Establishment of Weimar Republic

Question 1

When were the October reforms?

Answer 1

1918

Question 2

What were the Oct reforms?

Answer 2

Chancellor was to be responsible for the Reichstag + established new gov on the majority of parties.
Armed forces put under control of civil government.

Question 3

What were the Kaiser’s aims for the Oct reforms?

Answer 3

Save Germany’s humiliation and the Kaiser’s rule.

Question 4

Who did the Kaiser appoint as Chancellor in 1918?

Answer 4

Prince Max of Baden.

Question 5

Who was the Kaiser?

Answer 5

Wilhelm II

Question 6

Who did Prince Max write to on the 3rd Oct 1918? Why?

Answer 6

President Wilson, asking for an armistice.

Question 7

What did Woodrow Wilson demand for there to be peace?

Answer 7

• Evacuation of all occupied territory.
• An end to submarine welfare.
• Democratise Germany’s political system.

Question 8

Who resigned over the peace note?

Answer 8

General Ludendorff

Question 9

Where did General Ludendorff flee to after his resignation?

Answer 9

Sweden

Question 10

Why did General Ludendorff resign?

Answer 10

The Oct reforms failed to meet his objectives.

Question 11

How did the request for an armistice impact the Germans?

Answer 11

Blew their morale.
Soldiers lost respect for their officers.

Question 12

Why did the armistice blow the public’s morale?

Answer 12

1st occasion they learned the truth about their military situation. It undermined their respect for the Kaiser and his military.

Question 14

What did the request of the armistice lead to in November 1918?

Answer 14

The November revolution

Question 15

What happened on the 3rd Nov?

Answer 15

Soldiers in Kiel mutinied against their officers and took control of the base.

Question 16

What did the majority of the public want by 6th Nov?

Answer 16

The Kaiser to abdicate and wanted a democratic republic.

Question 17

When was a Republic declared in Bavaria?

Answer 17

8th November 1918

Question 18

What happened on the 9th Nov? Why?

Answer 18

SPD called Berlin workers for a strike to force the Kaiser out.

Question 19

How did the gov respond to the workers strikes on the 9th Nov?

Answer 19

Prince Max lied, releasing a press statement that the Kaiser abdicated and then resigned.

Question 20

Who was made chancellor on 9th Nov 1918?

Answer 20

Friedrich Ebert- leader of the SPD.

Question 21

Who declared Germany a republic?

Answer 21

Phillip Scheidemann

Question 22

What was the Kaiser forced to do after Germany was announced a republic?

Answer 22

Abdicate.

Question 23

What happened on the 11th Nov?

Answer 23

Ebert signed armistice.

Question 24

What was the pact called between Ebert and General Groener?

Answer 24

The Ebert- Groener Pact.

Question 25

Ebert- Groener Pact

Answer 25

Ensured that General Groener + army leadership would support the gov. IF... Ebert resisted further revolution and uphold existing structure of the army.

Question 26

Why did Ebert want the pact with Groener?

Answer 26

His gov relied on the army but they were aristocratic + loyal to the Kaiser.

Question 27

Socialist groups in 1918?

Answer 27

- The social democratic party (SPD) - Spartacist League (later KPD) - USPD

Question 28

Spartacist League 1918

Answer 28

Communist, supporters were workers. (5,000 members)

Question 29

Leaders of Spartacists League

Answer 29

Karl Liebkneckt and Rosa Luxemburg.

Question 30

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) 1918

Answer 30

Communist. Largest party in Reichstag in 1918 since 1912, supporters were working class. (1 million members)

Question 31

Leaders of SPD

Answer 31

Friedrich Ebert and Phillip Scheidemann.

Question 32

USPD 1918

Answer 32

300,000 members and grew in strength during 1918.

Question 33

Leader of USPD

Answer 33

Hugo Hasse

Question 34

What happened on the 23rd- 24th Dec 1918?

Answer 34

Sailors' revolt against gov in Berlin- put down by army. In protest 3 USPD members resigned.

Question 35

When was the Spartacist Uprising?

Answer 35

6th January

Question 36

Non- socialist political parties 1919?

Answer 36

- Centre Party - German democratic party (DDP) - German Nation People's Party (DNVP) - German people's party (DVP)

Question 37

Center Party

Answer 37

- Protect Catholicism. - Supporters from Bavaria + Rhineland. - Supported democratic consitution.

Question 38

German democratic party (DDP)

Answer 38

Left leaning liberals, mostly middle class, supported democratic constitution.

Question 39

German Nation People's Party (DNVP)

Answer 39

Nationalist, support from landowners and small businesses. Rejected democratic constitution.

Question 40

German people's party (DVP)

Answer 40

Right leaning liberals, upper-middle class + firms interests. Opposed democracy but willing to participate.

Question 41

What parties made Ebert + Scheidemann's new gov formed by in 1919?

Answer 41

SPD in coalition with Centre + German Democratic parties.

Question 42

What was the Presidential decree (article 48)?

Answer 42

Gave president power to rule by decree in national emergencies- they didn't have to go through the Riechstag.

Question 43

How many time did Ebert use article 48?

Answer 43

136

Question 44

What was the problem with article 48?

Answer 44

It was exploited by some as anything could be considered an emergency.

Question 45

5 strengths of the Weimar republic in 1919

Answer 45

- full democracy -referendums could be called for - proportional representation - set out rights of individuals - women had more rights

Question 46

What did proportional representation allow?

Answer 46

smaller parties to win seats in the Reichstag and influence gov decisions.

Question 47

When could referendums happen?

Answer 47

If the president, reichstrat or 1/10 of electorates call for one.

Question 48

Examples of some rights the Weimar gov set out in 1919

Answer 48

- censorship is forbidden - gave illegitimate children the same rights as legitimate ones.

Question 49

2 weaknesses of the Weimar republic

Answer 49

- Proliferation of smaller parties. - Coalition governments.

Question 50

Why was the proliferation of smaller parties a weakness to the Weimar republic?

Answer 50

Smaller parties could gain representation in Reichstag- enabled them (those anti-republican) to exploit the system to gain publicity.

Question 51

Why were coalition governments a weakness to the Weimar republic?

Answer 51

Coalitions were short lived as different parties had different views on how Germany's gov should run.

Question 52

How many electoral districts was Germany divided into?

Answer 52

35