The Birth of a Democratic Germany 1917-19 Flashcards
Who were the German government in contact with during WW1 in order to undermine the Russian war effort?
Russian revolutionaries - mainly Bolsheviks
What event toppled the tsarist regime in Russia? What did this mean for Germany?
February Revolution 1917
Hope removed as a new provisional, liberal government decided to continue fighting
When and who did the Germans send to Russia, attempting to remove the provisional government?
10-11 April 1917
Bolshevik leader Lenin and 31 emigres
What event resulted from the return of Bolshevik leaders to topple the provisional government?
October Revolution
When were there peace proposals in Russia, to end the Eastern Front?
8th November 1917
Where and when was there a peace conference in Russia to formalise Russia’s exit from the war?
Brest-Litovsk
3rd March 1918
Which land areas did Russia lose in the war to Germany?
Baltic states
Poland
Finland
East Anatolian
Ardahan
Batum
How much land and population did Russia lose with the peace treaty?
1 million sq/km - 89% of coalfields and 54% of industrial land
50 million population
When did the USA enter the war in WW1?
4th April 1917
How much did the US contribute economically to the war?
$87.7 billion
What advantage did the US have over all the other armies in WW1?
Lacked ‘war weariness’ and had huge economic resources, as well as weaponry and warships
What feeling developed in Germany as the war progressed, not being an imminent victory as promised?
Disillusionment
What plan failed in the German offensive in 1914?
Schlieffen Plan
What German offensive failed in 1916 and 1917?
Verdun offensive in 1916
Campaign for unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917
Which areas did disillusionment grow in, in Germany during WW1?
-With the Kaiser, army leadership and government
-Prussian militarism blamed for state of Germany
-Fear of defeat and revolution
When was offensive Michael, in the spring offensive?
21st March 1918
How much land was taken, and how many prisoners in offensive Michael? Why did it still fail?
31 000 km2 of land
90 000 POWs
Captured nothing of value nor divided the French and British
Which other 4 offenses failed in the spring?
Georgetter
Blucher
Gneisenau
Champagne
What was the Burgfriede? When was it?
Political truce between all political parties, agreeing to a defensive war
1914
When was the vote for war credits to be introduced?
August 1914
Which political party, viewed as unpatriotic, voted for a defensive war?
SPD
What was the aim of the SPD by voting for a war?
-Gain political recognition and increase the possibility of Germany becoming a truly democratic nation
-Most were actually patriotic and proud
What process ensured that German people remained in the dark for 2 years and continued to be united over war?
Censorship and government propaganda
What 2 losses in the war caused doubt to increase in Germany?
Losses at Verdun and the Somme
Who commanded troops at the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914?
Hindenburg
Who was deputy to Hindenburg?
Ludendorff
What position did Hindenburg and Ludendorff take up in August 1916?
Leader and deputy of the Supreme Command
What term was given to the running of Germany under Hindenburg and Ludendorff?
Silent dictatorship
How significant a role did the Kaiser have during WW1?
-Exerted no real control over political or military affairs
-Advice rarely sought and was kept in the dark about developments
-More a figurehead
What Law was introduced by the silent dictatorship?
Auxiliary Service Law
When and why was Chancellor Bethmann sacked? Who replaced him?
-1917
-Lacked support in the Reichstag and relied on the Kaiser who had little involvement -became unreliable and isolated - unable to resist interference of the military
-Replaced by ministers who favoured the army
What was the Kreuznach Programme?
-Called for annexation of the Baltic region, Poland, Luxembourg, French coal and iron fields
-Wanted economic dominance in Belgium and territory
-Control of Romanian oil fields and territory in the Balkans
Who opposed the Kreuznach Programme?
Bethmann - forced to agree even though it was unrealistic and unachievable
What was the Zimmermann Telegram? Who was it between?
Message from Germany to Mexico
Asked for a military alliance if the US joined the war
What ship did German U-boats sink in 1915? How many died? What was the impact of this?
