Early stages of the Weimar Republic

Question 1

When was the second reich?

Answer 1

1871-1918

Question 2

What was the political structure of the reich set up for?

Answer 2

Was set up so that there was one man, the Kaiser, a hereditary monarch, making all the decisions that would impact the country

Question 3

What could the Kaiser do?

Answer 3

The Kaiser could appoint and dismiss government, and dissolve the Reichstag

Question 4

Prior to their WW1 defeat, what did all German parties say they would do?

Answer 4

They said they would fight until the ‘last drop of blood’

Question 5

What happened in 1917?

Answer 5

The Burgfrieden was falling apart and Germany became divided over the War

Question 6

From 1916 onwards what did Ludendorff and Hindenburg do?

Answer 6

They dominated the military, as well as the political and economical and blocked several opportunities for a compromise peace

Question 7

By Autumn 1917 what happened and what became evident?

Answer 7

Germany was facing a growing economic and military crisis, and German generals realised it was a matter of time before they were defeated

Question 8

Effects of WW1 on Germany:

In terms of economy and finance

Answer 8

Between 1913-1918, the mark lost 75% of it’s value

Question 9

Effects of WW1 on Germany:

In terms of living conditions

Answer 9

Death from starvation and hypothermia increased to 293,000

Question 10

Effects of WW1 on Germany:

In terms of lives

Answer 10

2 million killed

6.3 million wounded

Question 11

What were returning soldiers and civilians unsure about?

Answer 11

Why they lost the war, they felt they had been done a disservice

Question 12

In an attempt to escape blame for the loss of the, who was blame put on?

Answer 12

Blame was put on minorities as a scape goat. Groups blamed were jews, socialists, communists and pacifists

Question 13

What did support for the stab in the back theory become the main theme of?

Answer 13

It became the main theme for the military because it absolved the German army of the disgrace of defeat

Question 14

When and where did the Kiel Mutiny take place?

Answer 14

It took place on the 28th October 1918 at the naval bases of Kiel and Wilhemshaven

Question 15

What did sailors do?

Answer 15

They refused to obey the order to salvage German hour in the final battle

Question 16

When naval commanders ordered the arrest of these crews, what did other sailors in Kiel do, on what day? What happened as a result?

Answer 16

They demonstrated in Kiel on the 3rd November, 8 were shot dead, which was a cue for general mutiny

Question 17

On the 4th November, the day after, what happened?

Answer 17

Worker, soldiers and sailors mutinied and began setting up their own council

Question 18

By 8th November what were set up?

Answer 18

Workers’, soldiers’ and sailors’ councils were set up in the main cities and ports

Question 19

What was their aim?

Answer 19

End the old order and cause the abdication of the Kaiser

Question 20

Who was the SDP led by? What did the SDP announce?

Answer 20

Friedrich Ebert, they announced that Germany would now be a republic, led by a civilian government and not by a monarch

Question 21

What was one major problem Ebert inherit?

Answer 21

The inability to control Berlin

Question 22

What was a far worse problem that Ebert had inherited? Significance?

Answer 22

Many soldiers returned from the war with their weapons, so Germany was littered with weapons.
Soldiers had been greatly angered by the defeat of the war and blamed the government - which now happened to be Ebert’s

Question 23

What was the cause of the Spartacist uprising?

Answer 23

On the 25th November, a conference of representatives from all parts of Germany met and agreed to set up a national assembly however some extreme groups didn’t want a democracy to be established, including the Spartacists

Question 24

Who led the Spartacist uprsing?

Answer 24

Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, a group of middle class intellects who were communists on the extreme left, and wanted Germany to be run by working classes

Question 25

When did the Spartacist uprising start?

Answer 25

6th January 1919

Question 26

What did the government do as a result?

Answer 26

They brought in the Freikorps, there was 3 days of savage street fighting to crush the uprising, which was led by General Von Lutwitz

Question 27

What happened to Liebknecht and Luxemburg as a result?

Answer 27

Liebknecht’s body was beaten, before being shot and dumped in a canal
Luxemburg was shot before being dumped in the canal

Question 28

What was the Spartacists’ aims?

Answer 28

Replicate the Russian government, establishing soviets, using violence

Question 29

Weimar Constitution:

What was the constitution like?

Answer 29

German constitution was very democratic, all German s over the age of 20 gained suffrage

Question 30

Weimar Constitution:

How was the Reichstag elected?

Answer 30

It was elected by proportional representation every 7 years

Question 31

Weimar Constitution:

HOWEVER in terms of proportional representation what wasn’t good?

Answer 31

It meant no party gained a majority of the seats, which led to coalition governments being formed, with parties often having to compromise and bargain with eachother

Question 32

Weimar Constitution:

HOWEVER in terms of article 48 what wasn’t good?

Answer 32

Meant that in a time of emergency, the president could rule by decree which could be used in the wrong way

Question 33

Weimar Constitution:

What was the common feeling that many people had?

Answer 33

Many people felt that the democratic government had been imposed on them