation and hyperinflation. As a Unit 2 depth study, weigh why the Republic was so fragile.
The founding of the Republic and Versailles
Extremism from left and right
The 1923 crisis: the Ruhr
Hyperinflation
Try this
Q1. What was the "stab in the back" myth? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. The belief that the German army had not really lost the First World War but had been betrayed by the politicians (the "November Criminals") who signed the armistice and the Treaty of Versailles.
Q2. Explain how the Ruhr occupation led to hyperinflation. [Short explanation]
- Cue. When France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr over reparations, German workers used passive resistance; to pay the strikers and its debts the government printed money, triggering hyperinflation that wiped out savings by late 1923.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC Wales (Unit 2)4 marksDescribe two features of the 1923 crisis in Germany.Show worked answer →
The describe question (AO1). Reward two distinct, developed features, each with one supporting detail.
Feature one. When Germany fell behind on reparations, French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr in January 1923 to seize goods, and the German workers responded with passive resistance.
Feature two. To pay the strikers the government printed money, causing hyperinflation, so that by November 1923 prices were rising so fast that money became almost worthless and savings were wiped out.
Top marks. Two distinct features, each developed with precise detail.
WJEC Wales (Unit 2)8 marksExplain why the Weimar Republic was unstable between 1919 and 1923.Show worked answer →
The explain question (AO1 and AO2). Reward a developed analysis of reasons, each supported and linked to the outcome.
Reason one. The Treaty of Versailles was deeply resented: the war guilt clause, reparations and territorial losses led nationalists to blame the new government as the "November Criminals" who had "stabbed Germany in the back".
Reason two. Political extremism threatened the Republic from both sides: the left-wing Spartacist uprising (1919) and the right-wing Kapp Putsch (1920) both tried to overthrow it.
Reason three. The 1923 crisis of the Ruhr occupation and hyperinflation pushed the Republic to the brink of collapse.
Top band. Link each reason to the instability, and judge which was most damaging.
Related dot points
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Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE History (Wales) specification (3100) — WJEC (2017)