Year

Event

1918Start of the German Revolution

End of World War One

1919

Spartacist Revolt

German Workers’ Party formed

Weimar Republic established

Treaty of Versailles signed

1920Kapp Putsch fails

Nazi Party formed

1923France/Belgium occupy the Ruhr

Munich Putsch fails

Hyperinflation in Germany

Year

Event

1924 Hitler writes ‘Mein Kampf’

1925 SS (Schutzstaffel) formed

1926 Hitler Youth formed

1927 Start of Nuremburg rallies

1928 Hitler reorganises Nazi Party

1929 Global depression

1930 German election (Nazis, 18.3%)

1932 German election (Nazis, 37.4%)

1933 Hitler becomes German Chancellor

1918

Start of the German Revolution

At the end of World War One, many Germans followed

Russia and led a revolution, including the Navy’s Kiel

Mutiny.

It lead to the Kaiser abdicating and Germany

becoming a republic.

1918

End of World War One

The First World War raged from 1914-1918. It finally

ended when Germany surrendered.

The war ended on 11 November, 1918. Many Germans were shocked at

their surrender.

1919

Spartacist Revolt

The Spartacist Revolt was a general strike and series of violent protests aimed at securing left-

wing revolution. Its failure marked the end

of the German Revolution.

1919

DAP formed

The Germans Workers’ Party (in German

shortened to DAP) was a political party aimed at securing a stronger

Germany. It was founded by Anton

Drexler.

1919

Weimar Republic established

A new democratic government system was

established in Germany to replace imperial

government. It was named after the German city in

which it was agreed; Weimar.

1919

Treaty of Versailles signed

Although WW1 ended in 1918, the legal agreement

was not signed until 28 June 1919.

The Treaty forced Germany to give up land, most of its

armed forces and pay reparations too.

1920

Kapp Putsch fails

The putsch was a violent attempt to overthrow the

democratic Weimar Government. It failed when

most Germans joined a general strike in protest.

1920

Nazi Party formed

The German Workers’ Party changed its name to the

National Socialist German Workers’ Party

(NSDAP, or Nazi). One of its new members was Adolf

Hitler.

1923

France/Belgium invade Ruhr

Germany was not paying back the reparations

agreed under the Treaty of Versailles. France and

Belgium marched into the Ruhr – Germany’s industrial

zone – to control and get their money that way.

1923

Munich Putsch fails

Hitler tried to lead a violent overthrow of the German government, starting in a Munch Beer Hall. Hitler

was put on trial and sent to prison for nine months.

The trial made Hitler famous across Germany.

1923

Hyperinflation starts

Inflation had been increasing in Germany

since 1921 due to the cost of reparations. In 1923 it massively shot, leading to millions of people losing

their savings and becoming destitute.

1924

Hitler writes ’Mein Kampf’

Hitler wrote a book when in prison called ‘Mein Kampf’

(‘My Struggle’). It was about his life and plans for Germany in the future. It eventually became a best

selling book.

1925

SS formed

The Schutzstaffel (or SS) was the guard unit of the Nazi Party. It was made of

volunteers and also officially their job was to

protect the party, they were in fact hugely violent.

1926

Hitler Youth formed

The Hitler Youth was the section of the Nazi Party

that young men joined. It was effectively a training ground for future Nazi

members, SS guards and, eventually, soldiers.

1927

Start of Nuremburg rallies

From 1923, the Nazi Party held huge rallies to

promote its message. From 1927 onwards they were all held in the city of Nuremburg. Thousands of people would attend to

hear Hitler speak.

1924-1928

Hitler reorganises Nazi Party

Between 1924-1928, Hitler made major changes to the way that the Nazi Party was run. As well as the SS and

Nazi Youth, he hired Joseph Goebbels to work on propaganda and won

business backing too.

1929

Global depression

The US Stock Market Crash of 1929 caused

massive financial problems all across the globe. Millions became unemployed, lost their

savings and were forced to live in poverty.

1930

German elections

The 1930 elections showed that support for

the Nazi Party was growing. They secured 18.3% of all the votes, making them a major

power in the Reichstag, the German Parliament.

1932

German elections

The Nazis were even more successful at this election.

They were the biggest single party, gaining 37.4%

of the votes. Hitler was offered the chance to be

Vice-Chancellor but declined.

1933

Hitler becomes Chancellor

Hitler’s power and the actions of other political parties led to German President, Paul von

Hindenburg appointing the Nazi leader as

German Chancellor, giving him huge powers.