3: War, Revolution and Democracy Flashcards
Lead up to WWI
. Heir to Habsburg throne, Austrian Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo 28 June 1914
. 23 July: Austria-Hungary gave Serbia an ultimatum. The terms were severe and, backed by Russia, Serbia refused them
. Russia mobilised, refusing an ultimatum set by Germany
. Germany declared war on Russia: 1 August
. Schlieffen Plan put into action, invaded Belgium
. 3 Aug: Germany declares war on France
. Germany’s invasion of neutral Belgium brought UK into war: 4 August
SPD Response to War
. WWI began amid apparent unity
. SPD voted in Reichstag to approve military expenditure - many accepted ideas of sacrifice and fate
. 1914: SPD split
. Most members stayed within SPD under Friedrich Ebert, prepared to support the Kaiser
The Independent Social Democrats
. Formed by the far left after the SPD split
. Remained opposed to war
. Led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg
Trade Unions
. Promised not to strike during the war
. They hoped that having proved themselves responsible, reasonable and patriotic, they’d be well placed after the war to take forward their campaign for further reform and greater democratisation
Central Powers
. Germany and Austria initially
. Had advantage of interior lines of communications
. Could move men from one front to another using their railway systems
. Oct 1914: the Ottoman Empire joined war on their side
. 1915: Bulgaria joined them
Germany in the War
. Their failure to achieve a quick victory in 1914 led to a war of attrition they weren’t militarily/economically ready for
. Had the finest army and the world’s 2nd largest navy
. Europe’s strongest industrial power: produced 2/3 of continent’s steel and half its coal in 1914
. As a result of German advance in 1914, France lost its main industrial area
Allies
. Had more men, but Russians were poorly equipped + led
. Allies were stronger: Russian army was largest in Europe, UK had strongest navy
. UK + France could call on their empires for support
. Allied naval blockade prevented Germans from acquiring vital resources
. 1915: Italy joins Allies
Domestic Impact of War
. Germans remained united against ‘threat’ by Russia
. Official propaganda trashing the Tsar-barbaric Russians meant Germans remained confident of victory
. Til mid 1916, Bethmann-Hollweg faced little opposition from the public or Reichstag. Did his best to keep SPD loyal. This meant keeping secret his expansionist war aims; he knew the SPD opposed ‘war of conquest’.
Military Rule
. War went on, Germany’s military leaders could interfere in political + economic affairs with limited accountability
. Army leaders justified intervention on the grounds of military necessity
. Wilhelm II exerted little control over affairs with onset of war. He was kept in the dark about military developments and his advice wasn’t often sought
. Became a figurehead
Mobilisation
. All citizens had to contribute to the war effort
. The War Ministry decided who was conscripted
. Some 13mil men called to serve - 20% German pop
. Mainly young women helped Germany cope w labour shortage in industry + agriculture
Economic Impact
. Germany was dependent on imported fertilisers, fats + oils - essential to feed population
. August 1914: War Raw Materials Department established due to blockade
- This directed labour, controlled railways, intro’d rationing, + price controls, + allocating resources to industries competing for scarce raw materials
. Scientists had to produce substitute materials for goods Germany was short of
Economic Weaknesses threatening Germany’s ability to continue the war
- Huge financial deficit pre 1914, soared during war: more money was printed, leading to inflation
- Serious decline in grain production due to blockade, poor harvests, transport problems, lack of chemicals for fertilisers + mass conscription: bread rationing in January 1915, then rationing of everything else
‘War aims’ Movement
. To give the country a rallying point and give the troops purpose.
. Argued the war should unite German speaking people and bring major territorial gains
Who supported war aims?
. Pan - German League
. Central Association of German Industrialists
. German’s Countrymen’s Federation
. Farmer’s Federation
. Association of the German Middle Classes
Reasons for defining war aims
. Alfred Hugenberg (chairman of Supervisory Board of Krupp and Essen) wanted to seize Normandy bc of their deposits of iron
. Many wanted security from Britain by the command of the Channel coasts down to the River Seine, which in 1914 was Belgian territory
. Conservative party cautious about Pan-German aims but came to accept something similar, as did the National Liberals under Gustav Stresemann and the Centre Party
