Worksheet for the decision-making game at www.activehistory.co.

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The Early Years of the Weimar Republic: Worksheet

Introduction
In 1918, Germany got rid of the Kaiser and became a democratic Republic.
Berlin was in a state of turmoil so the government moved the capital city to Weimar.
The new Weimar Republic lasted until 1933, when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor. He
withdrew democracy and turned Germany into a Nazi dictatorship.

The Big Question: Why did German democracy give way to Nazi dictatorship?
When democracy gave way to dictatorship in the cultured, civilised European nation of Germany,
the world was shocked. What had gone wrong? Could it happen again?

Historians investigate this issue by looking at three related questions:

Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the outset?
Did the Republic fail due to its own mistakes, or due to outside pressures?
Did the Republic have any positive achievements?

Task 1: Knowledge and Understanding

Complete the worksheet (overleaf) by playing the computer simulation at www.activehistory.co.uk.

Extension Task
Using www.classtools.net, produce a Venn Diagram entitled How three key documents damaged
Weimar. The circles should be used to compare the Armistice, Versailles and the Constitution.
Try to acknowledge how each one had good points as well as bad.

Task 2: Reflection and Analysis

Choose one or more of the following questions to answer.
For (a) style questions, aim to provide at least 5 facts.
For (b) questions, aim to provide at least 3 reasons.
For (c) questions, aim to provide at least 2 points of view with a brief conclusion.
TIP: Produce your answer in the form of a labelled mindmap with 5, 3 or 2 main branches as
appropriate. Develop each branch with further details and images to share with the class. You
could try using one of the templates at www.classtools.net to produce your answer (e.g.
Fishbone, Target, Diamond9, Hamburger).

1. The Armistice and the Treaty of Versailles

a. How was the reputation of the Weimar Republic damaged by signing the Armistice of 1918?
b. Why did the Weimar Republic sign an Armistice with the Allies in 1918?
c. Was the Treaty of Versailles fair on Germany?

2. The Constitution
a. What were the main features of the Weimar Constitution?
b. Why did Germany become a Republic at the end of World War One?
c. Was the Constitution a weakness or a strength of the Republic?

3. Revolts and Rebellions

a. Who were the Spartakists?
b. Why were there so many uprisings in Germany in the years 1919-22?
c. How similar were the Spartacist and Freikorps rebellions?

Task 3: Assessment
Your teacher may wish to give you a factual test on the information you have learned.
 Worksheet for the decision-making game at www.activehistory.co.uk / 2

The Early Years of the Weimar Republic: Worksheet

1. Standard Task: Complete this worksheet as you progress through the simulation.
2. Extension Task: You may also wish to keep a definitions list of key concepts mentioned in the
game (highlighted in red) and key people (highlighted in purple).

1a. Why did the Republic sign an armistice Document 1: 1b. How was the reputation of the Republic
in 1918? The Armistice affected by signing the armistice?
Military Political Social A betrayal of November Stab in the Berlin >
Germany? Criminals Back Weimar

Ebert

Document 2: 2a. Good Points 2b. Bad Points 4a. Reaction 4b. Reaction Document 3:
The of Sailors of politicians The Treaty of
Constitution Versailles
A betrayal of the A betrayal of the
workers? soldiers?
Article 48:
PR
(Proportional
Representation
):

3. Result 1: Left-Wing Rebellion 5. Result 2: Right-Wing Rebellion

Rosa Luxemburg Wolfgang Kapp

Name of group

Names of leaders
3a 5a
What do they want?

What do they do?

How are they defeated?

3b 5b
What damage do they
do to the Republic?