1. Early Years Of The Weimar Republic Flashcards
Who was Prince Max of Baden?
-Born:10th July 1867 in Baden-Baden
-Member of house of Baden, son of prince Wilhelm Mark
-Served as Germany’s last imperial chancellor prior to the creation of the Weimar Republic in November 1918
-He looked for peace on Germany’s behalf at the end of WW1
-Immediately transformed the government into a parliamentary system
-In turn, proclaiming the abdication of Emperoro Wilhelm II
-Both events took place on November 9th 1918
Who was Kaiser Wilhelm II?
-Born 27th January 1859
-Was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia
-Reigned from 15th June 1888 until his abdication on November 9th 1918
-He strengthened Germany’s Empire by building a powerful navy
-However his erratic foreign policy led to WW1
-When the German effort collapsed in 1918 he was forced to abdicate and therefore ended the German Empire and the House of Hakerzollerns 300 year reign in Prussia and 500 year reign in Brandenbug
Who was Friedrich Ebert?
-Born on 4th February 1871
-German politician of social Democratic Party
-First president of Germany from 1919 until death in 1925
-Became leader of SPD in 1913
-Pivotal figure in German revolution in 1918-19
-His main policies were to bring peace in Germany and suppress the left
-Signed treaty of Versailles
-Used his emergency powers 136 times during his reign
What does Republic mean?
A system of government in which head of state, or president, is elected into office
What is an armistice?
An agreement to suspend fighting in order to allow a peace treaty to be negotiated
What happened with the abdication of the Kaiser?
-At 1:30pm on 9th November 1918, in a house adjacent to the German army headquarters in Spa, Belgium, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany was brought the news that his abdication had been announced in Berlin.
-He might well cry ‘treason’ but, by 5:00pm, he had been forced to accept what had happened.
-His companions advised him that his only hope of safety was to travel Northwards into Holland, which had remained neutral during the war which Germany had been waging on the Western Front
-His wife, the Empress Dona was still in Berlin and it was not until just before dawn on 10th November, that a convoy of 10 cars, including the kaiser’s, with it’s royal insignia removed, set off to the Dutch border at Eysen.
-Here, the royal party was kept waiting for six hours while the Dutch authorities decided what should happen to such an important visitor, but eventually they were allowed to continue by special train.
What happened on 11th November 1918?
An armistice was agreed in Europe
Why was the armistice agreed?
-By the end of September 1918 it had been clear to General Ludendorff and the German High command that Germany was on the brink of defeat.
-Although the allied armies had not yet entered German territory, German forces were in retreat along the Western front.
-Elsewhere in Europe, Germany’s allies were trying to negotiate peace terms. Ludendorff concluded that Germany’s only hope of avoiding a humiliating surrender was to ask the allies for an armistice.
-Us President Wilson’s fourteen points offered a possible basis for a negotiated peace settlement but Ludendorff understood that Germany’s autocratic political system was an obstacle to this. He, therefore, advocated a partial democratisation of the political system in Germany as a way of getting better peace terms from the allies.
What were President Wilson’s fourteen points?
Woodrow Wilson was an idealist and his fourteen points were devised as a means of dealing fairly with an aftermath of war. Some points, such as the return of Alsace-Lorraine to France, were quite specific and punitive towards Germany. However, there were also some General principles, such as the establishment of.a League of Nations to monitor future disputes and self determination, whereby different nations should rule themselves, together with General disarmament and Wilson’s determination to create a peace that would last and prevent another war.
What were the October Reforms?
In October, following the recommendations of Ludendorff, the Kaiser began a series of reforms that effectively ended his autocratic rule:
-He appointed Prince Max of Baden as new chancellor
-The chancellor was to be responsible to the Reichstag and he stabilised a new government based on the majority parties in the Reichstag, including the German social democratic (SPD)
-The armed forces were put under the control of government
These reforms were a major constitutional transformation in Germany but they did not come about as a result of popular pressure, nor because of pressure from the main democratic parties in the Reichstag. They amounted to a ‘revolution from above’ which was not only designed to save Germany from humiliation, but also to save the Kaiser’s rule.
What does constitutional mean?
An established set of principles governing a state
What was the peace note?
