P1- German revolution Flashcards
how did the german revolution happen?
sailor mutiny at Kiehl Port - Wilhelmshaven - rumours of one last mission (suicide) - widespread fury
what were the cuaes for the collapse of imperial germany?
military defeat / socio-economic tension / immeadiate factors and influence from bolsehvik
when did kaiser abdicate ?
9 Nov 1918
which party was the most powerful in 1918?
SPD
when was the armistice signed?
11 Nov - at Compiègne
social effects of WW1
-discontentt - 1916 - Tunrip winter
what did Simon Constantine say about turnip winter ?
‘bullish patriotism of war food office agaisnt experience of real
middle class after ww1
-felt status + wealth declined blamed ‘Sharks of the Industry’
economic effects of WW1
-inflation - longer working hours but lower wages (avg. prices doubled wages only up by 50-75%
evidence of upheaval without war
-spanish flu 1918 - killed more than war
what was the october Reform
-Ludendorff - desire for constituional monarchy - democratic regime gain more respect and sympathy from allies -ACTUAL cycnical aim was to displace responsilbility for ww1 from the right military to the new government
why did the october reform fail?
-after sailor mutiny Prince Max’s gov lost control and forced into new coalition gov w/ Ebert
what was the stab in the back myth
-popular right wing myth - october reform sparks - left ‘november criminals’ responsible for war by signing versailles
what was the revolution from above?
Wilhelm –>power for army + navy to reichstag - chancellor accountable to reichstag not kaiser - foundations for ‘stab in back’
what was the revolution from below?
-sailor mutiny + control ports - socilaists take bavaria = thousands armed men supporting diff things march back to germany uncontrolled
Eberts issues in the military
-1.5 mil soliders return home - all armed - not organised and no jobs
eberts issues socio-economic
-spanish flu - 50 mil dead + inflation + 1916-1917 fuel + food shortages
ebert issues - left wing op
-1918 strikes // communist threat
eberts issues - right wing op
friekorps - conservative army
eberts actions - ebert Gröner agrmt.
-10.Nov.1918 ( army support Ebert + ebert preserves army == BAD IN LONG TERM - ARMY HAVE POWER
Eberts Actions - Stinnes Legien Agrmt.
15.NOV - Ligien (TU leader) + Stinnes (industrial employers) - TU agree support priv ownership +free market ( seperate from communism no support to KPD or USPD) // stinnes - 8hr day
1919 - 6th feb - first election - voter turnout and pro democracy
-76.1% vote pro democracy
critical opinion of 2 agrmt. - Ebert Groner
-ebert supported compromises w/ forces of conservatism - army not reformed or committed to democracy – employers resent concessiosn and unsympathetic to Weimar system - frikeorps to restore order ‘END VIOLENCE BY USING ORG. THAT STARTED IT’
-USPD- WHY DID THEY SEPERATE - STRATEGY AND AIMS
left eberts gov over shooitng of spartacists - RADICAL CHANGE - reform army and nationalise industries
SPD - what happened
-became politcally isolated and moved further to right –> democracy + create change but prevent communism
what did Spartacists form Jan .1 . 1919
-KPD (communist party)
aims of Spartacists
-replace army w/ local militias of workers// nationalism of indutries + land // introduce welfare benefits
-what did Spartacist do 5.jan.1919
-occupied public builidngs =call for general strike = crushed by friekorps and luxemborg and Liebkneckt murdered
leader of spartacists
-Rosa Luxemburg + Karl Liebknecht
5.jan.1919 - failed and why
leaders murdered - spartacists strong on policies -detached from politcal realities so failed
argument for economy worst impact of war stats
- industry 2/3 1913
- national income 1/3 1913
