creation of republic

Question 1

When did Prince Max and his gov ask the allies for an armistice?

Answer 1

When did Prince Max and his gov ask the allies for an armistice?

Question 2

what happened with the Navy on the 28th oct 1918?

Answer 2

refused to sail against British fleet, went on strike

Question 3

What did the Navy strike set off across Germany?

Answer 3

more strikes and mutinies

Question 4

what made the Kaiser finally abdicate?

Answer 4

Bavaria breaking from Germany and declaring itself a republic

Question 5

when did the kaiser abdicate?

Answer 5

9th Oct 1918

Question 6

How long did Prince Max’s gov last?

Answer 6

less than a month

Question 7

when was the new democratic gov formed?

Answer 7

10th Nov 1918

Question 8

what were the two main parties in the new democratic gov?

Answer 8

Social Democrats (SPD) + Independent Social Democrats (USPD)

Question 9

who was the first chancellor of the Weimar republic, what was his party?

Answer 9

Ebert, SPD leader

Question 10

what was the new gov originally called when set up?

Answer 10

Council of Peoples Representatives

Question 11

what was the Ebert-Groener pact?

Answer 11

army would support gov as long as gov opposed more left wing ideas of parties in Reichstag

Question 12

what happened on 11th Oct 1918?

Answer 12

signing of the Armistice

Question 13

what was humiliating for the Germans, what did this cause (parties)?

Answer 13

germany could not take part in treaty negotiations - diktat

parties formed + reformed trying to get votes to have voice in Reichstag

Question 14

what immediate social reforms did the new gov make?

Answer 14

8hr working day, independent trade unions, help for ex-soldiers to find work, widened wealth + unemployment benefits

Question 15

why was a new constitution necessary?

Answer 15

military defeat meant political, economic + cultural crisis

Question 16

what was imperial Germany/ 2nd Reich like politically?

Answer 16

authoritarian, kaiser huge amount of power, no protection of civil rights

Question 17

What was the SPD, who did it represent etc?

Answer 17

Social Democrats, socialist party, acted legally through reform to achieve Marxist aims

Question 18

what was the ZP who did it represent etc?

Answer 18

Centre party, protect rights of Catholics, supported Weimar Republic, end of 1920s more authoritarian

Question 19

why did army leaders accept a democratic gov ending the war?

Answer 19

they dint have to take responsibility for ending the war, protected themselves from blame

Question 20

what did germany’s military defeat lead to? (£)

Answer 20

economic collapse - reparation

Question 21

which parties had the largest influence over the new constitution?

Answer 21

SPD + ZP

Question 22

what were the key democratic elements of the new constitution?

Answer 22

universal suffrage, president elected every 7 yrs, president appoints chancellor, chancellor accountable to Reichstag, proportional representation, plebiscites - people pass laws directly

Question 23

what were the key liberal elements of the new constitution?

Answer 23

civil rights enshrined - protected to ensure people protected from gov

Question 24

what were the socialists key on ensuring the constitution upheld?

Answer 24

social rights - workers guaranteed right to work or right to welfare

Question 25

what was the key authoritarian aspect of the new constitution that highlighted distrust of democracy?

Answer 25

Article 48 - presidents emergency gov, suspend constitution + rule by decree

Question 26

what happened at the 19th Jan 1919 elections (before constitution written)?

Answer 26

82.7% turnout, SPD no majority - formed coalition with ZP and DDP

Question 27

what was the DNVP, what did it stand for etc?

Answer 27

German Nationalist People’s Party - conservative, nationalist + monarchist party, didnt want social reform, disliked republic, supported army

Question 28

what was the DVP, what did it stand for?

Answer 28

German People’s Party- moderately conservative, Stresemann leader, wealthy middle class, no social reform, economy quickly fixed, nationalist

Question 29

what type of parties were the DNVP and DVP?

Answer 29

right wing, conservative and nationalist parties , opposed? didn’t support republic

Question 30

What was the DDP?

Answer 30

German Democrats, liberal educated professionals, supported Republic, social reform + reform of army

Question 31

what was the USPD?

Answer 31

Split from SPD, more radical system wanted, Liebknecht + Luxembourg members before Spartacists

Question 32

what was the KPD?

Answer 32

German Communist party - wanted workers revolution, communist state, attracted young, poor + unemplyed

Question 33

How many seats did each party get in the 1919 election?

Answer 33

DNVP = 44, DVP = 19, ZP = 91, DDP = 75, SPD = 165, USPD = 28, KPD = none

Question 34

What were the results of Ebert’s presidential election success?

Answer 34

elected as President by 277 votes to 51

Question 35

when was the Weimar constitution finally passed?

Answer 35

31st July 1919

Question 36

What was the political spectrum present in Germany?

Answer 36

Left
KPD
USPD
SPD
ZP
DVP
DNVP
Right

Question 37

when was the Ebert - Groener pact?

Answer 37

10th Nov 1918

Question 38

why were political coalitions seen as unstable + weak?

Answer 38

caused disagreements, party arguments over key issues, could cause quick changes in gov, no decisive strong leader