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%