The Weimer republic 1918 - 1929 WW1 Flashcards
What did Germany expect from war and what did they receive ?
The First World War affected Germany socially, economically, and politically. German society expected a quick victory and the war had lasted longer than expected. By 1918, German society was exhausted. The war caused many deaths and crippled the German economy, making it difficult to recover.
War deaths
2 million troops died from fighting, 4 million wounded.
left 600,000 women widowed and 736,000 died from starvation, 150,000 died from the flu pandemic.
Crippled economy
By 1918, industrial production was only 2/3 of what it had been in 1913.
Germany’s debt had increased over World War One from 50 billion marks in 1914 to 150 billion marks in 1918.
Inflation
Germany printed more money to fund the war effort.
This meant that the value of the German mark fell, leading to inflation (increases in prices).
Uneven distribution of wealth
Wealth became distributed more unevenly over the First World War.
The average wage for a worker in 1918 was only 60% of what they earned in 1913.
But big armament (military weapons) business owners made lots of money from the war.
This caused social problems as workers resented (felt bitter at) business owners.
- Farmers coped well
German defeat
By the autumn of 1918, it was becoming obvious that Germany could not win the war. Hindenburg and General Ludendorff told Kaiser that Germany could not win the war.
Hindenburg and Ludendorff said that a democratic government was needed for a favourable peace settlement with the Allied Powers.
Democratic government
On the 3rd of October 1918, Hindenburg informed the Reichstag of the decision to create a more democratic government.
The Kaiser appointed a Liberal, Prince Max of Baden, to be Chancellor.
Under Prince Max, a new government was set up.
The German military leaders handed over power to the civilian government just in time for them to take the blame for the loss of World War 1.
Kaiser loses the military
The Kaiser now lost the support of his military.
Sailors in the navy refused to follow the Kaiser’s orders on the 3rd of November 1918. This was called the Kiel Mutiny.
Eisner, a communist, caused mass strikes in Munich after supporting an uprising against the Kaiser.
Kaiser loses advisors
On the 9th November 1918, the Kaiser lost the support of his advisors and was forced to abdicate (give up leadership).
Ministers tried to make the Kaiser abdicate which he refused.
Following this, the leaders of the army withdrew their support for the Kaiser.
The Kaiser abdicated and fled to Holland.
The German Republic
On the 10th November 1918, the German Republic was born.
Philipp Scheidemann, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), declared the new German Republic.
Freidrich Ebert, the leader of the SPD, became the leader of the German Republic.
Ebert created the Council of People’s Representatives as a temporary government. This Council ran Germany until new elections were held in January 1919.
The armistice and end of World War One
On the 11th November 1918, Ebert admitted defeat and signed the armistice (truce) with the Allies.
Some Germans felt that Germany could have won the war and that the treaty was unfair. They felt ‘stabbed in the back’ by Ebert and his government.
Ebert and the politicians who negotiated peace became known as the ‘November Criminals’. Berlin became a hotbed for revolt (rebellion).
