German Revolution and Creation of WR

Question 1

German Revolution

Military Defeat

7, 0H.

Answer 1

1. Military leaders took more control - HB and LD
2. Extreme food shortages in Winter 1916/17.
3. Civilian deaths fom hypothermia and starvation -= 121,000 (1916), 293,000 (1918).
4. Infant mortality = up by more than 50%.
5. Inflation = avg price doubled 1914-18.
6. ~2m Germans killed in war, 6m injured.
7. £8.4bn expenditure.

Question 2

German Revolution

Revolution Above + Below

8, 1H.

Answer 2

ABOVE
1. Germany struggling in WW1, expected a quick victory so not prepared - supply shortages, 2m killed 6.3m injured and £8.4bn cost.
2. Sept 1918 - HB + LD rec new civilian govt system.
3. October, Prince Max of Baden = Chancellor abd later reforms constitution - power of Kaiser reduced, inisters appointed from RS, Chancellor held accountable by RS - later HD sidelined and LD sacked for disagreeing.

BELOW
1. Jan 1918 - 400,000 Berliners on strike and spread across Germany until 1m.
2. War weariness - final 4 months, 750,000 deserted.
3. October Kiel Mutiny - sailors refused to obey Admiral “one last blow” order, 20,000 demanded a new German Republic - created their own courts.
4. November - Max of Baden govt collapse and Kaiser abdication - Ebert and SPD/USPD took over.
5. Spartakist Rising Jan 1918 - left took Berlin and captured govt newspaper/telegraph bureaus - chief of police sympathised so had weapons and aid - FK and army suppressed, shot hundreds even if surrendered.

PEUKERT - primary motive of keil mutineers is not rev but peace in war.

Question 3

German Revolution

Groener + ZAG

2, 4H.

Answer 3

GROENER PACT - Ebert Chancellor in November 1918 - made a deal with Groener on day 1 as fearful of revolution - Groener promised army help govt keep power and Ebert wouldn’t reform army.

ZAG - Nov 1918 btewen Industrialist Stinnes and TU leader - Industrialists given rights like 8hr work day and acceptance of workers committees

LEFT - Ebert “sold out” and stopped rev from developing naturally.
KOLB - no choice in the confusing situation.
PEUKERT - SPD had power and did not need to help right-wing militarists.
H&H - ZAG one of the greatest achievements of the German Rev.

Question 4

German Revolution

Weimar Republic + Constitution

5, 5H.

Answer 4

1. ART 48 - President take control/make laws wihtout RS - Ebert used 136.
2. ART 54 - vote of no confidence to remove Chancellor/Ministers.
3. Presidential elections eveyr 7 years.
4. Section dedicated to fundamental rights of citizens incl. freedom of speecha nd qualities.
5. Men and women 20+ could vote.

HENIG - there were lots of compromises.
PEUKERT - unstable balance of continuity and change, left and right.
PEUKERT - not given a chance to prove itself.
EVANS - many hasty comrpomises.
RATHENAU - now we have a Republic, but not Republicans.