Impact of WWI on germany Flashcards
What was the reaction to the outbreak? Give example
Negative
July 1914 Berlin demonstration attended by 100,000
How was the war initially presented to the public by the gov?
defensive campaign against Slav aggression
What effect did the war initially have on politics? Example
Unity
Burgfrieden enabling act passed (1914) –> Reichstag gave all legislative powers
What, essentially, was the Schleiffen Plan?
Blueprint for victory on 2 fronts
Why did the Schleiffen plan fail?
lack of supplies
By 1914 how much of Germany’s food was imported?
25%
How did chaotic bureaucracy affect food supplies?
counter-productive decisions
1915 ordered 9mil pigs to be killed as they consumed grain –> led to a shortage of pork and fertiliser for remainder of war
When was the rationing of bread introduced?
1915
How did the war affect labour in the countryside?
End of 1914 half of workforce had been conscripted
Who suffered the worst of the food shortages?
Urban dwellers –> only some found relief in the black market
How did the war improve the situation for women?
Gave opportunity to change job for better pay as war industries paid better
Krupp Corporation = 40% women workers
Give 2 examples of wartime opposition and how their impact was minimal
1915 20 SPD deputies voted against war credits –> lone voiced
Liebknecht and Luxembourg advocated for revolution –> spent most of war in prison
What law passed in 1916 created widespread unrest, why?
Auxiliary Labour Law (1916)
Essentially a law for forced labour as it prevented people from moving jobs
Why did the Auxiliary Labour Law fail?
Failed to mobilise large numbers of men because they didn’t exist
Between what years was the harsh winter and what was it called?
Turnip Winter 1916-17
How did government policy exacerbate social tensions during WWI?
in relation to peasantry and rural producers? (2 things)
State prices were low and didn’t take production costs into account
Resented the Junker class who retained tax privileges until 1916
How did government policy exacerbate social tensions during WWI?
In relation to the urban working class (2 things)
Resented state and bureaucratic controls that led to lack of food and long queues for food (polonaise)
Blamed Jews and middle classes for the black market
How did WWI affect the middle classes? (2 things)
Savings worth less
War closed gap between those who were salaries and those who weren’t (insecurity)
Why did the USA declare war on Germany, and when?
What affect did this have on opposition?
1917 –> in response to German unrestricted submarine warfare
(also unpopular policy with Bethmann and others)
Increased opposition –> people demanded end to war
Give an example of opposition in Berlin 1916
June 1916 –> Strikers demand ‘Freedom, Bread, and Peace’
What affect did the huge losses have on support for the war?
decreased support, increased opposition
2mil killed
6.2mil casualties
How did the Hindenburg Programme strain the economy?
increased demand for munitions – greater strain on supply of raw materials
What 2 main reasons did workers oppose the war?
Hunger of 1917
long hours
When was the Reichstag ‘peace resolution’ passed and what was the vote?
1917 –> 212:116
What affect did the war have on the SPD?
Polarisation –> split in party –> formed splinter group 1917 after voting against war credits USPD
By 1918 how many members did the USPD have
100,000
Name the 2 opposing pressure groups created during the war that wanted different outcomes
German Fatherland Party –> victorious peace/lebensraum
Peace League for Freedom and Fatherland –> moderate peace
How did the Jan 1918 strikes affect industry?
How many workers took part?
Munitions factories stopped working
1mil+ workers
What did the Brest-Litovsk Treaty (1918) bring into Germany? (3 points)
What country was it with?
Seized 3/4 of Russia’s coal and iron
Virtually all of its oil/cotton
1/3 of its population
Russia
What was the impact of defeat on the navy? (3 points)
Mutinies at Wilhelmshaven and Kiel
Councils of workers and soldiers set up in towns and ports (e.g. Hamburg)
Democratic and socialist republic declared in Bavaria
Who was made Chancellor in the face of defeat? When?
Prince Max of Baden
9 Nov 1918
What impact did impending defeat have on constitutional change? (4 points)
Kaiser prepared to concede to change
Parliament able to consider foreign and military affairs
Prussian Parl to be democratically elected
Cabinet gov to be recognised by constitution
What did the Allies demand of the Kaiser as part of the armistice?
his abdication
When was the armistice signed? what was its significance?
11 Nov 1918
ended the war
