The Impact of WW1 on Germany - Part Two of Germany 1890-1945

Question 1

What happened to the amount of resources Germany could import during WW1?

Answer 1

There were terrible shortages of food, medicine and clothing, leaving the people deprived and tired.

Question 2

Who was responsible for Germany’s shortages and how did this happen?

Answer 2

Britain, they used their large navy to blockade German sea access and prevent them from importing goods from overseas.

Question 3

What did the public do in 1915 as a result of their distaste in the war and supply shortages?

Answer 3

In 1915, 500 women gathered outside the Reichstag and said they wanted their men back from the trenches.

Question 4

What did the public do in 1916 to voice their opinion on the blockade and the war?

Answer 4

In 1916, 10,000 workers assembled in Berlin chanting “Down with the war, down with the government!”

Question 5

What was the impact of the war on citizens by 1918? Give two examples.

Answer 5

1) By 1918, the German people were incredibly short on food, many starving.
2) The Spanish Flu ravaged the country, killing thousands already weak from their diet.

Question 6

What was the situation on the battlefield like by 1918?

Answer 6

The Germans were close to defeat.

Question 7

What did General Ludendorff tell German politicians and the Kaiser in October 1918?

Answer 7

That Germany could never win the war and that the Entente might treat Germany more fairly if they became more Democratic.

Question 8

What did the Kaiser do because of General Ludendorff’s words?

Answer 8

He allowed the political parties to form a new government and transferred some powers to the Reichstag.

Question 9

How did the people respond to the Kaiser’s reforms?

Answer 9

They held more demonstrations against him either abdicating or yielding all power to the Reichstag to act as a ceremonial leader.

Question 9

What was the German navy ordered to do on the 28th October 1918?

Answer 9

They were ordered out to sea from Kiel (northern Germany) to attack British ships but they mutinied as they no longer wanted to fight, due to the terrible conditions and the situation in the war.

Question 10

What happened when soldiers were sent to deal with protesters?

Answer 10

They joined the protests and took over towns and cities to govern themselves.

Question 11

What did the Kaiser do on the 9th November, as the country was in chaos?

Answer 11

He abdicated and secretly left Germany for the Netherlands as he had no support from the public or the government.

Question 12

Who took charge of Germany after the Kaiser’s abdication? What party was this person from?

Answer 12

Friedrich Ebert took control of Germany after the Kaiser’s abdication, a member of the SPD. He took control for a temporary basis.

Question 13

What did Friedrich Ebert promise the people?

Answer 13

That elections would be held and that they could vote for him.

Question 14

When did Germany surrender in WW1?

Answer 14

The 11th of November 1918.

Question 15

What was the impact of WW1 on the economy?

Answer 15

Germany was nearly bankrupt: they had lent money to its allies that would never pay it back; they borrowed money from the USA which would need to be paid back; German factories were exhausted by the war and the war left 2 million children without fathers.

Question 16

What was the impact of WW1 on society?

Answer 16

1) Whilst some factory owners had made a fortune making guns and artillery, workers were nearly broke and had limits placed on their wages. 2) Women worked in factories as men were in the trenches, some viewed this as breaking familial values.

Question 17

How did the war impact the political landscape of Germany? Give two ways.

Answer 17

1) Before the war, Germany was stable and rich but the war caused mutiny and civil unrest. 2) Many ex-soldiers and civilians felt they could have won the war if it weren’t for the politicians who signed the armistice. They were called the “November Criminals” and refused to support them.

Question 18

What did Ebert declare Germany?

Answer 18

A Democratic Republic.

Question 19

What was the name of the communist movement in post war Germany?

Answer 19

The Spartacus League.

Question 20

On the 6th of January, what did the Spartacists do?

Answer 20

They tried to overthrow the government for a communist one.

Question 21

How did Ebert respond to the Spartacists?

Answer 21

He sent 2000 ex-soldiers called the “Free Corps” to deal with the communist threat, these were mainly right wing people who hated communism. They captured and murdered the leaders- Karl Liebnknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.

Question 22

In January 1919, Ebert held the election he promised, who won this election?

Answer 22

The SPD won the January election and Ebert became president.

Question 23

What was the name of this new German government?

Answer 23

The Weimar Republic, named after the city of Weimar where Ebert discussed how to run the new government.

Question 24

In 1919, the Weimar Republic drew up a new constitution, this gave certain people the right to vote, who were they?

Answer 24

All men and women over age 20.

Question 25

The Weimar Government introduced a policy of “proportional representation” what did this mean and what happened as a result?

Answer 25

Proportional representation meant that the percentage of votes a party got became the amount of seats that they would hold in the Reichstag.

Question 26

What was the problem with proportional representation?

Answer 26

It meant too many political parties were voted for and no-one could gain a majority vote, making law-making very slow.

Question 27

What else did the constitution guarantee the German people?

Answer 27

Basic freedoms like free speech.

Question 28

What was the Chancellor’s role in the reichstag?

Answer 28

The chancellor was responsible for the day-to-day running of Germany, he needed to have at least 50% of MP support and was chosen by the president.

Question 29

What was the president’s role in the Reichstag?

Answer 29

He was elected every seven years and controlled the armed forces, he stayed out of day-to-day affairs but during times of crisis he could rule without support of the Reichstag through Article 48.

Question 30

What was Article 48?

Answer 30

The law that allowed the president to make changes to the law and constitution without the support of the Reichstag during a crisis.

Question 31

What was the problem with Article 48?

Answer 31

It was not made clear what defined as an emergency and it was clear that it could easily be used to abuse its power.

Question 32

Who didn’t like the new democratic system and why?

Answer 32

Mainly older army generals, judges and upper-class families preferred the Kaiser’s form of ruling, as the new system of government was linked to the surrender of the war.

