Fact Test Germany 1 Flashcards
Why was Germany’s defeat in WW1 far from inevitable?
They had: . Europe’s finest army . Worlds second largest navy . Superior interior comms lines . Europe’s strongest industrial power
How much of Europe’s coal and steel was produced by Germany in 1914?
2/3 steel
1/2 coal
Why were the allies stronger?
. Russia had largest army
. Britain had largest navy
. Britain + France could call on their empires and continue to trade whereas Germany’s overseas possessions were largely taken over
How many men were enlisted to the german military during WW1?
13 mil
20% population
How did British blockade impact german economy?
. Germany wasn’t self-sufficient
. Lacked essential materials eg cotton, rubber + petroleum + essentials eg fertilisers, fats n oils to keep nation fed
. In response, the war raw materials department was set up to help control + allocate key resources to relevant industries
Who did bethmann-hollweg appoint as joint chiefs of the army supreme command?
. Field Marshall Paul Hindenburg
. General Erich Ludendorff
How was the joint chiefs increasing power often referred to?
The silent dictatorship
What did the auxiliary service act of December 1916 do?
Enabled the govt to control the labour of all males aged 17-60
How was civilian morale impacted by Germany’s war struggle in 1917/1918?
. The food n fuel crisis led to starvation n hypothermia related deaths increasing from 121k in 1916 to 293k in 1918
. Many workers resented having to work extra hours
. Strikes organised by left in protest against industrialists’ vast profits n the right blamed jews n socialists for Germany’s problems
Why did war aims divide left n right?
. Right wanted territorial acquisitions n war spoils after victory
. Left believed war was a defensive conflict n that peace settlements should not result in annexations of territory
Why was peace resolution passed by reichstag on 19 July 1917 ineffective?
Despite passing by 212 to 126 votes n having support of spd n centre party, military leaders carried on w/ their aims of winning a victorious peace
Who founded the fatherland party?
Radical nationalists
Led by admiral Terpitz n demanded land annexations in the east n west
Why was the left divided by 1917?
Most spd deputies didn’t want to damage the war effort n were willing to work w other parties.
But 42 radical spd deputies formed the uspd, formed links w other radicals eg the spartacists, liebknecht, n Luxembourg, n demanded a fast end to war without annexation.
More radical left wingers called for the destruction of capitalism n world revolution.
What was the domestic situation like in Germany in 1918?
. Agricultural production was 40-60% below pre war levels
. German people rationed to 20% of pre-war consumption of meat, 13% eggs n 47% flour
. Factory people work 10-12hr days n on sundays which led to strikes n discontent
Why was the german war effort desperate by the autumn of 1918?
German troops had been pushed back to the Rhine and 300k US troops were arriving each month
