Impact of WWI on germany

Question 1

What was the reaction to the outbreak? Give example

Answer 1

Negative

July 1914 Berlin demonstration attended by 100,000

Question 2

How was the war initially presented to the public by the gov?

Answer 2

defensive campaign against Slav aggression

Question 3

What effect did the war initially have on politics? Example

Answer 3

Unity

Burgfrieden enabling act passed (1914) –> Reichstag gave all legislative powers

Question 4

What, essentially, was the Schleiffen Plan?

Answer 4

Blueprint for victory on 2 fronts

Question 5

Why did the Schleiffen plan fail?

Answer 5

lack of supplies

Question 6

By 1914 how much of Germany’s food was imported?

Answer 6

25%

Question 7

How did chaotic bureaucracy affect food supplies?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

When was the rationing of bread introduced?

Answer 8

1915

Question 9

How did the war affect labour in the countryside?

Answer 9

End of 1914 half of workforce had been conscripted

Question 10

Who suffered the worst of the food shortages?

Answer 10

Urban dwellers –> only some found relief in the black market

Question 11

How did the war improve the situation for women?

Answer 11

Gave opportunity to change job for better pay as war industries paid better

Krupp Corporation = 40% women workers

Question 12

Give 2 examples of wartime opposition and how their impact was minimal

Answer 12

1915 20 SPD deputies voted against war credits –> lone voiced

Liebknecht and Luxembourg advocated for revolution –> spent most of war in prison

Question 13

What law passed in 1916 created widespread unrest, why?

Answer 13

Auxiliary Labour Law (1916)

Essentially a law for forced labour as it prevented people from moving jobs

Question 14

Why did the Auxiliary Labour Law fail?

Answer 14

Failed to mobilise large numbers of men because they didn’t exist

Question 15

Between what years was the harsh winter and what was it called?

Answer 15

Turnip Winter 1916-17

Question 16

How did government policy exacerbate social tensions during WWI?
in relation to peasantry and rural producers? (2 things)

Answer 16

State prices were low and didn’t take production costs into account

Resented the Junker class who retained tax privileges until 1916

Question 17

How did government policy exacerbate social tensions during WWI?
In relation to the urban working class (2 things)

Answer 17

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

Question 18

How did WWI affect the middle classes? (2 things)

Answer 18

Savings worth less

War closed gap between those who were salaries and those who weren’t (insecurity)

Question 19

Why did the USA declare war on Germany, and when?

What affect did this have on opposition?

Answer 19

1917 –> in response to German unrestricted submarine warfare

(also unpopular policy with Bethmann and others)

Increased opposition –> people demanded end to war

Question 20

Give an example of opposition in Berlin 1916

Answer 20

June 1916 –> Strikers demand ‘Freedom, Bread, and Peace’

Question 21

What affect did the huge losses have on support for the war?

Answer 21

decreased support, increased opposition

2mil killed
6.2mil casualties

Question 22

How did the Hindenburg Programme strain the economy?

Answer 22

increased demand for munitions – greater strain on supply of raw materials

Question 23

What 2 main reasons did workers oppose the war?

Answer 23

Hunger of 1917

long hours

Question 24

When was the Reichstag ‘peace resolution’ passed and what was the vote?

Answer 24

1917 –> 212:116

Question 25

What affect did the war have on the SPD?

Answer 25

Polarisation –> split in party –> formed splinter group 1917 after voting against war credits USPD

Question 26

By 1918 how many members did the USPD have

Answer 26

100,000

Question 27

Name the 2 opposing pressure groups created during the war that wanted different outcomes

Answer 27

German Fatherland Party –> victorious peace/lebensraum

Peace League for Freedom and Fatherland –> moderate peace

Question 28

How did the Jan 1918 strikes affect industry?

How many workers took part?

Answer 28

Munitions factories stopped working

1mil+ workers

Question 29

What did the Brest-Litovsk Treaty (1918) bring into Germany? (3 points)

What country was it with?

Answer 29

Seized 3/4 of Russia’s coal and iron

Virtually all of its oil/cotton

1/3 of its population

Russia

Question 30

What was the impact of defeat on the navy? (3 points)

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Who was made Chancellor in the face of defeat? When?

Answer 31

Prince Max of Baden

9 Nov 1918

Question 32

What impact did impending defeat have on constitutional change? (4 points)

Answer 32

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

Question 33

What did the Allies demand of the Kaiser as part of the armistice?

Answer 33

his abdication

Question 34

When was the armistice signed? what was its significance?

Answer 34

11 Nov 1918

ended the war