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Germany essays- booklet 2 > Knowledge test > Flashcards

Knowledge test Flashcards

1
Q

When did Prince max resign?

A

9th November 1918

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2
Q

What benefits did the bill of rights introduce?

A

provided sick pay, freedom of speech/religion/ trade unions as well as unemployment benefits

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3
Q

What political freedoms did people of Weimar have compared to Bismarck??

A

Freedom to voice their political concerns without fear of persecution, this was radically different to Bismarck who suppressed political views different to his own eg passing anti socialist laws in 1878

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4
Q

How long did Ebert stay in power for and how often were presidential elections supposed to take place?

A

From the end of 1918 to 1925, elections to be every 7 years

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5
Q

What name was given to Ebert which undermined the extent of his changes from the kaiserreich??

A

Ersatz-Kaiser which meant substitute kaiser

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6
Q

What special powers were given to Ebert under Weimar which wasn’t too different from the kaiser?

A

Article 48 powers which meant he could override parliament, as Bismarck had been able to do

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7
Q

What aspects of weimar undermined its differences from the kaiserreich?

A
  • Article 48 powers
  • control of the army
  • ability to dissolve the Reichstag
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8
Q

What was the new voting/ election system under weimar and how many votes were needed to gain seats?

A

Proportional representation- 60,000 votes in one state got you a seat and 30,000 across the country also ensured you a seat

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9
Q

Why was PR beneficial/ different from the kaiserreich?

A

Combined with the shifting importance of the reichstag, it was the most democratic germany had been in the period and meant the parliament was as representative of the people as it could be, as previously the reichstag was voted on but had limited power compared to the Bundesrat and Prussia’s presence within it.

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10
Q

Who could vote for the reichtag and how was it different to Bismarck?

A

Men and women over the age of 20, compared to men over 25 under Bismarck

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11
Q

What was changed about the reichstag and Bundesrat?

A

Under the Prince maxs reforms before his resignation, the Bundesrat became accountable to the reichstag, as did the chancellor, increasing the importance of the reichstag compared to the Bundesrat and curtailing the power of prussia in guiding the politics of the country

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12
Q

How was the Judiciary changes by weimar?

A

The judiciary was left completely unchanged by Weimar and the right wing junkers which dominated it continued their control of it, being biased towards the right wing was lesser punishments compared to the left wing

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13
Q

What two punishments were given to two prolific left and right wing politicians which showed the bias of the unchanged judiciary?

A

Hitler given 5 years for treason in 1924 (punishable by death) and served only 9 months
-Fechenbach (left wing) given 11 years for violating press laws

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14
Q

What two pacts were introduced following Ebert introduction and who were they aimed at?

A

Stinnes-Liegen act to bring the big industrialists on side

Ebert-Gröener pact to stabilise the army after their mutinies

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15
Q

Who undermined the Ebert groner pact in 1923 and why?

A

General Von seeckt was reluctant to send army members into the Munich Putsch to stop uprising because of the right wing nature the Putsch, showing a lack of allegiance

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16
Q

Overall how different was weimar from the kaiserreich?

A

It clearly did introduce some positive changes that empowered the political situation of many people in Germany, notably the electorate and the reichstag due to the bill of rights and PR. However there was also many aspects completely unchanged and Ebert had to give up many of his socialist ideology to please the right wing, ie with the army and the industrial pacts that were undermined, as well as leaving the judiciary unchanged

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17
Q

What 2 things could be considered political goals of Ebert?

A

welfare improvements ie bill of rights

Greater democracy ie proportional representation and reform of the reichstag power

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18
Q

What 2 things could be considered problems facing the weimar republic??

A

Treaty of Versailles

legacy of the kaiserreich

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19
Q

Which two parties representing which people opposed the Weimar republic and why?

A

The DNP and DNVP who saw PR as too democratic as it reduced their parliamentary power considering the bundesrat was reformed to reduce their power

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20
Q

What aspects of the legacy of the kaiserreich was a problem to weimar?

A
  • The DNP and DNVP/middle/upper class opposition
  • unreformed judiciary which was biased towards right wing
  • the army
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21
Q

What was accepted by Germany as part of the treaty of versailles which angered the upper classes and army?

A

Clause 231-Accepting total war guilt angered the army and upper classes because it was seen as humiliating

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22
Q

Which two areas of Germany were lost or changed following the treaty?

A 
Rhineland was demilitarised
Saar land (coal fields) were lost
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23
Q

How much in reparations were Germany supposed to pay and when were they told?

A

£6.6mn worth of gold and materials, not told until 1921

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24
Q

What was Germany excluded from after the war?

A

League of nations until they could prove they were ‘peace loving’

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25
Q

Who led the spartacists and what did they believe?

A

Karl Liebknecht, they wanted to claim germany as a soviet republic after the Kaiser abdicated

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26
Q

What did the spartacists want in Germany?

A

A communist style uprising

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27
Q

What political party did the spartacists form and what did they split from?

A

Members of the communist party KPD, split from the USPD which had split from the SPD

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28
Q

What prompted the spartacist uprising in the short term and when was it?

