1. German Revolution and the creation of the Weimar Republic Flashcards
What does Burgfreiden mean?
peace in fortress, where in 1914 all Germans were united in the war effort
Why did the traditional left/right rivals support the war?
They and ordinary Germans saw it as defending Russian War effort
Why did Ludendorff hand power to the civilian government in September 1918?
So that the armistice would be kinder on the Germany, and that the army would not be blamed for ‘giving up’ the war
When did Germany surrender World War One?
November 1919
What did the original surrender agreement agree?
That Germany would give up land, hand over military equipment and return the prisoners-of-war
What is Dolchstoss
the ‘stabbed in the back’ myth created and spread by Ludendorff
How was the Kiel Mutiny triggered?
By secret German Navy plans to launch a final suicidal attack upon British Navy as the war reached its conclusion in October 1918
What led to an economic depression?
Treaty of Versailles reparations as well as the devastated war-time infrastructure
Why was the WR named after Weimar?
Because it was signed in the town of Weimar as Berlin itself was too dangerous to form a government
Why was the WR doomed from the beginning?
It was set up by the people that were seen to have stabbed Germany in the back, it was highly restricted by the Treaty of Versailles, it was riddled by party fractions
Who were the November Criminals?
The politicians who had signed the armistice in November 1918 and gave up the war, Stabbing Germany in the back
What was the Treaty of Brest Litovsk?
This was the treaty signed by the new Bolshevik government that ended Russias participation in the war.
Why did the Americans join the war?
Germany was plotting with Mexico, and Germany had broken its promise to withhold U -boats and sank the HMS Luisitania which held 1,000 Americans
What did the Treaty of Brest Litovsk contain?
It meant that Russia lost a proportion of their territories , enclosing agricultural land and a third of its population, they also had to pay 3 billion roubles in reperation costs.
How did Litovsk effect Germany when it came to Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points?
The Germans did not accept these because they thought they could still negotiate like the treaty of Brest litovsk
Who signed the Treaty of Versailles?
The foreign minister Muller and the minister of the justice bell
What does the term ‘revolution from above’ refer to?
This is the idea that the main reason for changes in Germany came from the upper society. Such as Ludendorff when he surrendered his power to the civilian government and then encouraged Kaiser Willhelm to do the same
Who led the civilian government in October 1918
Prince Max von Baden
What reforms changed Germany in October 1918?
Prince Max von Baden’s October reforms
What did the October Reforms include?
Bringing members of the largest party in the Reichstag The Social Democrats into government.
When was the turnip winter?
the Winter of 1916-1917 when Germany was suffering major food shortages due to the war.
What does the term ‘revolution from below’ refer to?
This is the idea that the changes that occurred after the war in 1918 occurred because of the revolts of the lower classes. Such as the sailors at Kiel and Willhelmshaven
Why did the sailors revolts effect the lower classes?
They led to the beginning of the workers’, sailors’ and soldiers’, who challenged the rights of later governments.
Why did the Kaiser abdicate power?
The country was on the verge of a violent revolution
Who also gave up power at the same time as the Kaiser?
Prince Max von Baden, handed the chancellorship to Ebert a moderate socialist
What was the most important decision made by Ebert in his first few weeks of being chancellor?
That Germany would maintain a “moderate course”
What was the deal that was agreed by Ebert and Groener?
That is exchange for the governments promise not to touch the authority of the German Generals, the forces under his control would protect the new government
What is ZAG?
Zentralarbeitsgemeinschaft of ‘central working committee’ which set up by trade unions and industrialists to work together on the social issues that Germany faced after the war.
What did ZAG achieve?
Various changes that improved German workers’ rights which industrialists hoped would stop further revolution such as
- maximum eight hour day
- negotiation rights
- binding arbitration on disputes
Who were the Spartacists?
The Spartacist Revolt was a left-wing uprising designed to establish a communist state in Germany and destroy the Weimar Republic. It was led by the Spartacist League - a group within the Communist Party led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht
When was the Spartacist uprising ?
It occurred in January 1919 in Berlin
Who were the Freikorps?
