Weimar - Political and Governmental change

Question 1

Who was the military high command in WWI?

Answer 1

Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff who began to run Germany as a military dictatorship, ignoring the Reichstag.

Question 2

Revolution from above

Answer 2

New government that the Kaiser and military high command introduced in 1917 led by Max von Baden to stop a revolution from below

Question 3

When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

Answer 3

28th June 1919

Question 4

What were the main categories of the Treaty of Versailles in regards to Germany?

Answer 4

Lost land, Military consequences, Other

Question 5

What land did Germany lose in Versailles?

Answer 5

• Land gained at Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
• Upper Silesia
• Alsace and Lorraine (french border)
• Eupen and Malmedy (belgium border)

Question 6

What were the military consequences for Germany after Versailles?

Answer 6

• Rhineland became a demilitarised ‘buffer zone’ for France so German troops couldn’t enter it
• The army was limited to 100,000 troops without tanks or heavy artillery
• Not allowed warships over 10,000 tonnes and couldn’t have submarines
• Not allowed an air force

Question 7

What other terms affected Germany in Versailles?

Answer 7

• War guilt, Article 231 of Versailles
• Reparations to be paid to allies to rebuild their countries after devastation from the war
• Germany couldn’t ally with Austria

Question 8

How much did the Allies have to pay in reparations?

Answer 8

132,000 million gold marks decided in 1921

Question 9

28 October 1918

Answer 9

Governments official inauguration day, the navy refused to sail against the British fleet, setting off strikes and mutinies across Germany

Question 10

8 November 1918

Answer 10

Bavaria broke from Germany declaring itself a republic and the Kaiser fled to Holland and abdicated

Question 11

When was the Council of People’s Representatives set up?

Answer 11

10 November 1918

Question 12

Which group of people led the Council of People’s Representatives?

Answer 12

Socialist groups - SPD and USPD, Ebert became the leader

Question 13

SPD

Answer 13

Social democrats, led by Friedrich Ebert, largest party in the Reichstag from 1919 - 29,

Question 14

USPD

Answer 14

Independent social democrats, led by Hugo Haase, Split from the SPD

Question 15

Who signed the Armistice on the 11th November?

Answer 15

Matthias Erzberger on behalf of the Government

Question 16

How did the Government make social reforms to improve the unsettled political and economic situation after WWI?

Answer 16

Set an 8 hour working day, allowed trade unions, set up help for ex-soldiers to find work, widened health and unemployment benefits

Question 17

Which party had a lot of members joining the KPD due to disagreements over policy between SPD and USPD?

Answer 17

USPD

Question 18

KPD

Answer 18

German communist party, set up in December 1918

Question 19

Spartacist Revolt

Answer 19

A Spartacist uprising broke out in Berlin in January 1919 and Ebert moved the government to Weimar for safety. The Freikorps dealt with the Spartacists leaders Liebknecht and Luxemburg.

Question 20

[Gap fill] Many Germans were afraid of the ‘R__ P____’ of communism spreading from _____ and ___ political meetings came under ____

Answer 20

Many Germans were afraid of the ‘Red Plague’ of communism spreading from Russia and KPD political meetings came under attack

Question 21

What coalition was formed as a result of the 1919 elections ?

Answer 21

SPD, Centre party and DDP

Question 22

DDP

Answer 22

German Democratic Party, newly formed, liberal educated professionals who supported a republic

Question 23

DNVP

Answer 23

German National People’s Party, a conservative, nationalist and monarchist party

Question 24

DVP

Answer 24

German’s People Party, moderately conservative and nationalist from National Liberals in 1919 under Stresemann