A

January 1st 1919-

  • Sailors who had mutinied and been involved in the council of peoples commissars were ordered to leave their quarters
  • Ebert used military force when they refused to leave, which prompted them to form the KPD
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29
Q

What prompted the spartacist uprising in the long term?

A

The most radical of members split away from the USPD to form the KPD under Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. On 1st Jan 1919, after removal of Berlins left wing chief of police, the spartacists had an uprising, occupying buildings in Berlin, which Ebert used further force against (freikorps)

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30
Q

who did Ebert use to stop the spartacists?

A

The freikorps; a paramilitary force of ex right wing soldiers

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31
Q

Why did the KPD spilt away from the USPD?

A

Ebert got the army to attack the palace containing members of the council of peoples commissar, so the USPD resigned and KPD formed from more radical members

32
Q

On average what % of the vote did the SPD gain under weimar ?

A

38%

33
Q

What was set up for the interim government of Germany when Ebert became president and who was involved?

A

The council of peoples commissar with 3 SPD and 3 USPD members, with workers, soldiers and sailors involved in a meeting to accept the authority of this council

34
Q

What was agreed under the Ebert Groner pact and when?

A

10th November-the army would support the government and in return the government would support the armed forces to keep discipline and stop further revolutions

35
Q

What was agreed under the Stinnes Legien agreement and when?

A

15th November- meetings between trade unions and employers in which unions weren’t allowed to interfere with private ownership and the free market, but workers were given full legal recognition and an 8 hour day

36
Q

Explain the Kaisers role during the war?

political

A
  • exerted no real control over political and military affairs during the war
  • advice was rarely sought after and was kept in the dark about military advancements
  • was no longer a figurehead of German politics
37
Q

Why did the war negatively effect Bethmanns role as chancellor? (political)

A
  • The kaiser had lost his control over the army and the country was now effectively being run by the silent dictatorship
  • the reichstag did not back the chancellor and so he relied on support from the kaiser, who now had a reduction in power
38
Q

What was the silent dictatorship and what was its significance? (political)

A

Hindenburg and Ludendorff replaced Falkenhayn as war commanders and together they undermined the role of the kaiser and the government as they became the figurehead of the war

39
Q

What was the overall political consequence of the war?

A

-The Kaiser who had dominated in Germany since 1871 had seen a massive decline in his power and role as leader of the country, in addition to chancellor Bethmann who was also rendered useless in comparison to the silent dictatorship. Bethmann was forced to resign by 1917

40
Q

What two important economic services were set up for the war effort and what did they do? (economic)

A

KRA By Walter Rathenau- saved the munitions crisis by effectively allocating raw materials into the war, and shifting the focus of ammunition production towards nitrates needed for the explosives in the war

ASL (Auxiliary service law)- Germanys attempt to intensify their war effort by bringing more able bodied people into the war and stopping people from moving jobs

41
Q

What was the Hindenburg programme? (economic factor)

A

Hindenburg signing contracts with industrialists to help inputs into the war effort

42
Q

How did germany fund the war and what financial problems did they have? (economic)

A
  • Financed through war bonds because germany was in debt prior to the war
  • only 16% of the war was paid for through taxi, as they never bothered to increases taxes and so couldnt pay for the war
  • Germany printed more money to pay for the war which saw them enter years of hyperinflation
43
Q

what was total war? (economic)

A

a war that spared neither the military or civilian population

44
Q

What was the overall economic impact of the war?

A

Germany was already in debt when they entered into the war and so they had to introduce war bonds which they couldnt pay back when they lost, adversely affecting the lives of the population. They didn’t increase taxes and instead printed money which led to hyperinflation which devastated the economy. KRA maybe prolonged German’s involvement in the war as Rathenau solved the munition crisis, but other attempts like the ASL and Hindenburg programmed only increased the costs

45
Q

What was the casualty numbers for the war? (social)

A

1.8million dead which equated to 16% of those conscripted

46
Q

What factors contributed to the decline in living standards during the war?(social)

A
  • food and fuel shortages
  • civilian deaths
  • flu epidemic
  • inflation
47
Q

What food and fuel shortages were there? social

A
  • government killed 35% of pigs to save grain
  • led to the turnip winter of 1916 because people were forced to eat turnips regarded as animal fodder
  • potato crop failure
48
Q

What caused civilian deaths and how many were there from each cause?social

A

Hypothermia- 293,000 during the war

Starvation-750,000 during the war

49
Q

How did infant mortality increase during the war? social

A

increased by 50%

50
Q

What were ‘sharks’ of the industry and what was the response during the war??social

A

Business owners that had profited heavily from the war whilst the lives of workers had very much gotten worse. By April 1917 200,000 workers went on strike in Berlin

51
Q

What was the overall social impact of the war?

A

There was increased divisions between the working classes and higher up areas of society because they were taking the burden of food shortages and falling living standards of living whilst ‘sharks’ were making big profits and people in political positions had committed to ‘total war’ despite being unable to fulfil it. Perhaps the biggest negative impact out of economic political and social because economic and political factors aren’t easy to fix when there is social discontent

52
Q

What was the Burgfriede and when was it?

