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
What was the Hindenburg programme?
*Marked the beginning of Total War *To compensate for Germany’s lack of raw materials *Increased arms production- contrasts with industry *Used state power to mobilise economic potential *Auxillary Labour/Service Law
What is Total War?
The mobiliation of all resources within a nation for the war effort
What was the Auxillary Service Law? (Introduced in 1916)
Made it compulsory for all German males of 17-60 to work for the WAR EFFORT and was essentially FORCED LABOUR
How did chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg’s government become weak?
- Kaiser became uninterested in politics
- Chancellor’s powerbase relied on influence with the kin and he’s now unreliable and more isolated
- This allows for Hindenburg and Ludendorff to go against him
How did the Hindenburg programme fail?
It didn’t provide efficiency and couldn’t solve bureacratic chaos of food distribution. Also the Auxillary Service Law had no more men to mobilise and there was already a strain on stretched raw materials, with the increase in munitions. People recieved less wages and weren’t happy.
How had munitions increased from 1916-1917?
Machine guns= 27,600 in 1916 —–> 115,200 in 1917
Explosives= 120,000 tons in 1916 —–> 144,000 tons in 1917
What did the winter of 1916-17 become known as? why?
The ‘Turnip Winter’ because turnips were used as Ersatz potatoes
From 1914 to 1918 how many casualties were there? (For Germany)
6.2 MILLION
How had civilian deaths increased from 1916-1918?
1916= 121,000
1918=293,000 (mainly from hypothermia or starvation)
How did the infant mortality rate rise?
By 50%
How did the prices and wages change between 1914 and 1918?
Prices doubled but wages only rose between 50% and 75%
What were the key social consequences of war?
- Peasantry alienated by government rules- state prices for food were low
- Urban working class reented state control and lack of food and the Black Market
- Mittelstand had less and less money and shortages of food
What figure did Germany’s dead total up as? How much of this figure were conscripted men?
1.8 million 16% conscripted
When was there a break down of discipline in the military in the war?
Only in the final weeks
Who wanted to avoid public debate on war aims? why?
Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg because maintenance of the Burgfriede was essential and discussion of war aims would create domestic arguments and damage their reputation abroad
What was the Siegfriede?
A victory peace which would establish Germany’s supremacy in Europe
What kind of peace did the SPD seek out of war?
The war was defensive and not aimed at conquest– believed in COMPROMISE, RECONCILIATION and NO TERRITORIAL GAINS
Which policy would Sigefriede fufil?
The Weltpolitik (gave Germany world-power status)
Who were the most extreme supporters of the Siegfriede?
The Pan-German League (but it was widely supported not just by the right wing)
What did the Pan-German League stand for with the Siegfriede?
1) Creation of a central African Empire
2) Annexation of key industrial regions in Netherlands, Belgium and Northern France
3) Economic domination of Western Europe
4) Annexation of Russia of extensive Eastern territories
Why was the Siegfriede seen as essential?
It would maintain status quo at home - a peace of reconciliation only encouraged internal changes and reform
What were two domestic factors that forced the split political opinions to come to a head in 1917?
- The worsening military condition
* Increase of social discontent in Germany
What were two external factors that affected German internal politics in 1917?
-The USA entered the war in April -The abdication of Tsar in the Russian Revolution
What was this split of political opinion in 1917 known as?
The July 1917 crisis
What was the Kreuznach programme?
A military programme of a list of war aims that included territorial eastern and western gains (The chancellor’s support of this alienates the left wing)
Who was Matthias Erzberger?
The leading Centre party deputy in July 1917
What did Erzberger state in his speech?
He publically declared NEGOTIATED PEACE = both desirable and necessary
What were the results of the Reichstag votes on the peace resolution?
Passed by 212 votes to 126
Why was Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg forced to resign?
General Ludendorff undermined his position and couldn’t work with him - - - no longer has the Kaiser’s support
Who replaced Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg?
Georg Michaelis- COLOURLESS AND UNKNOWN
Who replaced Michaelis the same year? Why was he removed?
Georg Hertling
Couldn’t satisfy the conflicting demands of the supreme command
Which Conservative right-wing party did Hindenburg and Ludendorff play an instrumental role in creating?
Vaterlandspartei
- set up to mobilise support for right-wing
- keep status quo
- supported Siegfriede
By 1918 how many members did the Vaterlandspartei have?
1.2 Million
Which two Prussian men of military significance were involved in this party?
Von Tirpitz and Kapp
When was the USPD created? By whom?
In Spring 1917 By 42 deputies of SPD (They wanted negotiated peace)
What was the difference in the number of strikes in 1915 compared to 1919?
141 to 3719 - - - unrest in Germany
In January 1918 what event with the masses occurred?
In Berlin half a million workers went on strike for 5 days?
What were the main issues that Ludendorff had to deal with in October in 1918?
1) Soviets growing throughout German cities
2) The elite blamed for defeat and surrender
3) Pro-democratic governments decide what happened to Germany after the war
What did Ludendorff create to divert the blame for the war from the military leadership?
‘Stab in the back’ myth
When was Prince Max of Baden appointed Chancellor?
3rd October 1918
Which 3 constitutional reforms turned Germany into a parliamentary democracy?
- Wilhlem II gave up powers to army and navy
- Chancellor + government made accountable to the Reichstag
- armistice negotiations with Allies are opened
What is the phrase that has long since been used to describe the ‘October reform’ ?
‘revolution from above’
What was the November Revolution?
Sailors mutinied at Wilhelmshaven - took hold of ports at Kiel and Hamburg (2nd nov) and Prince Max’s government failed to deal with it
What happened in connection to the November Revolution on 6th November?
Workers and soldiers’ councils set up in Berlin, Cologne, Stuttgart
What did Kurt Eisner announce in Bavaria in November 1918?
He proclaimed Bavaria an INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC
On which day did Kaiser Wilhelm II renounce the throne?
9th November
When did General Ludendorff resign and who succeeded him?
27th October and General Groener
Why did Prince Max’s government fail?
The leading members of the SPD withdrew their support and Friedrich Ebert of the SPD became Chancellor
