The German Revolution 1918-19

Question 1

why did Germany lose the war?

Answer 1

Failure achieve rapid victory
stalemate- forced fight war on two fronts- allies naval blockade
strengths of the allies- more manpower and empires for supplies and support
limitations of German war economy

Question 2

Socio and economic effects of WW1

Answer 2

Food and Fuel shortages- cold winter of 1916-1917
Civilian deaths- starvation and hypothermia- 293,000 in 1918
infant mortality- increased over 50%
Influenza epidemic
Inflation
casualties- 2 million soldiers killed and 6 million wounded

Question 3

what as the October Reform?

Answer 3

changing of autocracy into constitutional monarchy
Wilhelm II surrender powers over army and navy to Reichstag
Chancellor and government were made accountable to reichstag instead of Kaiser
armistice negotiations were allies were opened
3rd October Prince Max was appointed chancellor- democratic views and influence

Question 4

what was the German revolution

Answer 4

29th October
mutiny in Wilhelmshaven by sailors who refused to obey orders as believed rumours of possible suicide attack
6th November- Bavaria Kurt Eisner proclaimed Bavaria an indépendant democratic socialist republic

Question 5

why was there calls for Kaiser to abidicate

Answer 5

loss of war
sense of national shock for Germany military defeat
socio-economic defeats

Question 6

when did the Kaiser abdicate

Answer 6

9th November announced by Prince Max
coalition left wing government formed under Friedrich Ebert

Question 7

who were the SPD?

Answer 7

Germany social Democratic Party
led by Ebert

Question 8

the Sparticists

Answer 8

Rosa Luxemburg
Karl Liebknecht
more extreme

Question 9

The USPD

Answer 9

Independent German social Democratic Party
broke away from SPD- radical social economic and political changes

Question 10

Ebert’s coalition government

Answer 10

lack of unity
provisional until vote held for National Constituent Assembly
coalition of SPD and USPD
BUT
also fear of millions of troops restoring after armistice signed 9th November - fear civil war and extreme left gain upper hand

Question 11

what was the Ebert Groener agreement

Answer 11

10th November
General Groener agreed Supreme Army Command support new government and use troops to maintain stability and security of new republic
in return Ebert promised oppose the spread of revolutionary socialism and persevere army officers authority

Question 12

stinnees- legion agreement

Answer 12

15th November
Karl legion leader of trade unions and Hugo Stinnes leader of industrial employers agreed trade unions made commitment to not interfere private ownership in return for workers 8 hour day
Ebert supported this as TU were powerful

Question 13

left wing divisions

Answer 13

USPD and SPD not agree on social reforms- not extreme enough for USPD
SPD became isolated

Question 14

Sparticists Revolt

Answer 14

1st January 1919
aim of overthrowing government but failed
showed strong but detached from political realities

Question 15

elections for national constituent assembly

Answer 15

February 1919
83% turnout- support democracy
76.1% for pro-democratic parties

Question 16

what parties was the Weimar coalition formed out of?

Answer 16

SPD, DDP and ZP

Question 17

how was the rest of Germany impacted?

Answer 17

civil service, judiciary and army remained same
power and influence of Germany’s industrial and commercial leaders remained unchanged