Ship Lusitania
Killed 1198 people
Pushed the US to join the war in April 1917
What was the July Crisis in 1917?
-Bethmann forced to resign and was replaced by Michaelis - could be easily manipulated by Hindenburg and Ludendorff
-Foreign Secretary Richard von Kuhlman was forced to resign because he wanted to pursue a policy against Russia which was seen as weak
Why was Bethmann sacked?
-Wanted the Kaiser to go further with reform than simply the Prussian voting system
-Blocked by Ludendorff
What 2 versions of peace emerged in Germany in 1917?
-Believed Germany was fighting a defensive war - peace should be based on compromise, reconciliation and no territorial gains
-Argued for a Seigfriede - victory peace - Germany should use its position of strength to obtain world power status
Which extreme group expressed the view of a Seigfriede?
Pan-German League
What did the Pan-German League want from a Seigfriede?
-Creation of a central African empire
-Annexation of key regions in the Netherlands, Belgium and France
-Economic domination
-Annexation from Russia of Eastern territories
Which political party opposed the Seigfriede?
SPD
How many went on strike in 1917 in protest to the situation in the war?
1.5 million
Who was Erzberger?
Centre Party member who called for an end to the war after conducting research
What concerns did Erzberger have bey 1917?
-Found that unrestricted submarine warfare was a complete failure
-Concerned about the growing strength of the Allies
-Visited Austro-Hungarian Empire and found they needed to remove themselves from war by the end of 1917
What policy did Erzberger suggest and when? What did it outline?
-Called for a ‘Peace Resolution’
-July 1917 during war credit extension meeting in the Reichstag
-Wanted peace without victory that would bring an end to the war without achievement of the Kreuznach Programme
What committee was set up agreeing to Erzberger’s policy of resolution? Who joined the group?
Inter-Party Committee
Included Centre Party, National Liberals, SPD and Progressives
When was the Peace Resolution passed, and by how large a majority? Who prevented its introduction?
19th July 1917
86 vote majority
Hindenburg and Ludendorff opposed and prevented its introduction
What party did Ludendorff help found to prevent further calls for peaceful resolutions? Who supported it?
Vaterlandspartei (Fatherland Party)
Mass middle class nationals and conservatives supported by the military
How many members did the Vaterlandspartei have in 1918? What did adhere to?
1 million + members
Strictly adhered to the Kreuznach programme
How many SPD members voted against the extension of war credits in December 1915?
20
Which leader of the SPD left in 1915? Who replaced him?
Hugo Hasse
Replaced by Friedrich Ebert
How many SPD deputies opposed the governments emergency budget in what year? What group did they form?
Hasse and 18 others
March 1916
Left forming the Labour Fellowship
What group was formed in April 1917 under Hasse as its leader?
Independent Social Democratic Part of Germany (USPD)
Which left-wing group was the USPD associated with?
The Spartacus League
Who led the Spartacus League?
Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg
When were Liebknecht and Luxemburg imprisoned? Why?
1916-18
Protesting against the war and attempting to start a revolution
Which other group supported the USPD?
Revolutionary Shop Stewards
How many members did the USPD have by January 1918?
120 000
How many people attended strikes by the USPD in January 1918?
1 milllion
How many soldiers did the US bring to war in 1917 and 1918?
1 million in 1917 and 1 million in 1918
What was the KRA and who set it up?
War Raw Materials Department
Walther Rathenau
What did the KRA organise?
Stored and distributed raw materials like nitrates, needed for explosives
Set up construction plants to produce nitrates artificially
What did the KRA prevent in what time frame?
Prevented a munitions crisis
6 months KRA organised provision of essential supplies
What were set up to prevent industrial unrest and manage food provisions and prices?
Local war boards
War ministers decided on conscription
% of war cost met by taxation from war bonds and printing money?
16%
What was the result of mass printing of money and war bonds?
Caused hyperinflation and severely devalued the mark
What was set up to regulate food supplies as Junkers refused to make there land available for food production?
