Chapter 1 Flashcards
When did the Kaiser abdicate?
9 November 1918
Was the Kaiser aware of his abdication?
No, he had been forced to accept it after Max of Baden announced it
Where did the Kaiser’s advisers tell him to go and why?
to Holland, which remained neutral during the war
When was the Armistice?
11 November 1918
What had General Ludendorff and the German high command realized by the end of September 1918?
That Germany was on the brink of defeat
What did Ludendorff say the only option was in 1918?
To surrender and ask allies for an armistice
What offered a possible basis for negotiated peace?
Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points
What would be an obstacle to making peace through Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points?
Germany’s autocratic political system
How did Ludendorff counteract the obstacle set by Germany’s autocratic system to gain better peace terms?
He advocated a partial democratisation, in order to get better peace terms through allies
What were the October reforms?
in October, following recommendations of Ludendorff, the Kaiser introduced some reforms which effectively ended his rule
What was included in the October reforms?
- He appointed Prince Max of Baden as his new chancellor
- The chancellor was to be responsible for the Reichstag and he established government based on majority parties
- the armed forces were put under control of the civil government
fill in gap
These reforms were a major ___________ government.
Constitutional
What were the reforms amounted to?
‘A revolution from above’
What was the Peace note?
a note written on 3rd October, Prince Max had asked Wilson for an Armistice
How long did it take for Wilson to reply to the peace not and why?
Nearly 3 weeks as he thought it was an excuse for Germany to regroup and prepare for a new offensive
