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
