The Birth of the Weimar Republic

Question 1

When was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed, what did this mean for Germany?

Answer 1

• 3rd March 1918

- Germany were no longer fighting a war on two fronts, they could push forward

Question 2

What was the Luderndorff offensive and why did it fail?

Answer 2

• An attempt to push back France and Britain

- By July 1918 the Americans had 1 million troops stationed

Question 3

What was considered the black day for Germany?

Answer 3

• 8th August 1918 after the Foch-counter offensive (Hundred days offensive)
• 13 divisions of British troops invaded
• 16,000 prisoners taken

Question 4

Who would replace Georg von Hertling as the Kaiser’s Chancellor?

Answer 4

Prince Max Von Baden

- Show President Wilson Germany are seeking peace and are a democracy

Question 5

When did Max write to Wilson about seeking peace, what would make this invalid?

Answer 5

3rd October 1918, asking for armistice

- Ludendorff had told the army to resist surrender, this made it look like Max was waffling

Question 6

When would Ludendorff leave Germany?

Answer 6

26th October 1918

Question 7

What Constitutional change would occur on the 28th of October?

Answer 7

• Ministers now report to the Reichstag

- The Kaiser had military power cur and the minister of war must agree to decisions

Question 8

When did Sailors mutiny and where from?

Answer 8

30th October 1918

• From the port of Kiel and WIllhelmshaven
• 2 battleships had mutinied
• Mutiny spread over 4th and 5th November

Question 9

What was the ‘Revolution from above’?

Answer 9

Name given to Government led by Max Von Baden which attempted to improve Germany through the government, hence from above

Question 10

What was the ‘Revolution from below’?

Answer 10

Workers rising up and taking control in a Russia-style revolution

Question 11

When would Bavaria declare a public and why?

Answer 11

8th November

• Declare a republic due to fear of invasion from the French
• Prince Max Von Baden attempts to get the Kaiser to abdicate

Question 12

When was a General Strike called?

Answer 12

9th November 1918

Question 13

What would lead to the proclamation of the Weimar Republic?

Answer 13

• Communist Karl Liebknecht wants to proclaim a soviet republic
• Scheidemann claims a republic to avoid the threat of the left

Question 14

What is the name of the new government and when was it created?

Answer 14

10th November 1918

• The Council of Peoples Representatives
• Freidrich Ebert as Chancellor

Question 15

When was the armistice signed and by who?

Answer 15

11th November 1918

- Matthias Erzberger

Question 16

What was the Ebert-Groener Pact?

Answer 16

The Government would not interfere with the Reichswehr’s status provided they support them in putting down leftist uprisings

Question 17

When was it agreed upon to set up a National Assembly?

Answer 17

25th November 1918

Question 18

When were the elections held, what were results

Answer 18

NOTE, after Sparticist uprising - 19th Jan

• 82.7% of people voted
• SPD formed a coalition with the Centre Party and the DDP