On October 3rd, Prince Max wrote to president Wilson asking for an armistice. It took nearly 3 weeks for Wilson to reply, largely because he was suspicious that the German High command was using the request for an armistice as a means of buying time to regroup and prepare for a new offensive. When Wilson replied, he demanded that Germany must evacuate all occupied territory, call an end to submarine warfare and fully democratise it’s political system. These terms, which effectively demanded a German surrender and the Kaiser’s abdication, were too much for Ludendorff to accept. He tried but failed to gather support for a last ditch military effort to resist, whereupon he resigned and fled to Sweden. The reforms had failed to achieve his objectives.
What was the impact of the peace note on the German people?
-The news that Prince Max’s government was asking for an armistice was a shattering blow to the morale of the German people and to their armed forces.
-The peace note was an admission that Germany had lost the war. This was the first occasion on which the German people had learned the truth about their country’s hopeless military situation.
-It undermined their respect for the Kaiser and his military and political leaders. Civilians who had borne the hardships of food shortages with fortitude were no longer prepared to show restraint
-Many soldiers and sailors lost respect for their officers.
-The Kaiser was increasingly seen as an obstacle to peace but he resolutely refused to abdicate. During a strike in Friedrichshafen on 22nd October, workers shouted ‘The Kaiser is a scoundrel’ and ‘Up with the German Republic’.
-On 28th October, when the German navy’s high command, in one last futile act of resistance to a humiliating peace, ordered ships from Wilhelmshaven to attack British ships in the English Channel, the crews of 2 cruisers refused to obey orders. This naval mutiny was the beginning of a much broader revolutionary movement.
What does mutiny mean?
A revolt by soldiers and sailors against their offences
What does Soviets mean?
The workers’ and soldiers’ councils established in the Russia revolution of 1917 (also known as the October revolution), when the Russian provisional Government was removed and the Bolsheviks, under the influence of Lenin, took control; the revolution was announced at the second congress of the Soviets, which were democratic bodies that existed in parallel to the provisional government
What happened in the November revolution of 1918 before 9th November?
-Unrest in the navy spread to the main German naval base at Kiel. On 3rd November 1918, sailors there mutinied against their officers and took control of the base. On the following day the revolt spread to the city, and workers’ and soldiers’ council were established, similar to the Soviets in Russia during the revolution in 1917.
-By November 6th there were workers and soldiers councils springing up spontaneously all over Germany. Radical socialists did not lead these revolts, although it might seem to outsiders as though Germany was on the verge of a communist revolution like Russia’s. In fact, most members of the councils were patriotic Germans who wanted the Kaiser to abdicate and a democratic republic to be established
-Once the authority of military officers, government officials and police had been successfully challenged, the collapse of the regime happened with extraordinary speed.
-On November 8th a republic was proclaimed in Bavaria and the Bavarian monarchy was deposed. According to historian William Carr this was the ‘decisive moment in the German revolution’. It was certainly a key stage in the establishment of an all-German republic, as it brought home to Prince Max that he had lost control of the situation, but the most important developments were happening in Berlin.
What happened from November 9th onwards in the November revolution of 1918?
-On November 9th 1918, the SPD called on workers in Berlin to join a general strike to force the Kaiser to abdicate. They also threatened to withdraw support from Prince Max’s government unless the Kaiser abdicated within 24 hours. Max knew he couldn’t continue to govern without the SPD, so when the Kaiser still refused, Max took matters into his own hands and, on 9th November he released a press statement claiming the Emperor had abdicated.
-This was a desperate move from Prince Max to keep some control over the situation, even though he had no constitutional authority to act in this way.
-On the same day, Prince Max resigned as Chancellor and handed the position to Friedrich Ebert, the leader of the SPD.
-At about the same time Philip Scheidemann, another leading figure in the SPD, stood on the Reichstag balcony and declared that the German Republic was now in existence.
-All of these events happened before the Kaiser had, in fact, abdicated. Later in the day, General Groener told the Kaiser that the army would no longer fight for him. At this point the Kaiser had lost control of the situation and had no choice but to abdicate, although he did not actually sign his abdication until after it had been announced.
What was the key chronology between September and November 1918?
29th September- Ludendorff called for armistice negotiations
30th September- Kaiser promised political reform
1st October- Prince Max of Baden formed new government
3rd October- Prince Max’s letter to president Wilson asking for an armistice
24th October- Wilson replied to Prince Max’s request
26th October- Ludendorff resigned and fled to Sweden
28th October- Kaiser introduced further reforms making the chancellor accountable to the Reichstag
30th October- Naval mutiny at Wilhelmshaven
3rd November- Naval mutiny spread to Kiel
8th November- Revolt in Bavaria led to declaration of Bavarian socialist republic
9th November- Declaration of a German Republic in Berlin and abdication of the Kaiser
10th November- Ebert-Groener pact
11th November- Armistice signed with allies
What was the struggle for power in 1918?
