Collapse Of Imperial Germany/ Abdication Of The Kaiser Flashcards

1
Q

June 1914?

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

*WW1 breaks out

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2
Q

Reaction to war

Initial response:-

A
  • 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
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2
Q

Reaction to war

Plan for quick victory:-

A
  • 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…”

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3
Q

Reaction to war

Govn:-

A
  • 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
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4
Q

Military defeat?

A
  • 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
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5
Q

Creation of democracy in GY

A

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
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6
Q

Monarchy to democratic govn in 6 weeks

A
  • 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
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