1.1 The Origins of the Republic, 1918-19

Question 1

What percentage of German troops became casualties during WW1?

Answer 1

55%

Question 2

How much debt was Germany in by the end of the war, compared to the start?

Answer 2

150 billion marks, three times more than the start of the war

Question 3

During the war, how many Germans died of food shortages?

Answer 3

750, 000

Question 4

What happened in Stuttgart?

Answer 4

Daimler plant - workers went on strike and demonstrated in the streets

Question 5

What happened in Hanover?

Answer 5

Soldiers refused to control those rioting in the streets

Question 6

What happened on October 1918 in the ports of Kiel and Hamburg?

Answer 6

Some crews in the German navy mutinied

Question 7

What happened on 7th November in Munich?

Answer 7

Bavarian workers declared general strike and protested in the streets. Led by Kurt Eisner (Jewish). Announced they were separate from Germany

Question 8

When and where did Kaiser Wilhelm abdicate?

Answer 8

9th November 1918 at the army HQ in Spa (700 km from Berlin)

Question 9

How did Kaiser Wilhelm’s abdication come about?

Answer 9

His ministers told him it was the only way to restore order. At first he refused, but then found out he had lost the army’s support - had no choice

Question 10

When was the Weimar Republic formed?

Answer 10

9th November 1918

Question 11

How did the Weimar Republic come about?

Answer 11

Philipp Scheidemann - leading member of SDP - told that armed rioters were preparing to announce a Communist gov. Rushed to an open window and proclaimed a new German Republic

Question 12

What happened on 10th November in the army?

Answer 12

Ebert agreed with General Groener for the army and government to cooperate and keep KDP out of power

Question 13

What happened on 10th November in the Reichstag?

Answer 13

Ebert suspended old Reichstag and named 6 moderate politicians to form Council of People’s Representatives. Would be in charge until constitution agreed

Question 14

What happened on 11th November?

Answer 14

Ebert’s rep (Matthias Erzenberger) signed Armistice - formal agreement between Germany and Allies to end WW1

Question 15

What agreement did Ebert make with civil servants who ran Germany under the Kaiser?

Answer 15

They would work alongside soldiers’ and workers’ councils to keep the country running e.g. collecting tax

Question 16

What agreement did Ebert make with the army?

Answer 16

It wouldn’t be reformed. Officers kept ranks. In return, army would be used to keep Republic in power

Question 17

What agreement did Ebert make with industry leaders e.g coal and shipping entrepreneur Hugo Stinnes?

Answer 17

New republic wouldn’t confiscate land/factories and no nationalism of private industries - economy continued to operate

Question 18

What agreement did Ebert make with trade unions?

Answer 18

Promised leader - Carl Legien - to try and achieve 8 hr working day

Question 19

When did the election to select the National Assembly take place and what percentage of votes did moderate parties get?

Answer 19

19th January 1919, 60%

Question 20

When and where did the National Assembly meet for the first time?

Answer 20

February 1919 in Weimar because there was too much unrest and violence in Berlin

Question 21

What was the job of the Chancellor in the new Constitution?

Answer 21

Head of Government

Chose all government ministers

Question 22

What was the job of the President in the new Constitution?

Answer 22

Head of Weimar Republic
Elected by the people every 7 yrs
Chose the Chancellor

Question 23

What was the job of the Reichstag in the new Constitution?

Answer 23

Controlled taxation

Directly elected by the people at least every 4 yrs

Question 24

What Democratic strengths did Weimar have?

Answer 24

Voting age reduced from 25 to 21
Women could vote as well as men for the 1st time
Proportional representation meant even smaller parties had a fair number of seats

Question 25

What checks and balances were in place in Weimar?

Answer 25

President had power to choose Chancellor and dismiss Reichstag, call elections and control army
Chancellor decided laws but only with majority vote from Parliament
Reichstag more powerful but Reichstrat could delay any laws unless Reichstag overruled with 2/3 majority
Lander controlled local services e.g. police, courts, schools

Question 26

What was the weakness of proportional representation?

Answer 26

No clear majority so coalitions. Meant parties had to compromise so no strong policies. Coalitions frequently argued and dissolved

Question 27

How many coalition governments were there between 1919 and 1923?

Answer 27

9

Question 28

Why was Weimar weak in a crisis?

Answer 28

No single-party government = problem in crisis

Question 29

What did Article 48 of the constitution say?

Answer 29

In a crisis, the chancellor could ask the president to pass a necessary law by decree, without the Reichstag’s support

Question 30

Why did Article 48 eventually make the constitution seem weak?

Answer 30

By 1930, chancellor regularly relied on it, bypassing democratic rules. This encouraged people to think an all-powerful leader was better than elected parliament

Question 31

Why was the Weimar constitution based on division and violence?

Answer 31

Government had used force and relied on army to subdue riots in Berlin
National Assembly had to meet in Weimar because there was so much unrest in Berlin
Several parties in Reichstag e.g. nationalists and communists hated democracy and the constitution