Question 33

How often was the chancellor appointed?

Answer 33

Every 4 years.

Question 34

What three political parties were Anti-republic?

Answer 34

The Communist Party (KPD) which was an extreme left-wing party, the National People’s Party (DNVP), who were a right-wing Kaiser supporting party and The National Socialist German Workers Party- (NSDAP) who were an extreme right-wing party.

Question 35

In the Treaty of Versailles, how much did Germany owe the Entente in reparations? How long would they have to pay them until?

Answer 35

£6.6 billion or 132 billion marks, they would have to pay the allies until 1988.

Question 36

What was Germany’s army, navy and air force limited to by the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 36

Germany’s army was limited to 100,000 men, 6 battleships and no submarines, tanks or air force.

Question 37

What happened to Germany’s overseas empire in the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 37

All of their overseas empire was to be carved up between the allies.

Question 38

What areas of Germany were given to Poland in the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 38

Posen and West Prussia were given to Poland, dividing Germany through the Polish Corridor.

Question 39

What areas of Germany were given to France in the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 39

Alsace and Lorraine, German speaking areas in the Rhineland, were given to France.

Question 40

What areas were taken from Germany and given to Belgium in the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 40

Eupen and Malmèdy were given to Belgium due to their contribution to the allied war effort.

Question 41

What happened to the areas of Upper Silesia and Northern Schleswig?

Answer 41

Upper Silesia held a plebiscite and chose to join with Poland, Northern Schleswig too held a plebiscite, voting to join Denmark.

Question 42

What happened to the port of Danzig on the Baltic Sea after the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 42

The port of Danzig was made an international city, not governed by Germany.

Question 43

What happened to the area of the Ruhr in the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 43

The industrial output of the Ruhr and the Saar coalfields was to be given to France for 15 years.

Question 44

What happened to the Rhineland in the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 44

It was to be demilitarised due to its proximity to France and France fearing another invasion.

Question 45

Name four reasons why Germans felt humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles.

Answer 45

1) They felt it was too harsh on Germany as the allies had done similar things and yet they were being severely punished.
2) The treaty took away large areas of land, losing people and industry.
3) They had to pay a large amount of money to the winners, damaging the economy.
4) They felt humiliated as some thought it was too harsh for Germany and some felt they hadn’t lost the war at all and the allies putting all of the blame on Germany humiliated them the most.

Question 46

What did the Treaty of Versailles prevent Germany from doing with Austria?

Answer 46

Unifying with them.

Question 47

Who did the allies put total blame on the war for?

Answer 47

Germany.

Question 48

What did the Allies say they would do if Germany didn’t accept the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 48

They said that they would invade them if they weren’t cooperative.

Question 49

When did Germany sign the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 49

The 28th June 1919.

Question 50

What did Hindenburg, a fabled war general, say about the November criminals and the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 50

Hindenburg said “The German army was stabbed in the back, no blame is to be attached to the army, it’s perfectly clear on whom the blame rests.” This quote represents the feeling from the population that they had been betrayed and the anger they felt because of this.

Question 51

In 1922 the second payment of reparations was due to France and Belgium, what did the German government announce?

Answer 51

That they were unable to pay.

Question 52

How did the French and Belgians react to Germany’s inability to pay reparations in 1922?

Answer 52

They thought the Germans were lying and decided, in January 1923, to occupy the rich industrial area of the Ruhr.

Question 53

What did the French do after they invaded the Ruhr?

Answer 53

They took control of all industrial output, took goods from shops and arrested any German oppostion. They killed over 100 Germans and 15000 were evicted from their homes.

Question 54

During the French occupation of the Ruhr, the Germans ordered its workers not to fight but strike against the French. What was this known as?

Answer 54

Passive resistance.

Question 55

What did the German government decide to do about the striking workers in the Ruhr?

Answer 55

The promised to continue paying them, as they encouraged them to strike.

Question 56

What did the government decide to do to continue paying their striking workers?

Answer 56

Print more money.

Question 57

The strikers in the Ruhr began spending money very quickly as they weren’t being paid for working, what did shopkeepers do in response?

Answer 57

Put up their prices.

Question 58

How do the Weimar government respond to increase shopkeeper prices preventing striking workers from spending their money?

Answer 58

Printing more money, continuing the cycle further and causing hyperinflation.

Question 59

How often were strikers paid each day during the hyperinflation? Was this enough to help them buy basic necessities?

Answer 59

Strikers were paid twice a day and loaded their money into wheelbarrows, this was barely enough to afford a meal!

Question 60

During the hyperinflation of 1923, the Weimar government lost support, why?

Answer 60

The money was now worthless and people blamed the government for their hard earned money now being worth nothing.

Question 61

How much was a loaf of bread in marks during the hyperinflation of November 1923?

Answer 61

201 billion marks!

Question 62

What happened to people’s savings during the 1923 hyperinflation?

Answer 62

They became worthless, as if someone had saved 5000 marks, that wouldn’t be enough to buy a loaf of bread!

Question 63

What happened to elderly people during the 1923 hyperinflation?

Answer 63

Elderly people who lived on fixed pensions found that their money couldn’t buy them anything and they couldn’t work to earn more money.

Question 64

What happened to small businesses during the 1923 hyperinflation?

Answer 64

Many small businesses collapsed during the crisis as it wasn’t possible for normal trade to be carried out in accordance with daily price changes.

Question 65

What happened to people with debt during the 1923 hyperinflation?

Answer 65

Due to debt being fixed and money plummeting in value, a debt of 10000 marks could be paid off, virtually, for free! People in debt were essentially the only people who benefited from hyperinflation in a way.