1914-1919 Flashcards
How was 1914 the moment of greatest unity?
Unity behind the nation.
How strong was Germany economically and militarily at the start of WW1? What was the link between them?
E: premier industrial power in Europe. On a clear path to economic hegemony.
M: Germany had the most powerful and effective land army and their navy was 2nd only to Britain globally.
Link: economic strength drove and funded military strength.
What was the Burgfrieden 1914?
The Reichstag agreed to meet every 6 months to approve imperial finances. Voluntarily delegated all legislative authority to the Bundesrat. Centralisation and Nationalism as sacrifice for National cause.
What was the Prussian Law of Siege 1914?
Why was it important?
And what did it show about Prussia’s dominance?
Split Germany into 24 military districts.
Get the most from the land and feed the war with resources as much as possible and maintain domestic support for war.
Shows Prussia’s dominance as it was a Prussian system.
Why was 1916 a turning point in the war? (Prussian dominance and centralisation)
Prussian generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff had complete control of Germany in Supreme War Office.
Removal of industries that did not contribute to war effort and centralisation around all that was related to war, shows that gvmt were working for victory than for the interests of the people. (Hindenburg program. People started to question whether the war was what they originally signed up for)
What was the Hindenburg Program 1916?
Unrestricted total war. Removed all restraints on the economy and society. Everything second to army. Run as a military dictatorship.
How many new workers were produced after the removal of firms not productive to war effort?
3 million new workers
What in 1917 increased military strength?
Unrestricted u-boat warfare. Centrality of army to state increased. Fewer restrictions on army.
What showed political disunity in 1917?
SPD split and formed the Independent Socialist Party. Refused to ac pet Kaisers word. Most radical wing formed the Spartacus League.
1918: moment of greatest disunity. Why? In terms of political division?
German Left (progressives, SPD and zentrum after 1916): reward for sacrifice of war being constitutional reform German right: (establishment before war): international conquest.
Nationalism was a popular movement? Social costs in 1918?
6 million casualties
Effect on the home front 1918?
Home front was feminised. Women (and foreigners) were cheaper labour and were thought to be a threat to the post war german economy.
Economic costs of 1918?
- inflation. War bonds purchased by the people from the state (without choice)
- polarisation: blurred class divisions. Lower middle class (mittelstand) were worse off than the working class in war industries.
When did Prussia lose dominance over the German region?
October 1918: birth of Weimar Republic. Dominated by SPD.
Prussia became a free state
Effect of Weimar Republic on aims and ideas of Nationalism?
Aims: return of aim of wanting an effective political system that was ‘German’
Ideas: anti- est
