1.1 The Creation of a Republic

Question 1

When did Prince Max ask for an armistice?

Answer 1

3rd October 1918

Question 2

Why was the republic created?

Answer 2

Move to democracy. One of Prince Wilson’s demands in order to gain favourable terms to the treaty of versailles, to which Germany were barred from involving.

Question 3

How did it work?

Answer 3

The elected president would work as a counterbalance to the other political force - the parliament, named the Reichstag, which was made up of elected representatives from political parties

Question 4

How did the Reichstag work?

Answer 4

To head the Reichstag a chancellor was selected by the president to act as a chairman for proceedings and to lead the government. For a government to be effective it was necessary for the chancellor to have the support of the majority of the Reichstag and so he was usually selected from the party that had the most votes.

Question 5

How did the reichsrat work?

Answer 5

was made up of elected regional representatives that dealt with issues concerning the governance of the 17 states, however this parliament was of considerably less importance than the president and the Reichstag.

Question 6

Was it good?

Answer 6

At the beginning it was In 1919 the Weimar system of government was credited as the most advanced example of democracy in the world

Question 7

What was one of the issues with the republic?

Answer 7

The constitution. The constitution at the heart of the new republic contained certain issues such as Article 48 that presented serious challenges to the Weimar Republic through its 14-year existence

Question 8

How was the 19th Jan elections?

Answer 8

Successful to an extent. 82% electors voted, although the SPD did not gain majority, thus ruling by coalition was the only option.

Question 9

What parties formed a coalition?

Answer 9

SPD formed a coalition with Centre party and the German Democratic Party (DDP)

Question 10

Who were the most right winged party?

Answer 10

German National People?s Party (DNVP). Created from older conservative, nationalist and monarchist parties.

Question 11

What were the DNVP against?

Answer 11

Social reform. Disliked idea of a republic. Supported army.

Question 12

Who were the DNVP?

Answer 12

Wealthy landowners, many were anti-semitic.

Question 13

Another right winged party?

Answer 13

German People?s Party (DVP)

Question 14

Who were the DVP?

Answer 14

Moderately conservative group of mostly wealthy industrial middle class nationalists

Question 15

What were the DVP against?

Answer 15

Social reform

Question 16

What did the DVP want?

Answer 16

They wanted the economy to be fixed so that business could continue.

Question 17

Who were the Centre Party?

Answer 17

They were between the two right wing groups and four left wing. Long established, largely Catholic, defended church + policies. Drew in people from many social groups. Had conservative values, but did advocate social reform

Question 18

What were the Centre Party against?

Answer 18

Firmly against left wing policies + fanatically opposed communism.

Question 19

What would the Centre Party?s election posters show?

Answer 19

The horrors of communism, urged voters to vote so communism would not spread.

Question 20

Who were the German Democrats (DDP)?

Answer 20

Newly formed party of liberal, educated professionals. Often part of coalitions.

Question 21

What did they want?

Answer 21

Idea of republic + more representative constitution. Social reform, improving workers conditions by regulating industry to give workers a better deal. Reforming the army.

Question 22

Who were the Social democrats (SPD)?

Answer 22

Largest party in the reichstag from 1919 to 1929. Long established party. Anti-monarchist before war (misleading name).

Question 23

What happened to the Social Democrats in 1917?

Answer 23

They split. SPD shifted to a republican stance to keep its members who favoured a republic. Head party at the new post war government.

Question 24

What did the SPD members believe in?

Answer 24

Republic and moderate reform, but not revolution.

Question 25

Who followed the SPDs?

Answer 25

After the war, it attracted liberal middle class, people who wanted social reform. But hampered due to the high number of union member it had to please.

Question 26

Who were the Independent Social Democrats (USPD)?

Answer 26

The party the split from the SPD in 1917. Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht were members of USPD before forming the Spartacists.

Question 27

What did the USPD want?

Answer 27

More radical system than republic. Stood for social reform, including and equal society.

Question 28

Who were the German Communist Party (KPD)?

Answer 28

Set up in 1919. Wanted a worker?s revolution establishment of communist state with the abolishing of private ownership.

Question 29

Who did the KPD attract?

Answer 29

the young, poor and unemployed as they promised them a better future than any other parties.

Question 30

What happened on 7th February 1919?

Answer 30

Ebert gave victorious speech to new assembly proclaiming victory for democracy

Question 31

What happened on 11th Feb?

Answer 31

Ebert = elected republic?s first prime minister by 277 votes to 51.

Question 32

Why was the government still meeting in in Weimar?

Answer 32

It was too dangerous to leave.

Question 33

How was the Constitution written?

Answer 33

Not hastily written or badly thought out but the result was always going to be a compromise

Question 34

What happened on 31st July 1919?

Answer 34

The Weimar Constitution was finally passed by the National Assembly.