HIST 295 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2-3: Walther Rathenau, Matthias Erzberger, Ukrainian War Of Independence
13 Dec 2017
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Jews in the russian empire: 5(cid:882)(cid:882)k jews served in the tsar"s armies in wwi. The jews were viewed as (cid:498)bolsheviks(cid:499) and we"re beaten. (cid:883) million jews left homeless. Rathenau (jew) were murdered by germans in outrage: the political terror coincided with the failing economy. The government financed much of the war by selling bonds. In order to meet the bonds they printed off more money and caused massive inflation. This led to strikes and a huge decrease in production. In 1914 ratio of german money to american was 4. 2 to 1. In 1923 it was 4. 2 trillion to 1. This hyperinflation destroyed the middle class, skyrocketed food prices, and triggered a huge increase in crime. The stab in the back and the jews: further poisoned by the political atmosphere, many believed the war was lost by those who worked on the home front mainly the jews.
