The Impact of the First World War on Germany 1914-1918 Flashcards
What was the reaction of the German people on the outbreak of war?
on 28th and 29th July huge demonstrations were held in Berlin
What did Kaiser Wilhelm II say when he addressed the nation on 4th August?
‘I know no parties anymore, only Germans’ (shows unification)
On which date was the Burgfriede passed?
4th August 1914
What was the Burgfriede?
An Enabling act passed by the Reichstag, of a concept of national unity based on shared suffering and thus reinforced pre-war institutional structures
What did the Reichstag do which nullified its power during war?
Delegated all its legislative powers to the Bundesrat which ruled the Home Front (Junkers had excessive power)
What is galvanising Germany which leads to vulnerability?
The gaining of victories in war, but this is susceptible to change
What was the phrase William Cobbit said?
‘I defy you to agitate a man with a full stomach’
How did the initial outbreak of war affect the Kaiser and Junker class?
1) The war re-established the Kaiser and Junker class
2) Military victories progressed the popularity of generals like Hindenburg and Ludendorff
What kind of warfare did Germany enter outside Paris as the Schlieffen Plan failed?
Trench Warfare
What happened in the first few weeks of war?
General von Moltke led the German army to victories defeating the British professional army
Who was General von Moltke replaced by?
Erich von Falkenhayn
In 1915 what was a significant victory against the Russians?
A campaign in Poland threw the Russian army back by 250 miles
How did Falkenhayn believe the war would be won?
On the western front knocking the British out using an aggressive submarine campaign
What were five key failures for the German side?
1) Schlieffen Plan failed
2) German army stretched across W and E Fronts and Africa and Asia
3) Mass food shortages (less food imported now)
4) America closer to joining the war after Lusitania
How much of the food consumed in Germany was imported in 1914?
25%
In January 1915 what was set up to administer rationing and distribution of grain?
The Imperial Grain Corporation
How many pigs were killed in 1915 as decided by the bureaucracy?
9 MILLION
By the end of the war how much of the industrial workforce was women?
1/3
What does Ersatz goods mean?
Substitute goods (during shortages)
Why was there minimal opposition from 1914-1916?
*SPD didn’t want to look anti-Germany and through war thus ended their isolation *The war had only been on for 2 yrs *Radicals like Karl Liebknecht held little influence
What is 1916 known as thanks to Falkenhayn’s plan?
The year of attrition
How did Falkenhayn believe the war would be won in 1916? What’s the German word for it?
War could only be won through attrition and endurance - ERMITTLUNG
What was the result of the German attack on Verdun?
Hoped to wear down the French but instead gained 700, 000 casualties and no territorial gain
When was the Somme and who opened this offensive?
July 1916 - - the Western Allies
What was the Brusilov offensive in 1916?
The Russians launched an attack in Galica against Germany’s Austrian allies - Germany sent reserves and managed to reverse the Russians
What was the total for German war casualties in 1916?
1.5 MILLION
When did Falkenhayn fall from position? why?
At the end of August 1916 - broken by his attrition he planned
What were the 2 official appointments of Generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff?
H= Supreme Army Command L= General Quartermaster (Chief of staff)
What was the title given to the period when Hindenburg and Ludendorff were in power?
The ‘silent dictatorship’ …..This wasn’t official but they held all power
What were the three main constraints to Ludendorff’s power?
1) Kaiser must be consulted- still important
2) Bureaucracy ran the War Effort
3) Reichstag held budgetary control
What was the political polarisation?
- Hindenburg and Ludendorff were in contrast to Bethmann-Hollweg
- They rejected NEGOTIATED PEACE
- War had to use all resources
- Russia needed to be knowcked out according to H+L
- German people would be rewarded by vast land annexation