War Nutrition Office
What did the Auxiliary Service Law state?
Civilians required to provide service in army, curtailing the freedom of workers
How many war dead did Germany have from the war? What % of those conscripted as this?
1.8 million
16%
How many wounded did Germany have from the war?
4.2 million
% of pigs killed by the government in 1915 to save on grain?
35%
What was the exceptionally cold winter in 1916 called? Why?
‘Turnip winter’
Failure of potato crop forced German people to rely on turnips, usually used as animal fodder
What fraction of food came from imports in Germany?
1/3
How did the rural-urban divide increase during the war?
Urban workers believed farmers were hoarding food
Rural workers angered by lack of workforce and increased food prices
Number of civilian deaths from starvation and hypothermia increased from what between 1916-18?
121 000 in 1916
293 000 in 1918
How many civilians died of starvation during the whole war?
750 000
How much did infant mortality increase by during the war?
Increased 50%
How much did prices increase by between 1914-18?
Doubled
How much did wages increase by during this time, due to inflation?
50-75%
How many workers on strike in Berlin due to what, by April 1917?
200 000
How many workers on strike in Berlin due to what, by April 1917?
200 000
Due to bread rationing
Why were people resentful of the Junkers during the war?
Able to enjoy tax privileges until 1916 and used status to acquire food
What disease epidemic was there after 1918?
Spanish Flu
How many people did the epidemic kill?
20-40 million people
What nickname was given to the groups who had made vast profits during the war?
‘Sharks’ of industry
Which individual became known as the ‘King of the Ruhr’? What % of German industry did they earn?
Hugo Preuss
24% by 1924
How many military divisions were moved from the Eastern front to the Western front following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk? When?
52
March 1918
When and where was Germany’s ‘blackest day of the German army’?
8th August 1918
Battle of Amiens
How many German soldiers were captured on Germany’s ‘blackest day’?
16 000
Which key ally of Germany’s pulled out of the war and when?
Bulgaria
29th September 1918
Where was the German HQ based?
Belgium town of Spa
What myth developed to remove any responsibility or blame for losing the war, from the military leadership? Who did it place blame on?
‘Stab in the back myth’
Jews and socialists responsible for failure
Which US President saw and stated that the Kaiser was an impediment to peace in Europe? When?
President Woodrow Wilson
October 1918
When and where did the Kaiser leave to, to escape calls for his abdication?
29th October 1918
Left Berlin for the Belgium town of Spa
Who was made the new Chancellor in Germany after the war, on what date?
Prince Max
3rd October 1918
Who made up the new government under Prince Max?
SPD, Z Party and the Progressives
When and what did Prince Max write to President Wilson about?
3rd October 1919
Asked for an armistice
What % more had a wealthy person’s vote been worth over a poor person’s?
17.5%
What political reforms did Prince Max introduce?
-Abolished the Prussian 3-class franchise
-Kaiser lost control of the army to the Reichstag
-Chancellor and government were made accountable to the Reichstag, not the Kaiser
Why did Ludendorff resign?
Failed to convince the Kaiser and military to continue with unrestricted submarine warfare
Which area and when declared itself an independent socialist republic, led by whom?
Bavaria
7th November 1918
Led by Kurt Eisner
When did Prince Max announce the Kaiser’s abdication?
9th October 1918
Who replaced Prince Max as Chancellor after the Kaiser’s abdication?
Friedrich Ebert
When was the last time the German navy went to sea as part of the war? What happened?
28th October 1918
2 ships crews mutinied and set up their own councils
When had workers’, sailors’, and soldiers’ set up councils in all main cities and ports?
8th November 1918
What was the naval mutiny known as?
Kiel Mutiny - part of ‘Revolution from Below’
How many sailors imprisoned on the 29th October 1918 (first day)?
600
How many sailors mutinied and took control of ships on the 4th of November 1918?
100 000
How many soldiers were killed in a military revolt in a strike in Berlin, when?
