Germany Depth Study · 1919–1933
The Weimar Republic
How stable was Germany's first democracy? Explore the constitution, the crises of 1919–23, the Stresemann recovery and the collapse triggered by the Great Depression.
Examiner Warnings — Weimar Republic
Cambridge 0470 ER 2021–2025-
Constitution ≠ Republic — the Weimar Constitution (signed August 1919) is the set of rules; the Weimar Republic is the government and institution. Many weaker answers conflate the two. Be precise about which you are discussing.
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Proportional representation misconceptions — PR did not give all parties equal representation, nor did it hand extremists automatic control. Its key effect was fragile coalition governments, recourse to Article 48, and disproportionate influence for smaller parties. Explain the mechanism, not just the consequence.
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Spartacists vs Freikorps — left vs right — the Spartacist uprising (January 1919) came from the left; the Kapp Putsch (March 1920) came from the right. Many candidates confuse these. Be specific about who led each uprising and which direction they came from. Do not confuse the Kapp Putsch with the Munich Putsch (1923).
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Dawes Plan, not Young Plan, ended hyperinflation — the Dawes Plan (1924) restructured reparation payments and brought US loans that ended hyperinflation. The Young Plan (1929) reduced the total reparations bill — a separate event. Mixing them up is a common factual error that limits marks.
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Stresemann's 'golden years' were fragile — high-scoring answers note that the recovery of 1924–29 rested on American loans recalled after the Wall Street Crash (1929). Agriculture never fully recovered; unemployment remained elevated. The recovery was real but built on borrowed money — explain this fragility to reach Level 4–5.
Study resources for the Weimar Republic
Study Notes
Structured notes on the Weimar constitution, the crises of 1919–23, Stresemann's achievements and how the Depression destroyed the Republic.
Read notes →Flashcards
Key terms, events, dates and figures — flip to test yourself. Filter by category or shuffle the full deck.
Start cards →Practice Quiz
Exam-style multiple choice questions on the Weimar Republic, each with a detailed explanation of the correct answer.
Take quiz →Model Answers
Annotated model answers at Level 3, 4 and 5 — see exactly what top marks look like and why they score.
View answers →Content overview
What you need to know
The Constitution
- ✦ Proportional representation and its effects
- ✦ Article 48 — emergency powers
- ✦ Strengths of the constitution
- ✦ Weaknesses inherited from the Kaiser's system
Crises 1919–1923
- ✦ Spartacist uprising January 1919 (left)
- ✦ Kapp Putsch March 1920 (right)
- ✦ Hyperinflation crisis 1923
- ✦ Ruhr occupation and passive resistance
The Stresemann Era 1924–1929
- ✦ Rentenmark — ending hyperinflation
- ✦ Dawes Plan 1924 — US loans
- ✦ Locarno Pact 1925 and entry to League
- ✦ Fragility: loans, agriculture, unemployment
Depression & Collapse 1929–1933
- ✦ Wall Street Crash — US loans recalled
- ✦ 6 million unemployed by 1932
- ✦ Coalition governments break down
- ✦ Rise of extremist parties in elections