Collapse Of Imperial Germany/ Abdication Of The Kaiser

Question 1

June 1914?

Answer 1

• Heir to Austro Hungarian empire assassinated
• Sarajevo by Slav nationalist

*WW1 breaks out

Question 2

Reaction to war

Initial response:-

Answer 2

• Majority g’s rallied to nation
• Declared Burgfrieden (peace in fortress)
• Marxist SPD- abandon internationalism
  - support war effort
• Govn acknowledged trade unions/working class leaders-important helping war effort
• Govn promised quick victory + rewards? for people’s efforts

Question 2

Reaction to war

Plan for quick victory:-

Answer 2

• 1914- German High Commands plan for quick victory ❌
• prolonged war on 2 fronts ↕️
• ?? not economically/militarily prepared

*1917- Allies naval blockade
=severe shortages- food/raw materials

• 1917-Burgfrieden breaking down- G’s ➗ over war
• ❓why ??still fighting (-many esp socialists)
• Initially seen-defensive war not war of conquest
• April 1917- radicals opposing war broke w/ SPD - form independent socialist party (USPD)

*Reichstag vote peace resolution-
“a peace of understanding + permanent reconciliation of people’s…”

Question 3

Reaction to war

Govn:-

Answer 3

• govn ⬆️ingly dominated by Generals
• 1916- general Ludendorff/ Field Marshall Hindenburg= virtual military dictatorship
• Dominated military/political/economic decisions
• Block opportunities for compromise peace
• Assertive German nationalists demand Siegfriede (peace through victory) w/ ?? land gains in west/East/oversea

Question 4

Military defeat?

Answer 4

• Autumn 1917-growing economic/military crisis
  - near starvation
  - military supplies critically short
• April 1917-?? entered war against?? (large no. US troops expected in EU)
• comms seize power in?? /March 1918-?? Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (??major territory gains)
• ?? harsh Treaty of Bucharest-peace w/ Romania
• ?? now only fighting western war front
• General Ludendorff ➡️soldiers -victory in months
• March 1918-German attack nearly broke through Allied lines-US troops arrive-stop German advance
• August 1918-tide of war reversed
• 2m US troops reinforced allies
• ?? allies (Bulgaria/Turkey/Austria/Hungary)-verge of collapse seeking peace
• German generals realised inevitable defeat
• troops gradual retreat to German frontier
• at home-growing unrest
  - economic crisis
  - civilian/military morale ⬇️
• danger of rev

Question 5

Creation of democracy in GY

Answer 5

SEPT 1918

*??faced defeat

*General Ludendorff persuade Kaiser:-
-hand power to civilian govn under Reichstags
control
-Urged immediate Armistice

2 reasons:-

1-hope new civilian Govn get better peace terms 
   from allies 

2-hope new civilian govn blamed for??defeat 
   bc have to end war 

• Generals reputations intact/maintain position after war
• Mask responsibility for??defeat

Question 6

Monarchy to democratic govn in 6 weeks

Answer 6

• OCT 1918-form new democratic govn based on Reichstag
• ‘A revolution from above’-initiated by ruling class itself
• economic discontent/war weariness =growing unrest
• G’s promised/expect “great victory”but face defeat
• cause wave of unrest ‘the German revolution’ - 1918-19: ‘revolution from below’
• Late OCT 1918-sailors⛵️from naval bases Kiel/Wilhelmshaven refuse final battle (for ??’s honour)-last weeks of war
• News?spread-encourage creation of sailors/soldiers/workers councils in ??
• challenged authority of state govn
• 9 November 1918-kaiser abdicates throne-avoid full-scale socialist/comm rev
• hand Chancellorship to moderate Socialist leader Ebert
• 11 November 1918 -2 days after new govn established- declared ceasefire/signed armistice