Germany- end of war Flashcards
when was the Weimar republic
1918-1933
what type of government was the Weimar republic
Democratic
who had the right to vote in the Reichstag
males, 25+
who did the Kaiser give more political power to towards the end of WW1
leading generals like Erich Ludendorff and Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg (the army)
what ruled germany after 1916 for rest of the war
new military comittee
what was formed after the war (government republic)
Weimar republic
What happened to government after the war
end of Kaisers rule and start of democratic government
who did right wing germans blame after WW1
Kaiser, jews and racial minorities
what did the left wing germans want after WW1
wanted communist revolution
what did the allies do that lead to the limitations of supplies in germany
naval blockade
how many germans were killed in WW1`
2 million and 8 million injured
what was Ludendorff’s plan to avoid being blamed for defeat
advised Kaiser to hand power over to civilian government so tried to establish democracy with a monarch
why did Ludendorff do what he did towards the end of the war
i) to secure Germany the best possible peace terms
ii) to prevent political outbreak
who devised 14 points as means of dealing fairly with the aftermath of war
Woodrow Wilson
what reforms did the Kaiser introduce to turn Germany into a democracy before end of WW1
i) appointed Max of Baden as new Chancellor
ii) Chancellor to be responsible to Reichstag and new government
iii) Wilhelm have up powers over army/navy with army put under control of Reichstag
when were the german government reforms introduced
October 1918, 1 month before end of war
what are the ‘October Reforms’ referred to as
‘Revolution from above’
who was Prince Max of Baden
former army officer and member of royal house of Grand Duchy of Baden. appointed Chancellor in October Reforms
when did Prince Max write to President Wilson asking for an armistice
3 October 1918
what three things did Wilson ask Germany to do to begin working for an armistice
i) evacuate all occupied territory
ii) end sub warfare
iii) fully democratize political system
why were the german demands for the start of armistice negotiations too much
asked for german surrender, Kaisers abdication
what was the peace note
admission germany had lost the war
what happened on 3/11/1918 at Kiel
sailors mutinied against officers and took control of the base
what did sailors fear would happen as a result of the mutinies
suicide attacks against Britain to have honour
what had happened with the revolts by 4/11/1918
spread to major cities
what did most members of council want at end of WW1
Kaiser abdication and democratic republic
which groups of people were catalysts for the collapse of the regime after ww1
military officers and government officials
what happened in Bavaria on 8/11/1918
republic proclaimed
what happened on 9/11/1918
SPD workers called for massive strike demanding Kaisers abdication, Max released press statement saying this had happened, then resigned and gave power to the leader of the SPD, Ebert, leading to provisional coalition government, General Groenoer told Kaiser army wouldnt fight for him, Kaiser abdicates at 5pm
who was Friedrich Ebert
became leader of SPD in 1913, first Chancellor of new German republic in Nov. 1918 and first President in 1919
who was General Groener
distinguished military administrator who succeeded Ludendorff after he fled
what did the abdicated Wilhelm do after his abdication
fled to holland next day and was held up at Eysen for 6 hours but eventually let in
when did Ludendorff flee to Sweeden
26 October
when did Ebert enter the Reichstag
1912
when did the SPD split and what was formed as a result
1917- USPD
what did Ebert support when Germany collapsed
parliamentary democracy with constitutional monarchy
who held the first democratic elections and created the Weimar constitution
Friedrich Ebert
who did Ebert use to suppress the more radical left
army and Freikorps
when did Ebert become president (a) and also die (b)
Feb 1919 (a), 1925 (b)
how did Ebert come to power
Max of Baden gave him power, however come to power through revolutionary act
why did Ebert need to establish new constitution asap
his government lacked legitemacy
what was a Constituent Assembly
elected body with task of drawing up new constitution after revolution
when he came to power, where did Ebert have power
Berlin
what became regular circumstances after he armistice
street demonstrations and strikes
how many members did the KPD have
5000
who did the KPD believe Germany should follow
Russia and Lenin
how many people were in the USPD
300k members
how many members did the SPD have by 1912
1 million
by late 1918, what did the SPD government rely on
army
what was Eberts main worry when he came to power
extreme left would get upper hand and might threaten policy of gradual change
who did Ebert make agreements with when he came to power
army+industrialists
what were Eberts main problems when he came to power
socio-economic
left wing opposition
right wing opposition
military
what socio-economic problems were there for Ebert when he came to power
-inflation
-shortages (from winter of 1917-17 fuel)
-flu epidemic (spanish flu)
why was left wing opposition a problem for Ebert when he came to power
-strikes from autumn 1918
-German communists
-workers and soldiers councils
why was right wing opposition a problem for Ebert when he came to power
-Freikorps (right wing nationalist soldiers)
-army embittered by defeat after WW1
- nationalists didn’t support new government
why was the military a problem for Ebert when he came to power
-Demobilisation
-allied blockade caused shortages, not relieved until June 1919
-peace terms were horrible
When was an agreement reached between new gov, Berlin workers, soldiers councils
22 nov 1918
What did officers believe could happen in late 1918
Bolshevik revolution, civil war, even occupation from west
What was the Ebert-Groener pact and when
That the army would be loyal to Ebert if he used the army to suppress communist opposition. Agreed on 10 november
What was the Stinnes-Legien agreement
Deal where trade unions made commitment to not interfere with private ownership in return for an 8 hour working day
why did Eberts government endorse the Stinnes- Legien agreement
trade unions were powerful movement and traditionally closely tied with SPD
what did critics on the left say Eberts pact was
betrayal of revolution
what is a counter argument to Eberts pact and conflict it brought
both parties motivated to keep peaceful transition and guarantee stability
when did Ebert and the cabinet make preparations for elections to Constituent Assembly
Jan 1919
when was the Spartacist (KPD) demonstration and what happened
6 Dec 1918, fired on soldiers, killing 16
what caused 3 USPD officials to resign from Eberts government and when
23-24th Dec, sailors revolt against Berlin, put down by army
what was the ‘January Revolution and when did it start
6 Jan 1919, Spartacists launched armed revolution, week of heavy fighting but eventually crushed
