The creation of the Weimar Republic and its early years of crisis Flashcards
Summarise the factors which contributed to the collapse of Imperial Germany.
- No rapid victory in summer 1914
- Stalemate
- Allies
- Underprepared economy
- Failure of the Final Offensive
Explain the lack of rapid victory in summer 1914 and why it contributed to the collapse of Imperial Germany.
A quick victory was High Command Strategy; the Schliefflen Plan was to achieve victory on the Western Front with a 6 week offensive in France and Belgium before dealing with Russia. As this failed, there was a stalemate as Germany had to fight 2 fronts.
Explain stalemate and how it contributed to the collapse of Imperial Germany.
Having to fight 2 fronts led to a balance of military power, causing pressure. The allies naval blockade limited supplies whilst unrestricted submarine warfare failed to weaken Britain.
Explain how the allies contributed to the collapse of Imperial Germany.
Britain and France had colonies with personnel, resources and supplies. In April 1917 the USA joined the war with 2 million men.
Explain the role of the economy in the Collapse of Imperial Germany.
The economy was unprepared for a long war and whilst there was attempts to increase arms production this was offset but financial disruption and collapse of trade.
Explain how the failure of the Final Offensive contributed to the Collapse of Imperial Germany.
In March 1918 the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk created peace in Russia, presenting an opportunity to attack the Western Front. However, Germany were forced to retreat due to a lack of momentum. Meanwhile, their allies Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria were collapsing.
Why did support for the war in Germany break down in early 1917?
There were no signs of morale breaking down until early 1917 when shortages, high prices, the black market and the military situation led to social discontent
What were the effects of WW1 on food and fuel?
In 1916-17 winter was very cold leading to food and fuel shortages. It was named the ‘turnip winter’ as the potato crop failed.
What were the effects of WW1 on civilian deaths?
Due to starvation and hypothermia, 121,000 deaths in 1916 were increased to 293,000 in 1918.
What were the effects of WW1 on infant mortality?
Up 50 percent for the under ones.
What were the effects of WW1 on the influenza epidemic?
In 1918, it caused 20 to 40 million deaths. Known as the “Spanish Flu”, Germans were susceptible as they had low resistance due to their living conditions.
What were the economic effects of WW1?
Inflation caused longer hours whilst wages fell below the rate, rising by 50 to 75 percent whilst average price doubled. There was anger at the industry sharks making vast profits from the war. The middle class lost income and social status leading to resentment There was anger at politicians for enforcing a Total War.
What were the effect of casualties in WW1?
2m were killed and 6m wounded leaving disability and trauma.
What were the socioeconomic effects of WW1?
Food and fuel shortages Civilian deaths Infant mortality Made influenza epidemic worse Inflation Casualties
Who sought peace after WW1 and why?
Ludendorff and Hindenburg recognised a worsening domestic front and likely defeat on the Western Front.
What were the aims of the October Reforms?
Curb revolutionary disturbance
Create a constitutional monarchy instead of an autocracy
Kaiser had to hand over power to a civilian government.
What were Ludendorf’s real motives in producing the October Reforms?
Better peace terms
Prevent revolutionary disturbance
Shift blame from the forces of Imperial Germany to the new leadership, creating the stab in the back myth which suggested that unpatriotic groups undermined the war
What happened during the October Reforms?
Prince Max von Baden, a moderate conservative, became Chancellor on the 3rd October 1918
Constitutional Reforms created a parliamentary democracy
Wilhelm II gave powers over the army and navy to the Reichstag
The chancellor and government were accountable to the Reichstag
Armistice negotiations opened
There was a quick realisation the war was lost, causing shock after such hardship and propaganda.
What triggered the German Revolution?
On the 29th October 1918 sailors mutinied near Kiel, and the government could not control the situation. By the 2nd November they had taken major ports, fearing officers would make them launch a suicide attack on the British fleet to protect navy honour. This sparked further uprisings.
What happened during the German Revolution?
On the 6th November, workers and soldiers councils were established like soviets
In Bavaria King Louis III was deposed and an independent democratic socialist republic was declared by Kurt Eisner
It was clear reforms had failed and peace and the abdication of the Kaiser were demanded.
What was the outcome of the German Revolution?
