Germany 1918

Question 1

Who was Woodrow Wilson?

Answer 1

USA’s president during WW1

Question 2

What was he trying to do with Germany and why?

Answer 2

Negotiating an armistice, as Germany believed US would offer soft peace and help rebuild their country due to Wilson’s 14 point speech

Question 3

What does hard peace mean for Germany?

Answer 3

Meant Germany would be harshly punished for their involvement in the war

Question 4

What were the 14 points main themes?

Answer 4

In the speech, Wilson directly addressed what he perceived as the causes for the world war by calling for the abolition of secret treaties, a reduction in armaments, an adjustment in colonial claims in the interests of both native peoples and colonists, and freedom of the seas.

Question 5

What were all the points based upon?

Answer 5

Principles of self determination, Wilson trying to influence countries to govern themselves

Question 6

what was the 14th point and what did it cause?

Answer 6

Countries form an alliance
- formed diplomatic idealism, had a big impact on treaty of Versailles but not in the idealistic vision just the 14th point
- inspired the establishment of league of nations to monitor future disputes and self determination, US didn’t join

Question 7

who created the october reforms?

Answer 7

Ludendorff recommended it however the kaiser began the series of reforms which effectively ended his autocratic rule

Question 8

Why did he create the October reforms?

Answer 8

As he believed that removing the kaiser from his position and moving away from an autocracy was the best way to negotiate peace

Question 9

whats an autocracy?

Answer 9

a system of government by one person with absolute power.

Question 10

Why did the October reforms come around?

Answer 10

Since Ludendorff believed that removing the Kaiser from his position and moving away from an autocracy was the best way to negotiate peace with the USA

Question 11

what did the october reforms entail?

Answer 11

• The Kaiser and chancellor were answerable to parliament
  -The kaiser no longer had control of the army
  -The parliament had power to hold chancellor to account

Question 12

What were the October reforms often referred to as?

Answer 12

A revolution from above

Question 13

What happened on 29th September?

Answer 13

Ludendorff called for armistice negotiations

Question 14

What happened on 30th September?

Answer 14

Kaiser promised political reform

Question 15

what happened on the 3rd of October 1918?

Answer 15

Prince Max wrote to Wilson asking for an armistice.

Question 16

Why did Wilson respond 3 weeks later on 24th October 1918?

Answer 16

As he was suspicious that they were trying to buy time to regroup and prepare for a new offensives.

Question 17

What did Wilsons response say?

Answer 17

H called them to evacuate all occupied territory and end submarine warfare and full democratise its political system

Question 18

Who was against Wilsons response?

Answer 18

Ludendorff as he did not want democracy

Question 19

What did Ludendorff do in response to Wilson requests?

Answer 19

Tried to gather support for a last ditch military attempt to resist yet failed.
He resigned and fled to Sweden.

Question 20

How do German people respond to the Armistice?

Answer 20

They were disappointed as it shows they lost the war and finally realised their countries hopeless military situation.

Question 21

What occurs on the 22nd October 1918?

Answer 21

Workers strike due to armistice
The chant is ‘ The Kaiser is a scoundrel!’

Question 22

What occurs on 28th October 1918?

Answer 22

Kaiser introduced further reforms making the Chancellor accountable to the Reichstag
German navy ordered ships to attack British ships in the English Channel.

Question 23

What occurs on 30th October 1918?

Answer 23

The crews of the ships refused to obey orders (naval mutiny), they didn’t want to fight as they were losing.

Question 24

3rd November 1918

Answer 24

Mutiny spreads to Kiel (main naval base), German citizens want a democratic republic

Question 25

8th November 1918

Answer 25

Regime collapses
Republic declared in German state

Question 26

9th November 1918

Answer 26

Kaiser abdicates
SPD call workers in Berlin to join a strike and force him to abdicate

Question 27

What does the events on the 9th November lead to?

Answer 27

The chancellor cannot govern without the SPD
Prince Max released a statement that Kaiser is abdicating general greener told kaiser the army wouldn’t fight for him

Question 28

Who took the kaisers place?

Answer 28

Friedrich Ebert (SPD leader)

Question 29

What did Ebert declare about Germanys situation?

Answer 29

He agreed to the armistice and declared Germany as a democratic republic

Question 30

10 November 1918?

Answer 30

Ebert-Groener pact
- Groener assured Ebert of the loyalty of the armed forces. In return, Ebert promised that the government would take prompt action against leftist uprisings, that he would call a national assembly and most importantly that military command would remain with the professional officer corps.

Question 31

11 November 1918?

Answer 31

Armistice signed with allies