Exam Practice: Weimar Republic and Its Challenges

Subject: History | Year: 10

Questions (Student Sheet)

Name: _________________________ Class/Set: ____________ Date: ____________

Q1 Identify one military restriction placed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles. [1 mark]

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Q2 Describe two features of the Weimar Constitution that led to political instability between 1919 and 1923. [4 marks]

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⇨ The data provided in the table below shows the exchange rate between the German Papiermark and the US Dollar during the peak of the economic crisis in 1923.

Month (1923)	Marks per 1 US Dollar
January	17,972
July	353,412
August	4,620,455
September	98,860,000
October	25,260,000,000
November	4,200,000,000,000

Q3 Using the table provided, calculate the approximate increase in the number of Marks required to buy one US Dollar between July and November 1923 and explain how this affected German workers. [4 marks]

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⇨ The following extract is taken from a contemporary account describing the activities of the Freikorps during the Spartacist Uprising in Berlin, January 1919.

"The streets were a battlefield. The Spartacists had seized the newspaper offices and called for a general strike, hoping to topple the new government before it could even begin. President Ebert had little choice but to turn to us. We were soldiers with no war left to fight, but we still had our weapons and our hatred for the Bolsheviks. We cleared the buildings floor by floor. By the time the 'Red' threat was neutralised, the leaders Liebknecht and Luxemburg were dead, and the Republic was saved, though it had been baptised in blood."

Q4 Explain why the Weimar Government was forced to rely on the Freikorps to end the Spartacist Uprising. [6 marks]

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⇨ The following source is an extract from a German nationalist newspaper, Deutsche Zeitung, published on the day the Treaty of Versailles was signed, 28 June 1919.

"The disgraceful Treaty is being signed today. Do not forget it! We will never stop until we win back everything we have lost. The German people will move forward again to regain their place among the nations. Then, there will be vengeance for the shame of 1919. Today, the Republic has signed its own death warrant by submitting to this Diktat. The 'November Criminals' have betrayed the frontline soldiers who were never defeated on the battlefield."

Q5 Analyse the reasons why many Germans viewed the Treaty of Versailles as a 'Diktat' and a betrayal of the army. [8 marks]

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Q6 Evaluate the extent to which the Weimar Republic had overcome its challenges by the end of 1923. [12 marks]

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Total Marks: _______ / 35

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⚠ TEACHER KEY / MARK SCHEME (DO NOT PRINT FOR STUDENTS)

Mark Scheme & Model Answers

Q1 Guidance

• 1 Mark: (AO1) Identifies a valid military restriction (e.g., army limited to 100,000 men, no tanks, no air force, navy limited, or Rhineland demilitarised).

Key Content Points / Arguments (Correction Checklist):

• Army limited to 100,000 men.
• No conscription allowed.
• No submarines or aeroplanes.

Model Answer: "The German army was limited to a maximum of 100,000 soldiers."

Q2 Guidance

• 2 Marks: (AO1) Identifies two features (e.g., Article 48, Proportional Representation).
• 2 Marks: (AO2) Describes how each led to instability (e.g., weak coalitions, potential for dictatorship).

Key Content Points / Arguments (Correction Checklist):

• Proportional Representation: Resulted in many small parties and weak coalition governments that could not agree.
• Article 48: Allowed the President to bypass the Reichstag and rule by decree, creating a "backdoor" to dictatorship.

Model Answer: "One feature was Proportional Representation, which meant many small parties gained seats, making it hard to form a stable majority. Another feature was Article 48, which allowed the President to rule by decree in an emergency, undermining parliamentary democracy."

Q3 Guidance

• 1 Mark: (AO2) Calculation of the massive increase (from approx. 353,000 to 4.2 trillion).
• 3 Marks: (AO2) Explanation of the impact on workers (e.g., wages becoming worthless, carrying money in wheelbarrows, loss of savings).

Key Content Points / Arguments (Correction Checklist):

• Calculation: Recognition of the exponential leap from thousands to trillions.
• Impact: Prices rose hourly; workers were paid twice a day; savings were wiped out.