-Ebert was not a revolutionary. He believed in evolutionary change through winning a majority in parliamentary elections and then introducing reforms. But, even though he had been chosen by Prince Max as the new chancellor because he was leader of the majority party in the Reichstag, he had come to power through a revolutionary act.
-He was conscious of the fact that his government lacked legitimacy. He was, therefore, determined to establish a new constitution as quickly as possible. His priority, after agreeing the armistice with the allies on 11th November, was to organise elections for a constituent assembly.
-Prior to the creation of a new constitution, Ebert urged Germans to keep essential services running, to avoid street demonstrations and to maintain law and order. His problem was that his authority did not extend much beyond Berlin where disorder and violence were becoming the norm?
-After the armistice and the demobilisation of much in the army, bands of angry, disillusioned and workless ex-soldiers roamed the streets. Street demonstrations, strikes and armed clashes became regular occurrences.
What were the socialist groups and parties in 1918?
Spartacist league (later KPD), USPD, The social Democratic Party (SPD)
When was the spartacist league founded?
1916, by a more revolutionary minority group from the SPD. The name was changed to German communist party (KPD) in January 1919
Who were the leaders of the KPD?
Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg
What were the aims of the KPD?
They wanted Republican government controlled by workers and soldiers’ councils, welfare benefits, nationalism, workers’ control of major industries, disbanding of the army and creation of local workers’ militias. Opposed to First World War.
Who supported the KPD?
A throng of workers would often join them on their rallies and demonstrations in the streets
How many members did the KPD have?
5,000
When was the USPD founded?
1917, by a breakaway minority group from the left of the SPD
Who was the leader of the USPD?
Hugo Hasse
What were the aims of the USPD?
Wanted a republic with national Reichstag working with workers’ and soldiers’ councils, welfare improvements, nationalisation of industry, breaking up of large estates, reform of the army and creation of a national militia. Opposed to First World War.
Who supported the USPD?
Grew in strength during 1918 as war-weariness grew
How many members did the USPD have?
300,000
When was the SPD founded?
1875, as a Marxist socialist party committed to revolution
Who were the leaders of the SPD?
Friedrich Ebert and Philip Scheidemann
What were the aims of the SPD?
Wanted moderate socialist republic with democratic elections and basic personal freedoms, welfare improvements and gradual nationalism of industry. Wanted continuity and order supported Germany’s entry into First World War
Who supported the SPD?
Appealed largely to working-class voters and, in 1912, became the largest party in the Reichstag
How many members did the SPD have?
1 million
What does aristocracy mean?
The highest class in certain societies, typically compromising people of Noble birth holding hereditary titles and offices
What was the pressure from the left in 1918?
-Ebert’s efforts to contain the revolution were further threatened by pressure for more radical change from the left. He could not ignore the fact that the workers’ and solider’s councils, in which the USPD and the Spartacists had established a foothold, had made the running in the early stages of the revolution.
-They were not about to allow Ebert’s government to take the key decisions without any reference to them. On 22nd November an agreement was reached between the new government and the Berlin workers’ and soldiers’ councils whereby the government accepted that it only exercised power in the USPD, whose leaders were part of Ebert’s government, saw the councils as the true expression of revolutionary will of the people and the means by which the revolution could be extended.
-They believed that the autocratic system of government would not finally be abolished unless the aristocratic estates were broken up, the army, civil service and judiciary were democratised, and the key industries were nationalised under workers’ control
What was the pressure from the army in 1918?
-The survival of Ebert’s government depended on the support of the army. Most army officers came from aristocratic backgrounds, had been loyal to the Kaiser and were vigorously opposed to democracy. They had no wish to see Germany become a republic.
-In late 1918, however, the political situation in Germany was highly unstable and many officers believed that Germany faced the danger of a Bolshevik revolution, which would lead to civil war and possible occupation by allied forces.
-Their first concern was therefore to prevent the revolution from going any further.
-On 10th November, general groener telephoned Ebert to assure him that the army leadership would support the government. In return, Groener demanded that Ebert should resist the demands of the soldiers’ councils to democratise the army and defend Germany against communist revolution.
