Germany at War 1914-1918: ...

Question 1

To what extent did Hidenburg and Ludendorff establish a silent dictatorship?

Answer 1

• German victories at the start of the war made the reputation of Hindeburg as virtually invincible general
• a cult of hero quickly developed around him
• change of leadership in the middle years of the war, it was not a radical civilian politician but the two most successful generals whot took over in 1916
• Hindenburg and Ludendorff established a slient dictatorship:

1. military rule (generals control war aims and foreign policy)
2. severe curbs on civil liberties
3. central control of the economy

Question 2

What evidence is there to demonstrate to what extent Hindenburg and Ludendorff established a silent dictatorship?

Answer 2

• The ‘Hindenburg Programme’ attempted to galvanize and reorganise the german economy to bend it to the overriding purpose of winning the war
• The war office, run by general Wilhelm Groener, coopted the trade unions and civilian politicians in the task of mobilisaiton which was anathema to industrialist and other generals
• Groener was soon disposed of (pushing all civilian politicians aside)
• ludendorff ordered a sysytematic economic expolitation of france, belgium and east-central europe