15 killed
9th November 1918
Where did the Kaiser flee in exile after he abdicated?
Netherlands
What coalition sent representatives to France to sign an armistice, when?
SPD/USPD coalition
11th November 1918
What % of the vote did the SPD have in 1917?
38%
What council was set up to retain the popular support of the USPD, under a constitutional government until national elections?
Council of People’s Commissars
What deal did Ebert make with the army and when?
Ebert-Groener Pact
10th November 1918
What did the deal between Ebert and the army do?
Armed forces would support the government and in return the government would support the armed forces steps to preserve discipline and prevent revolution
What deal did Ebert make with industrialists, and when?
Stinnes-Legien Agreement
15th November 1918
What did the deal between Ebert and industrialists do?
In return for full legal recognition, workers committees, and an 8hr day, the unions agreed not to interfere with private ownership and the free market. Trade unions would be recognised by industrialists as the only representatives of German workers
Who was Philip Scheidemann?
-Member of the SPD in 1903
-Agreed with Ebert over ‘Peace Resolution’
-Resigned as President under Ebert because he disagreed with the harsh terms of Versailles
-Fled to Denmark during Hitler’s rise to power
When was Rosa Luxemburg arrested and killed as a result? Why?
15th January 1919
Failed to start a revolution - set up protests and revolts between 1914-19
When was the sailors division ordered to leave its quarters? What was the result of this?
23rd December 1918
Sailors were mainly USPD members and barricaded themselves in the palace - Ebert sent in the army on the 24th and the sailors left after 2hrs of fighting
What did the USPD do in response to the sailors failed barricade?
Ministers resigned, increasing the gap between the government and the extreme left-wing Spartacists
When did the Spartacists split with the USPD? What did they set up, under who?
5th January 1919
Set up the German Communist Party (KPD)
Leadership of Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg
Which SPD politician sent the Freikorps against a Spartacist demonstration, when?
Gustav Noske
10th January 1919
When did the Freikorps defeat the Spartacist revolt? Who died?
15th January 1919
Luxemburg and Liebknecht brutally murdered
Who were the Freikorps?
-200 paramilitary groups, largely recruited from demobilised soldiers
-Mainly made up of right-wing nationalists
-Many joined Hitler’s SA later
What % turnout was there for the Constituent Assembly election on the 19th January 1919?
83%
% of 1919 election for the SPD? How many seats?
38%
165 seats
Who led the Freikorps in the Spartacist uprising in Berlin?
General von Luttwitz
What did the KPD organise in defence of workers’ councils, when?
Strikes
Feb 1919
What proposal did the USPD pass in March 1919? What was the result?
-To reject parliamentary democracy and support government by workers councils
-Led to more street fighting
How many died and were wounded from street fighting in Halle? When?
29 dead
67 wounded
February 1919
How many died in Berlin after the KPD called for a general strike for a second revolution?
1000
Who and when successfully overthrew the Bavarian government?
Kurt Eisner
7th November 1918
What happened to Eisner as he was in the process of introducing several economic and social reforms? When?
Assassinated by Anton Graf Arco, a fascist nationalist
21st February 1919
% of vote the DNVP gained in 1919 election?
10.3%
When was there hyperinflation in Germany?
1921-23
When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
28th June 1919
Under which clause did Germany have to accept war guilt?
Clause no. 231
Which Chancellor of Germany resigned rather than sign the Treaty of Versailles?
Philip Scheidemann
What famous saying did Scheidemann say about Versailles?
‘may the hand wither that signs this treaty’
What does TRAWL stand for?
Territories
Reparations
Armed forces
War guilt
League of Nations
Which area was demilitarised on the French-German border?
Rhineland
What land made up the Polish corridor, and what happened to Germany over it?
West Prussia and Posen
Area split in two to give Poland access to the sea
Which German cities were lost from the Polish corridor?
Danzig and Memel
How many Germans ended up in Poland after the border changes in the Polish corridor?