Model Answer: "The exchange rate rose from 353,412 Marks in July to 4,200,000,000,000 Marks by November. This hyperinflation meant workers' wages became worthless almost instantly. Many had to be paid twice a day and rush to the shops before prices rose again, causing widespread poverty and starvation."

Q4 Guidance

• 2 Marks: (AO1) Knowledge of the army's weakness post-WWI.
• 4 Marks: (AO2) Explanation of the political necessity (Ebert-Groener Pact, fear of Communism).

Key Content Points / Arguments (Correction Checklist):

• The official army was too small and demoralised to stop a full-scale revolution.
• President Ebert made a pact with General Groener to gain military support.
• The Freikorps were anti-communist ex-soldiers willing to use extreme violence.

Model Answer: "The government relied on the Freikorps because the regular army was too weak and small to stop the Spartacists. Ebert made a deal with the army (the Ebert-Groener Pact) to ensure the Republic's survival. The Freikorps were motivated by a hatred of Communism and provided the brutal force necessary to crush the uprising when the police could not."

Q5 Guidance

• 3 Marks: (AO1) Knowledge of the 'Stab in the Back' (Dolchstoß) myth and Treaty terms.
• 5 Marks: (AO3) Analysis of the term 'Diktat' (forced peace) and the 'November Criminals'.

Key Content Points / Arguments (Correction Checklist):

• Diktat: Germany was not allowed to negotiate the terms; it was a dictated peace.
• Betrayal: The army felt they had not been defeated but were betrayed by politicians at home.
• War Guilt (Article 231): Caused deep resentment as it forced Germany to accept total blame.

Model Answer: "Germans called it a 'Diktat' because they were excluded from the negotiations and forced to sign under threat of invasion. The source highlights the 'November Criminals,' a term used by nationalists to describe the politicians who signed the Armistice. They believed in the 'Stab in the Back' myth—that the army was still capable of fighting but was betrayed by strikes and revolution at home. The loss of land and Article 231 (War Guilt) reinforced this sense of humiliation and betrayal."

Q6 Guidance

• 4 Marks: (AO1) Knowledge of 1923 events (Occupation of the Ruhr, Hyperinflation, Munich Putsch).
• 4 Marks: (AO2) Analysis of Stresemann’s early actions (Rentenmark, ending passive resistance).
• 4 Marks: (AO3) Evaluation of stability (Republic survived but remained fragile).

Key Content Points / Arguments (Correction Checklist):

• Challenges: Hyperinflation wiped out the middle class; the Munich Putsch showed right-wing threat.
• Successes: Stresemann introduced the Rentenmark; the Munich Putsch failed; the Great Coalition was formed.
• Evaluation: While the immediate crises of 1923 were halted, deep-seated resentment toward the Republic remained.

Model Answer: "By the end of 1923, the Republic had survived its most dangerous year, but it was not fully stable. Stresemann’s introduction of the Rentenmark ended hyperinflation, and the failure of Hitler’s Munich Putsch showed that the government could withstand armed threats. However, the middle class never forgave the government for losing their savings. While the economy began to stabilise, the 'November Criminals' narrative and the humiliation of the Ruhr occupation remained powerful tools for extremists. Therefore, the Republic had overcome the immediate threat of collapse, but the underlying political resentment was left unresolved."

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⚠ TEACHER’S GUIDANCE

• 🎯 Pedagogical Opportunity: This resource is designed to mirror the structure of a GCSE History Paper 1 (Period Study). Use Q3 to practice numeracy skills within a historical context, as this is a frequent requirement in Edexcel and AQA specifications.
• ⚠️ Safety & Nuance Check: When discussing the Freikorps and political violence, ensure students understand the distinction between the official state military and paramilitary groups to avoid confusion regarding the Weimar Constitution’s legal frameworks.
• 💡 Teaching Tip: For Q6, encourage students to use the "P.E.E.L." (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link) structure to ensure they are evaluating "to what extent" rather than just describing events.
• 🔍 Common Misconception: Students often believe the Weimar Republic failed in 1923. Emphasise that this was actually a period of resilience where the Republic proved it could survive multiple simultaneous crises.