WW1, creation of Republic Flashcards
What was the revolution from below?
German sailors at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven refused to fight. They set up councils for workers, sailors and soldiers (like Soviets). These councils challenged the rights of the state governments. The Kaiser abdicated his power as he was scared of revolution.
What was the revolution from above?
General Ludendorff tried to persuade the Kaiser to turn Germany into a democracy in order to appeal to the Western powers such as President Wilson of the USA.
On October 3rd 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm handed power to Prince Max of Baden.
How did Prince Max of Baden seek peace?
On 3rd October 1918, Prince Mac wrote to President Wilson asking for an armistice.
What were President Wilson’s 14 points?
They were 14 rules which should be met if a country wanted to succesfully surrender to the allies.
- get rid of any secret treaties
- USA will only negotiate with a democracy
- need to get rid of monarch
The problem was that Germany at the time WERE NOT a democracy
What does the Kaiser do to appeal to the allies?
The Kaiser declared Germany a ‘Parliamentary Democracy’ on the 28th October 1918
What does Ludendorff do?
Ludendorff switches sides from being anti-war to being pro-war. He instructs naval commanders who were still loyal to him to launch their ships and fight the British as one final stand.
Constitutional change on the 28th October 1918
The Kaiser and the ministers of the government as well as the Chancelllor were now controlled by the Reichstag.
28th October 1918
The naval commanders still loyal to Ludendorff instruct the fleet at Wilhelmshaven and Kiel to fight the British. The sailors of two crusiers refused to fight and mutinied. The mutiny spread rapidly as more and more sailors mutinied.
3rd November
A general situation of mutiny had formed across all of Germany’s armed forces. The soldiers begin to set up soviets…
9th November
- It becomes clear to the Kaiser that he must abdicate in order for Germnay to be saved from the revolution
- Kaiser ‘abdicates’ and flees to the Netherlands.
- Prince Max’s government resigns and Ebert becomes the new Chancellor of Germany
What did Karl Liebkneckt declare on the 9th of November?
Liebknecht was a hardline communist who was fighting for revolution. He declared that Germany was now a Communist Republic.
November 11th 1918
Ebert’s newly formed government sign the armistice papers thus declaring the end of WW1
What did Philip Scheidemann declare on the 9th of November?
Scheidemann was a Majority Socialist. He quickly counteracts Liebknecht’s proclamation by declaring Germany a Democratic Republic which stopped any chance of a communist takeover.
What was the Ebert-Groner pact?
On the 10th of November:
- the Army promised to support the government
- the Army promised to act against left-wing militia
—> ONLY if the government realised the communists were bad and the class system of the army was maintained.
Pact was between Ebert and Groner
When was the National Assembly set up?
25th November 1918
The next elections were planned for January