A

A political truce between all parties in 1914 to support and finance the war, the government remained mainly unopposed throughout the war as a result

53
Q

What was surprising about the Burgfriede?

A

The pacifist SPD supported a defensive war and therefore the burgfriede despite being previously regarded as ‘enemies of the state’

54
Q

What encouraged the Kaiser to abdicate?

A

A letter sent to USA that suggested that if the Kaiser to abdicate then germany would get more lenient terms, mounting pressure on the king

55
Q

When was the first Kiel Mutinty and what happened?

A

29th October, 600 sailors imprisoned (failed)

56
Q

When was the second Kiel mutiny and what happened?

A

4th November- 100,000 sailors mutinied and took control of their ships whilst setting up communist style councils

57
Q

What had been achieved by the 8th November by workers?

A

Pro Bolsheviks style revolutions had taken place and workers, sailors and soldiers had set up councils in all major cities and ports, as a stand against the old political system

58
Q

What happened on the 9th November 1918

A

A general strike in Berlin was called, with 15 soldiers being killed, Ebert became chancellor as well

59
Q

Source- what was Erzbergers concern with german war effort in 1917

A
  • realised Germany were not capable of winning the war, especially with 2 million US soldiers being drafted in within 2 years
  • the submarine warfare was not working and their allies in the Austro-hungary war were preparing to withdraw
60
Q

Source- what domestic problems did Germany have in 1917 (erzberger)

A

-The rise of the working classes in 1917 saw them face a political crisis, as they were beginning to strike, with 1.5 million workers striking in 1917 as they lost morale and questioned the armies ability to win the war

61
Q

Source- how did Erzberger try and use the reichstag for his resolution

A

-he presented a peace revolution to the recichstag, with members of the Z party, NL and SPD drafted it up. This was to be an alternative to the Kreuznach programme and was approved in July 1917 by 86 votes, calling for lasting peace

62
Q

Source- military reaction to the resolution, what happened in the government and what did it show about the government

A
  • Ludendorff and Hindenburg hated the resolution but used it to drive Bethmann out of office in 1917, claiming they couldnt work with him and threatening to resign if he didnt go
  • replaced by Michaelis who was a completely weak leader and was even easier for the silent dictatorship to control over
  • the military used its power to get one million people in support of overruling the peace resolution and undermining the powers of reichstag; shows the extent to which the military held considerable political power, especially under the silent dictatorship
63
Q

What was the Kreuznach programme?

A

-Hindenburg and Ludendorff set out what they wanted to achieve with an end to the war

64
Q

What did Hindenburg and Ludendorff set out under the Kreuznach programme??

A

-Annexation of the baltic states, Poland, Luxembourg, French coal and iron fields
-also wanted economic dominance over Belgium and territory of the country
(basically a huge expansion of German land which Bethmann felt was unrealistic)

65
Q

What was the Zimmermann telegram?

A

-It was a British uncovered telegram in which Germany requested that Mexico join an alliance with Germany if the USA were to join the war (which they did in 1917)

66
Q

What did Ludendorff do regarding submarine warfare and why did it anger Bethmann?

A
  • Implemented unrestricted submarine bombing which included attacking all boats approaching GB ports
  • Bethmann thought it would bring USA into the war, which it did in 1917
67
Q

What was the Siegfriede and when was it?

A

1917

-An idea in which Germany should gain a victory peace and use its position and strength to achieve world power status

68
Q

what ideas/ goals would the Siegfried have gained and what one party opposed it?

A

SPD opposed it due to pacifist tendencies
-It encouraged Germany annexing Northern European land and achieving economic dominance of the west of Europe, as well as annexation of Russia land in the East

69
Q

Why did the elites and upper classes support the Siegfried

A

-They knew that if a decisive victory wasn’t achieved, there would be great political reform which the elites feared

70
Q

What was the Burgfriede and what was surprising about it?

A

A political truce between all political parties to pass all laws necessary to finance to war
-even the pacifist SPD was happy to support the war and allow its finance

71
Q

How long did the Burgfriede last and why??

A

Over two years the government were able to continuously finance the war without any real political opposition
-this was down to public mood staying confident owing to lots of propaganda and military censors so the Germans were unaware of the real impact and lack of success in the war

72
Q

What was the turning point of the war for public opinion/ beginning of the political crisis?

A

-The loss at Verdun and going towards the end of 1916 (turnip winter etc)

73
Q

What was the SPDs alternative to the Siegfriede?

A

The idea that Germany were fighting a defensive war and should negotiate a peace treaty based on reconciliation and no territorial gain, which would ultimately result in political reform in Germany favoured among the Lower classes

74
Q

What were the goals and beliefs of the spartacists?

A

-They wanted to seize power and enact a soviet communist style revolution to develop a number of communist councils and eventually a communist state

75
Q

What is the acronym for the treaty of Versailles?

A

T-territory, RL demilitarised, Saarland taken
R-reparations of £6.6mn from 1921
A-army-100,000 troops and 10,000 sailors max
W-war guilt ie clause 231
L- league of nations couldn’t join until peace loving proven

Germany essays- booklet 2 (9 decks)

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