Armistice and abdication of the kaiser Flashcards
Who was Kaiser Wilhelm 2nd?
Hewas the king/dicator of Germany.
What was Kaiser Wilhelm responsible of doing?
Building up the German army.
Name some characteristics/ features of Kaiser Wilhelm the 2nd?
- He had total control.
- Did not listen to governments suggestions, he enjoyed having total control.
- Germany like not having a democracy.
What led to the abdication of the Kaiser?
- He never shared the information that Germany was loosing the war, as he didn’t want to risk his reputation.
- He was given an ultimatum from the British and French to surrender as they cannot win, one point of this is that he must agree to have a democracy but he would not agree as he liked having total control.
- He abdicated (stepped down/left his position) on the 9th November 1918 as he did not want to give in and have a democracy.
What date did the Kaiser abdricate his position?
9th November 1918.
What did the Kaiser’s abdication cause?
Mass mutanies - people were furious with the Kaiser about the loss of life and supplies that had gone into the war, and also the fact that he had hidden they were loosing the war.
What did the Kaiser’s abdication pave the way to? (Include dates and inforomation)
-Paved the way for WW1 to end, on the 11th of November 1918 WW1 ended when an armistice was agreed with the Allies ( Britain, France and the USA) and Germany surrendered.Able to happen due th German high command stepping back.
What did Germany do without the kaiser?
- Before this, on the 9th November 1918 two different socialist parties the social democratic party and the independent social democratic party declared a republic- country without a monarch.
- 11th November 1918 a ceasefire to end WW1 agreed, new republic under pressure to sign due to people starving and low morale.
- Decided to have a brand new government where people would be able to vote, it was set up in Wiemar as Berlin was unstable at the time.
Who was the first elected president of the new Weimar government/ constiution?
Fredrich Ebert
Who was the armistice not suported by?
Some right-wing Germans, saw the truce as a betrayal, believed Germany could still win the war, felt stabbed in the back / dolchstos.
When were elections held for the new reichstag (parliament) and what was done before then?
-A temporary Government was set up until January 1919 , when elections were held for the new parlimant/ Reichstag.
Name some weaknesses of the Weimar constitution?
- Proportional representation: Instead of voting for a MP, vote for a party.
- Article 48- Emergency powers, president did not need the agreement of the Reichstag , problem is that it did not state what an emergency was.
Name some strengths of the Weimar constitution?
- Women can vote over the age of 20
- Democracy compared to before.
- Bill of rights- Guaranteed every German citizen freedom of speech and religion, equality under the law.
What was the Treaty of Versailles?
A peace agreement that marked the end of ww1.
When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
28th June 1919.
