Weimar Germany (setting up the weimar republic)

Question 1

What were the impacts of the first world war?

Answer 1

• In total, Germany had over 7 million casualties
• The German population were deeply
  unhappy the Weimar Republic
  surrendered, they did not feel they had
  lost the war. They felt the government had
  ‘stabbed them in the back’ by giving in.
• The war had almost bankrupted
  Germany, it cost them £37 billion.

Question 2

Why were people angry at Kaiser Wilhelm by 1918?

Answer 2

Germany was facing problems such as:
- the country lost 2 million soldiers, and there was a feeling the army would collapse
- mass suffering due to food shortages, in which more than 750,000 Germans died

Question 3

What did the anger from the German people on Kaiser Wilhelm cause?

Answer 3

A revolution

Question 4

What happened during the revolution in 1918?

Answer 4

• German sailors at Wilhelmshaven
  refuse to follow orders, this leads to
  the Kiel Mutiny where sailors refuse
  to go and fight the British navy.
• 40,000 sailors join dock workers and
  set up a Workers’ and Soldiers’ council
  to rule themselves, they take over the
  dockyard
• Kaiser Wilhelm realises he has lost control of Germany and decides to abdicate

Question 5

When does Kaiser Wilhelm abdicate?

Answer 5

9th November 1918

Question 6

What happens on the 10th of November 1918?

Answer 6

Power is given to Friedrich Ebert from
the Social Democrat party (SPD), he
becomes Chancellor of the new
government called the Weimar Republic.
Germany was now a democracy for the
first time in it’s history.

Question 7

What were the short term effects of the revolution?

Answer 7

The new Weimar Republic immediately calls for a ceasefire (an end to the fighting) which leads the armistice on the 11th November 1918. Germany had lost the First World War.

Question 8

What was the armistice?

Answer 8

A peace agreement between Germany and the allies to stop fighting

Question 9

What were the long term effects of the revolution?

Answer 9

Politics in Germany became very unstable as extreme left-wing and right-wing groups
fought for power over the country. There was so much trouble, the new government didn’t fully take control until mid-1919.

Question 10

What was the Weimar Constitution?

Answer 10

1. Everyone had freedom of speech, religion and to hold meetings
2. Personal freedom and equality
3. All men and women over 20 could vote
4. The Reichstag (government) was voted for by the people and made the laws