9th November:
Prince Max von Baden wanted to preserve monarchy but the Kaiser was delusional and there was worry about revolutions in Berlin
Kaiser would renounce and a provisional left wing coalition of the USPD and SPD would be formed by Friedrich Ebert
Philipp Scheidemann claimed a republic on the Reichstag balcony whilst Karl Liebknecht declared a ‘Soviet republic’ an hour later.
Kaiser informally abdicates and walks into exile.
What were the causes of the German Revolution?
SEVERE WEAKNESSES in existing governing system - imperial forces still had power and reforms were insufficient to deal with turbulence.
COLLAPSE OF LAW AND ORDER - mutiny of sailors etc
MASS DISCONTENT - realisation war was lost and socioeconomic problems
ORGANISED REVOLUTIONARY GROUPS - lack of these suggests it was not a true revolution.
Which three main strands made up the left wing movement?
SPD
USPD
Spartacists
Who were the SPD?
Led by Friedrich Ebert and Philipp Scheidemann
Moderate socialists
Largest party in 1912 with a million members
Committed to parliamentary democracy
Wanted to maintain law and order with existing legal and police system and the German Army
Introduce Welfare Benefits
Rejected Soviet-style communism and moved to the right during the Weimar period
Who were the Spartacists?
Revolutionary socialists led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg
Aimed to create soviet republic based on rule of proletariat (industrial working class) through workers’ and soldiers’ councils
Army to be replaced by local militias of workers
Extensive nationalisation of industries/land
Introduce welfare benefits
Opposed national assembly.
1918 - membership of 5000
Who were the USPD?
Led by Hugo Haase and Karl Kautsky, they were a party of 300,000 who had broken away from the SPD in 1917
Wanted radical social and economic change and political reform with soviets working alongside parliament
Reform army, nationalise key industries and introduce welfare benefits
Ravaged by internal differences between those who wanted parliamentary democracy and those who wanted soviets.
What were Ebert’s problems in 1918?
Fearful of extreme left gaining upper hand
Growing numbers of worker’s councils - feared control would affect policy of gradual change
Feared return of troops after armistice agreement would cause social and political problems as the 2.2m soldiers had to be reduced to 100,000 under the TOV
What was the Ebert-Groener agreement?
[10th November 1918] Agreement with Wilhelm Groener, Ludendorf’s successor, that the army would help maintain the stability and security of the new government in return for Ebert’s opposition to revolutionary socialism and the preservation of army officers.
What was the Stinnes-Legien agreement?
[15th November 1918] an agreement between Karl Legien, the leader of trade unions and Hugo Stinnes, the leader of industrial employers, whereby trade unions would not interfere with the free market and private ownership in return for workers’ committees, an 8 hour working day and full legal recognition. Endorsed by the SPD (linked to unions)
Were the army-industry agreements made in 1918 a success?
Army not really reformed at all and not committed to democracy, whilst employers resented the concessions and were unsympathetic to Weimar.
But, the Weimar government may have collapsed during its transition period without such stability.
What problems were caused in 1918 within the left?
In December, the USPD members of Ebert’s government resigned over the shooting of Spartacists by soldiers, but split had really emerged over desire to introduce fundamental social and economic change which the SPD would not adopt.
The KPD, founded by the Spartacists on 1st January 1919, refused to take part in parliamentary elections, preferring instead to place its faith in workers’ councils.
What happened in the Spartacist revolt?
5th January - occupied public buildings, called for a general strike and formed a revolutionary committee
Denounced provisional government and coming elections which they thought betrayed the revolution
3 days of street fighting and over 100 killed
Luxemburg and Liebknecht murdered in police custody
Why did the Spartacist revolt fail?
Detached from political reality
No real strategy
Just workers with rifles
Gustav Noske, the defence minister, had backing of army and 120 Freikorps groups with 400,000 soldiers - trusted them to use unrestrained force.
What was the impact of the Spartacist uprising?
National Assembly’s first meeting switched to Weimar due to strikes and disorder in Berlin
Troubled atmosphere contributed to events in Bavaria in April
When did the first National Assembly hold its elections?
19th January 1919
Who were the major political parties in the Weimar Republic?
BVP, DDP, DNVP, DVP, KPD, NSDAP, SPD, USPD, ZP
Who were the BVP?
Bavarian People’s Party led by Heinrich Held, formed from ZP in 1919 to uphold regional interests
Politically conservative, supported the republic.
Who were the DDP?
A centre party led by Walter Rathenau and Hugo Preuss
Support of professional middle classes
Supported democratic republic and committed to constitutional reform
