Chapter 1- the establishment and early years of the Weimar Republic

Question 1

Kaiser Wilhelm II Abdication

Answer 1

9 Nov, 1918
Abdicated (forcefully was resigned) and told to go to the Netherlands

Question 2

Armistice (when, what)

Answer 2

11th Nov, 1918
Armistice- an agreement to stop fighting to allow peace treaty negotiations

Question 3

The October Reforms

Answer 3

Prince Max of Baden- new chancellor
Armed forces put under control of civil Government

Question 4

What was Wilson’s 14 point plan

Answer 4

a plan to deal with the aftermath of war in Germany

examples:
return land to France
set up League of Nations

Question 5

The peace note

Answer 5

3 October, 1918

Prince Max wrote to Wilson
Wilson took 3 weeks to respond out of fear that Germany would regroup and go on offence.

Wilson’s demands:
Germany give back all stolen land
End Submarine warfare

these terms effectively demanded German surrender

Question 6

November Revolution, 1918

Answer 6

3rd Nov, sailors of German ships took control of base

4th Nov, this spread to the city

Germany now on verge of communist uprising

8th Nov, bavarian Monarchy gone

9th Nov- SPD called reinforcements- forced Prince max to abdicate

Question 7

Friedrich Ebert

Answer 7

leader of SPD
first president of Weimar Germany

Question 8

Ebert Groener pact

Answer 8

It kept the military, which had been the true power in the German Empire during World War I, as a largely self-governing institution that operated outside of civilian control.

ensured a new republic

Question 9

Why did Ebert struggle to gain power?

Answer 9

He believed in winning a majority in parliament.

Govt lacked legitimacy

he tried to get a new constitution through constituent assembly

Question 10

Spartacist league

Answer 10

Led by Karl Liebknect and Rosa Luxemburg

Wanted republic government.

supporters by rioters in the streets

5k members

Question 11

USPD

Answer 11

Hugo Hasse

wanted welfare improvements and Reichstag to work with works and soldiers

300k members

Question 12

Aristocracy

Answer 12

the highest class in Germany, Noble people born in the right place

Question 13

Bolshevik Revolution

Answer 13

potential communist uprising

risk of it in late 1918

possible civil war

Question 14

Sailors revolt

Answer 14

23-24th December 1919

sailors protested against German Government

put down by the army

in protest of it, USPD ministers resigned

Question 15

January revolution

Answer 15

6th January 1919

Spartacists launched a rebellion against govt

lasted a week but was crushed

Question 16

Elections for constituent Assembly (when, why significant)

Answer 16

19th Jan, 1919

women were allowed to vote for the first time

SPD had largest share of vote and most seats

Question 17

Strengths of Weimar Constitution

Answer 17

-Wider right to vote
-proportional representation
-Full democracy in local govt AND central GOVT
-Clear rights
-referendums could be called by the pres

Question 18

Weaknesses of the constitution

Answer 18

Prop rep meant smaller parties could gain rep in the RS- exploitation of Prop rep

coalition Govt- smaller parties meant no overall majority from bigger parties- coalitions needed

Question 19

General Erich Ludendorff

Answer 19

Key figure in German success against Russian army.
Member of military committee which effectively ruled Germany until end of war

Question 20

Why does Ludendorff support a const. monarchy

Answer 20

Believers USA would be more open to democratic govt over autocratic regime. better peace deals
He wanted to use RS as a fallback- blame other people
looking to stop revolution

Question 21

Freikorps

Answer 21

Ex soldiers
right wing nationalists
stopped rebellions for government officials who asked

Question 22

Significant events of Jan 1919 election

Answer 22

KPD- 0 seats
SPD- 163 seats
ZP-91 seats
DNVP-44 seats
No overall majorities.

KPD/Spartacists dont want to be associated with spartacist revolt so they change their name

Question 23

Evidence Const. was Democratic

Answer 23

Universal suffrage
Censorship forbidden fundamental rights

Question 24

evidence Const was not democratic

Answer 24

Article 48 (presidential decree)
Ebert Groener pact (no army chance)
President can dissolve RS

Question 25

Evidence Const provided political stability

Answer 25

no instant rebellions
equal rights

Question 26

Evidence Const did not provided Pol stability

Answer 26

Coalitions
prop rep meant extremist parties could get representation
no majorities