This was a general name for about 200 paramilitary groups, largely recruited from demobilised soliders and officers, they were dominated by right-wing nationalists
Why were the Freikorps important to the government?
The group helped the new government forcibly suppress left-wing revolts even though many of them were hostile to the Weimar regime
What happened to the Freikorps?
Many members later joined Hitler’s SA
What was the Kapp Putsch?
This was the first major crisis from the right-wing and occurred in March 1920
Why did the Kapp Putsch occur?
The socialist government, along the lines of the Treaty of versailles, disbanded 12,000 men from the Freikorps. The Generals refused and along with Wolfgang Kapp made plans to overthrow the Socialist government
Who was Wolfgang Kapp?
He was the leader of the fatherland party and mastermind behind the Kapp putsch
Why did the government flee Berlin of the 12th March ?
They were attacked by the Kapp Putsch and the army point blank refused to support the government.
What was the main reason why the Kapp Putsch failed?
Kapp failed to get the support from most conservatives
What did the left organise to reclaim Berlin?
A General Strike, shutting down every mode of entertainment, transport and day to day activities.
How long did it take before the Kapp government fell?
4 days
Why was the aftermath of the KP considered more violent?
Several battles occurred between the workers and the armies in areas such as the Ruhr.
Why were the officers and generals treated more leniently than before after the KP?
Ebert wanted the army on his side if anything more was to happen with the Communists
When did the Munich Putsch occur
early November 1923
Who masterminded the MP?
Hitler, with the help of stormtroopers
Where did the Munich Putsch start?
At a meeting of Bavarian minsters and right-wing supporters in a beer hall in Munich
How did Hitler gain the support of the ministers in the MP?
He threatened the ministers with a gun and forced them to state their support for his march on the government in Berlin
Who squished the MP?
The army under the leadership of General Seeckt
What did General Seeckt do in the aftermath of the MP?
Ban the Nazis
Why did Hitler gain more support after the MP?
For his efforts in trying to out the government
How was Hitlers time in prison?
He served 9 months of his 5 year sentence, and was treated with respect where he wrote his book Mein Kampf, which went on to be the manifesto of his party
Why did Groener and Ebert strike a deal?
They both feared the looming threat of communism
What does the Ebert-Groener pact reveal to us?
There was not a genuine revolution in Germany
Why was Germany faced with a more violent Communist takeover in 1918-1919?
many people believed that the SPD government was not radical enough after the exit of the USPD
What was the consequences of the SR on Weimar politics?
It left a permanent separation in the left-wing groups the SPD and the KPD
What did the SR highlight about the Weimar Government?
a major failing in the fact that they had to rely on the support of the army in order to survive, which could cause chaos in future if the army choose to not follow orders
What percentage of voters supported the Republic in January 1919?
77% of voters supported and 23% supported the parties that opposed the republic
Who headed the committee that headed up the new German constitution ?
Lawyer Hugo Preuss
When was the new constitution agreed by the Reichstag
August 1919 but 262 votes to 75
What was Part 1 of the new constitution ?
Described how the government would work
- Germany was a republic
- All men and women over 20 could vote
- Reichstag elections would be held every four years
- The president was voted fro every 7 years
- The president controlled the armed forces
- Chancellor and ministers are appointed by President
- The Reichstag can remove chancellor and ministers
- The chancellors and ministers are responsible for policies and laws
- States have influence over the Reichsrat
- The President can use force is public safety in a concern
- states follow national laws
What was Part 2 of the Constitution?
Described the rights and duties of all Germans
- All germans had freedom of speech
- men and women were equal
- choice of religion
- no national church
- right to join trade unions
- national social insurance
- nationalise businesses if they wanted
- Middle classes protected from oppression
Why was the new constitution good?
It gave all germans a say in their country, and was highly democratic as well as meaning that not one single person or group could become to powerful
Why was the new constitution bad?
Proportional representation meant that governments were always coalitions and were not chosen by the people, not always obvious Chancellor candidate after elections so the President had huge power. Article 48
