Chapter 1

Question 1

when did the kaiser abdicate?

Answer 1

9th nov 1918

Question 2

when was it clear Germany was going to lose the war?

Answer 2

end of sept 1918

Question 3

how did Ludendorff decide to avoid humiliating defeat?

Answer 3

ask for an armistice

Question 4

what was an obstacle for Germany in achieving an armistice?

Answer 4

their autocratic political system

Question 5

what was Wilson’s Fourteen Points?

Answer 5

offered possible basis for peace settlement, suggested establishment of a League of Nations

Question 6

who advised the Kaiser to make reforms to government?

Answer 6

Ludendroff

Question 7

what did the October Reforms do?

Answer 7

effectively ended his autocratic rule
appointed Prince Max of Baden as Chancellor
armed forces put in control of the civil gov
established a new government based on majority parties in the Reichstag

Question 8

name of Kaiser’s reforms?

Answer 8

October Reforms

Question 9

what were the October reforms a result of?

Answer 9

a ‘revolution from above’ to save Germany from humiliation and protect the Kaiser’s rule

Question 10

what and when was the Peace Note?

Answer 10

3rd Oct 1918, Prince Max wrote to Wilson asking for an armistice

Question 11

how did Wilson respond to the Peace Note?

Answer 11

demanded that Germany evacuate all occupied territory, call an end to submarine warfare and fully democratise the political system

Question 12

Ludendorff’s response to Wilson’s requests after the Peace Note?

Answer 12

the terms were too dramatic for him, he attempts a last ditch military effort and when this fails, flees to Sweden

Question 13

how did the German population respond to news of the Peace Note?

Answer 13

shocked, shattered morale, lost respect for authorities

Question 14

where and when was the 1918 revolutionary movement initiated?

Answer 14

in Wilhelmshaven 28 October 1918 , ships ordered to attack ships in the British Channel, 2 crews refused orders

Question 15

what happened in Kiel and when?

Answer 15

2nd November 1918, soldiers mutinied against their officers.

Question 16

how did the revolution spread?

Answer 16

by 6th Nov 1918 workers and soldiers councils spring up

Question 17

events on the 9th Nov 1918?

Answer 17

SPD called workers in Berlin to strike, threatened to withdraw their support from the gov
Prince Max releases statement announcing the Kaiser’s abdication
Prince Max resigns and gives power to Ebert
Philip Scheidmann decalres Germany a Republic

Question 18

when was armistice agreed?

Answer 18

11th Nov 1918

Question 19

why was there a need for an agreement between the workers councils and when was it?

Answer 19

22nd Nov 1918, pressure from the LW for more radical change, agreed that the gov only exercises power in the name of the councils

Question 20

when was the Ebert-Groener Pact?

Answer 20

10th Nov 1918

Question 21

what was the Ebert-Groener Pact?

Answer 21

Groener promised that Ebert would have the army leadership’s support as long as the army wasn’t democratised and country was defended from a communist revolution

Question 22

LW view on the Ebert Groener Pact?

Answer 22

betrayal of the revolution

Question 23

2 struggles for power in December 1918?

Answer 23

6th - Sparticist demonstration shot on by soldiers, 16 killed
23-24 Dec - sailors revolt put down by the army which led to 3 USPD members resigning from gov

Question 24

when were elections to the Constituent Assembly and who got the largest share of the vote?

Answer 24

19th Jan 1919

SPD (but not a majority)

Question 25

Strengths of the Constitution?

Answer 25

More democratic than a lot of contemporary govs, clear break with autocratic past
Wider right to vote than countries like England (women on the same terms as men)
System of proportional representation - smaller parties could win seats
Full democracy in central as well as local gov
Set out rights of an individual, equality, censorship forbidden
Referendums could be called

Question 26

Weaknesses of the Constitution

Answer 26

Proportional representation -
smaller parties - gaining seats, many anti-republican parties gained publicity.
Coalition govs, no bigger parties could get an overall majority, all govs were coalitions, many short-lived
Rule by presidential decree - Article 48, president can rule by decree in exceptional circumstances. (this was normal in govs), but was used a lot in Germany
Survival of undemocratic institutions, couldn’t fit into new republic, aristocrats who had been important in the Second Empire supported autocracy
Army - had prev been free from political control, determined to preserve independence, officers remained in positions (strong political views). Could put down LW revolts, but RW conspirators could be supported
The civil service - gov administration in the hands of anti-democrats, rights were preserved.
The judiciary - Article 54 = independence of judges, remained in their posts, strongly monarchist and anti-democratic, showed bias in legal actions. LW punished, RW treated leniently

Question 27

how many times did Ebert use Article 48?

Answer 27

136 times