Early stages of the Weimar Republic Flashcards
When was the second reich?
1871-1918
What was the political structure of the reich set up for?
Was set up so that there was one man, the Kaiser, a hereditary monarch, making all the decisions that would impact the country
What could the Kaiser do?
The Kaiser could appoint and dismiss government, and dissolve the Reichstag
Prior to their WW1 defeat, what did all German parties say they would do?
They said they would fight until the ‘last drop of blood’
What happened in 1917?
The Burgfrieden was falling apart and Germany became divided over the War
From 1916 onwards what did Ludendorff and Hindenburg do?
They dominated the military, as well as the political and economical and blocked several opportunities for a compromise peace
By Autumn 1917 what happened and what became evident?
Germany was facing a growing economic and military crisis, and German generals realised it was a matter of time before they were defeated
Effects of WW1 on Germany:
In terms of economy and finance
Between 1913-1918, the mark lost 75% of it’s value
Effects of WW1 on Germany:
In terms of living conditions
Death from starvation and hypothermia increased to 293,000
Effects of WW1 on Germany:
In terms of lives
2 million killed
6.3 million wounded
What were returning soldiers and civilians unsure about?
Why they lost the war, they felt they had been done a disservice
In an attempt to escape blame for the loss of the, who was blame put on?
Blame was put on minorities as a scape goat. Groups blamed were jews, socialists, communists and pacifists
What did support for the stab in the back theory become the main theme of?
It became the main theme for the military because it absolved the German army of the disgrace of defeat
When and where did the Kiel Mutiny take place?
It took place on the 28th October 1918 at the naval bases of Kiel and Wilhemshaven
What did sailors do?
They refused to obey the order to salvage German hour in the final battle
When naval commanders ordered the arrest of these crews, what did other sailors in Kiel do, on what day? What happened as a result?
They demonstrated in Kiel on the 3rd November, 8 were shot dead, which was a cue for general mutiny
On the 4th November, the day after, what happened?
Worker, soldiers and sailors mutinied and began setting up their own council
By 8th November what were set up?
Workers’, soldiers’ and sailors’ councils were set up in the main cities and ports
What was their aim?
End the old order and cause the abdication of the Kaiser
Who was the SDP led by? What did the SDP announce?
Friedrich Ebert, they announced that Germany would now be a republic, led by a civilian government and not by a monarch
What was one major problem Ebert inherit?
The inability to control Berlin
What was a far worse problem that Ebert had inherited? Significance?
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
What was the cause of the Spartacist uprising?
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
Who led the Spartacist uprsing?
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
When did the Spartacist uprising start?
6th January 1919
What did the government do as a result?
They brought in the Freikorps, there was 3 days of savage street fighting to crush the uprising, which was led by General Von Lutwitz
What happened to Liebknecht and Luxemburg as a result?
Liebknecht’s body was beaten, before being shot and dumped in a canal
Luxemburg was shot before being dumped in the canal
What was the Spartacists’ aims?
Replicate the Russian government, establishing soviets, using violence
Weimar Constitution:
What was the constitution like?
German constitution was very democratic, all German s over the age of 20 gained suffrage
Weimar Constitution:
How was the Reichstag elected?
It was elected by proportional representation every 7 years
Weimar Constitution:
HOWEVER in terms of proportional representation what wasn’t good?
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
Weimar Constitution:
HOWEVER in terms of article 48 what wasn’t good?
Meant that in a time of emergency, the president could rule by decree which could be used in the wrong way
Weimar Constitution:
What was the common feeling that many people had?
Many people felt that the democratic government had been imposed on them
