The German Revolution 1918-1919 Flashcards
October reform
Ludendorff wanted to secure the best possible peace terms for Germany with the allies - he thought that the allies would be more sympathetic to a democratic Berlin.
Secondly he hoped the change would prevent the outbreak of political revoultionary disturbances.
October reform and the ‘stab in the back myth’
He thirdly saw the need to shift the blame for Germany’s defeat away from the military leadership. He aimed to put the responsibility for the defeat on the new leadership.
What happened on the 3rd October 1918?
Prince Max of Baden, a moderate conservative was appointed chancellor - he had democratic views and a well-established international reputation.
What constitutional reforms followed Prince Max’s appointment as Chancellor?
Wilhelm II gave up his powers over the army and the navy to the Reichstag.
The chancellor and his government were made accountable for the Reichstag.
At the same time, the armistice negotiations were made with the allies.
The effects of the October Reform
Traditionally seen as a ‘revolution from above’ - brought about by those in power and not forced in. Shows that Germany had long been controlled by the conservative elites.
The effects of the October Reform - pressure from the Reichstag
Some suggest that the steps taken by the military leaders coincided with the pressure from the Reichstag who were demanding political change. Despite there role, it would be wrong to read too much into their role. Over the years they show no real inclination to seize the initiative.
The November Revolution
29 October - some sailors refused to obey orders at Wilhemshaven. Prince Max’s government quickly lost control of the political situation and by 2 November sailors gained control of other major ports such as Kiel. By 6 November numerous workers’ and soldiers’ councils, similar to the Soviets had been set up in major cities such as Cologne.
Failure of the October Reforms?
It had failed to impress the people - the popular discontent was turning into a more fundamental revolutionary movement whose demands were for an immediate peace and the abdication of the Kaiser. These disturbances were prompted by: realisation that the war was lost, sense of shock, increasing anger over the socio-economic conditions.
The left wing movement
A genuinely revolutionary situation existed in Germany in early November 1918. However, the revolutionary wave that swept Germany was not a united force. In fact the left wing movement behind it consisted of three main strands.
The SPD
They represented moderate socialists and was led by Friedrich Ebert and Philipp Scheidemann. In the election of 1912 it had become the biggest party in the Reichstag with a membership of over 1 million. Its fundamental aim was to create a socialist republic, but being wholly committed to parliamentary democracy it rejected anything linked to Soviet style communism.
The USPD
Formed in 1917, it was led by Karl Kautsky and Hugo Haase, it had a substantial membership of 300,000. They wanted radical social and economic change as well as political reform. They were largely un-united.
Ebert’s coalition government
There was a lack of unity. Also German society was is chaos and near collapse, this made it hard for political leaders to manoeuvre.
9 November 1918 - Ebert’s provisional coalition government
‘Provisional’ in the sense that it was short term until a national election was held to vote for parliament, ‘coalition’ in the sense that it was a combination of parties, the SPD and USPD.