-Ebert assured Groener that the government was determined to resist further revolution and to uphold the existing command structure in the army. This agreement became known as the Ebert Groener pact.
What did the Ebert Groener pact mean for Germany?
-For Ebert the pact was a necessary and unavoidable device to ensure an orderly transition to the New Republic.
-For his critics on the left, however, it was an abject betrayal of the revolution.
-Whilst Ebert and his cabinet made preparations for elections to a constituent assembly, to be held in January 1919, the struggle for power continued.
How did the struggle for power continue after the Ebert Groener pact in December 1918-January 1919?
-On 6th December a spartacist demonstration in Berlin was fired on by soldiers, killing 16
-On 23-24 December a sailors’ revolt against the government in Berlin was put down by the army. In protest, the three USPD ministers in the government resigned
-On 6 January, the spartacists launched an armed revolt against the government in what became known as the January revolution, or the spartacist uprising. After a week of heavy fighting in Berlin, the revolt was crushed.
Who was Philipp Scheidemann?
He was a popular, long standing member of the SPD, having first joined in 1883. He became a Reichstag deputy in 1903. Although he supported Germany’s entry to war, he was in favour of a negotiated peace. On 9th November 1918, it was Scheidemann who announced the birth of the New republic even before the Kaiser had officially abdicated. He was chancellor of the first coalition government in the New republic from February to June 1919, when he resigned in protest against the harsh terms of the Versailles treaty.
What happened in the elections for the constituent assembly on 19 January 1919?
-Women were allowed to vote for the first time.
-The SPD secured the largest share of the vote and the largest number of seats in the assembly but they did not have an overall majority and would, therefore, have to compromise with other parties in order to establish a new constitution and govern the country.
Where did the assembly in 1919 meet? And why?
The assembly met in the small town of Weimar rather than Berlin, as the political situation in the capital was still unstable in the aftermath of the January revolution. This was how the new political order came to receive it’s name- the Weimar Republic.
What happened after the Weimar Republic was created?
-Ebert was elected by the assembly as the first president of the Republic and a new government, led by Philipp Scheidemann, was formed by the SPD in coalition with the centre and German Democratic parties.
-The workers’ and soldiers’ councils handed over their powers to the constituent assembly, which could then concentrate on the business of drawing up a new constitution.
-Representatives agreed it should represent a break in the autocratic constitution written up by Bismarck in 1871.
-It, therefore, began with the clear declaration that ‘political authority derived from the people’, and the constitution was designed to enshrine and guarantee the rights and powers of the people
What were the main non-socialist political parties in the new republic?
-Centre party
-German Democratic Party (DDP)
-German national people’s party (DNVP)
-German people’s party (DVP)
What was the centre party?
-Formed in 1870 to protect catholic interests in the mainly protestant German Reich
-Had strong support in the main Catholic areas of Bavaria and the Rhineland
-Supported a Democratic constitution
What was the German Democratic Party?
-A left leaning liberal party, based on the old progressive party
-Most support came from intellectuals and middle class
-Supported a Democratic constitution
What was the German National people’s party?
-A nationalist party,based on the old Conservative party
-Most support came from landowners and some small business owners
What was the German people’s party?
-A right leaning liberal party, based on the old national liberal party
-Most support came from upper-middle class and business interests
-Opposed to new republic but willing to participate in it’s governments
Strengths of the Weimar Constitution in 1919?
-It provided a wider right to vote than in countries such as Great Britain and France. Women were able to vote on the same terms as men and they were allowed to become deputies in the Reichstag and state parliaments.
-The system of proportional representation enabled even the smaller parties to win seats in the Reichstag and influence government decisions. The country was divided into 35 electoral districts, each with about 1 million voters.
-There was full democracy in local government as well as central government. Unlike in the second Empire, the largest state, Prussia, was not in a position to dominate the rest of Germany.
-The constitution also set out clearly the rights of the individual. The ‘Fundamental rights and duties of German citizens were guaranteed in the second part of the constitution. Statements included: ‘all Germans are equal before the law’; ‘personal liberty in inviolable’: ‘censorship is forbidden’; ‘the right of property is guaranteed’; and ‘all inhabitants enjoy full religous freedom’. It gave illegitimate children the same rights as legitimate ones and promised ‘economic freedom for the individual’.
-Referendums could be called for by the president, the Reichsrat, or by people’s request if a tenth of the electorate applied for one