1 million
Which coal field was controlled by the League of Nations until 1935? Who ran this land?
Saar Coalfield
Given to the French, but mined by the Germans for French benefit
How much in reparations did Germany owe? When was this figure fixed?
$6.6 billion (232 million gold marks)
Fixed in 1921
How many marks in reparations were paid prior to the figure being fixed?/
20 million marks
What were the armed forces reduced to?
-100 000 in army
-6 battleships
-15 000 seamen
-0 submarines
-0 military tanks and aircraft
-Abolition of conscription
When were Germany banned from joining the League of Nations until?
1926
What was banned between Germany and Austria?
Anschluss
What does PRECRAB stand for?
President
Reichstag
Elections
Chancellor
Reichsrat
Article 48
Bill of Rights
When was the Weimar constitution introduced?
11th August 1919
What powers did the President have under the constitution?
-Commander in chief of the armed forces
-Could appoint and dismiss the Chancellor
-Could dissolve the Reichstag
-Could call in article 48 in an emergency
How often was the president elected?
Every 7 years
How often were Reichstag elections? Who voted for them?
Every 4 years by proportional representation
All people over 20 years old, including women
What did the President become known as?
Ersatzkaiser
How many votes were required to gain a seat in the Reichstag? What was the issue with this system?
Needed 60 000 votes
If this figure was missed, 1 seat could be gained by having
30 001 votes across the country
Allowed small, extreme parties to gain representation, meaning coalition governments which were prone to ideological disagreements and slow decision making
How was the Chancellor selected?
Chosen from the party with the greatest majority
How many Chancellors between 1919-24?
9 with only 2 elections
What was the role of the Chancellor?
Proposed laws which were passed onto the Reichstag
How many seats in the Reichsrat, and how many states was it divided into?
67 seats
17 states
What was the role of the Reichsrat?
Could overrule the advice or propositions from the Reichstag
What was Article 48?
President had the power to call on the armed forces in an emergency, without the consent of the Reichstag. Would be used to restore public safety and order
What was the issue with Article 48?
Power of it abused in the 1930s
What benefits did the bill of rights provide?
Freedom of speech, religious freedom, unemployment benefits, rights of unions and sick pay - similar to a welfare system
What problems were there with the Weimar Consitution?
-German culture was very conservative and formal
-Many Germans did not want liberalism, modernism and decadence which denoted the constitution
-Many believed the propaganda of the ‘stab in the back’ myth and blamed the constitution as part of the failure
-Needed states to impose laws - difficult as the Lander had so much power
When was the unemployment benefit law introduced? How many workers benefitted from this?
1927
17 million workers
Which article of the constitution made the judiciary independent?
Article 54
What was the issue with the judicial system retaining independence?
-Undermined the constitution by interpreting and misinterpreting it as they wanted to. Many judges were bias against the republic, and lenient towards its enemies
-Represented the ‘silent majority’
Which leader of the DNVP accused Erzberger of corruption and fraud? When? What was the result?
Karl Helfferech
1920
Erzberger took Helfferech to court for libel but the judge ruled against him - Erzberger forced to resign
When was the Law for the Protection of the Republic passed?
July 1922
What did the Law for the Protection of the Republic do? Where ignored it?
-Stiffened the powers of the state against conspiracy for murder and the operation of extremist parties
-Judiciary used it against the left-wing
-Bavaria ignored
When and for how many years was Felix Fechenbach imprisoned, for what reason?
October 1922
11 years
Violated the Press Law
How many years imprisonment was Hitler given for high treason, when? How much time did he actually do?
5 years - only did 9 months
1924
Where and when was there a failed German ‘October Revolution’? Why did it fail?
Saxony and Thuringia
1923
Prompt deployment of willing units of the Reichswehr
Which art general refused to send troops against the Nazis in the Munich Putsch?
General von Seeckt
Who forced the had on Seeckt and the army, and when, disbanding and banning the NSDAP to avoid splitting the army?
Ebert
8th November 1923
