Origins of The Weimar Republic

Question 1

• How many troops were injured/died?

Answer 1

2 million dead
4 million injured

Question 2

• How did government debts increase?

Answer 2

from 50 billion marks to 150 billion marks

Question 3

• How did food shortages affect citizens?

Answer 3

many people died of starvation

Question 4

• Explain the events leading to the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II?

Answer 4

• the Kaiser visited Spa
• ministers tried to convince him to abdicate but he refused
• army officers refused to support him
• he had no choice but to abdicate

Question 5

• When did the Kaiser flee to Holland?

Answer 5

10th November 1918

Question 6

• When was Germany declared Republic?

Answer 6

9 November 1918

Question 7

• What did Friedrich Ebert do on the 10th of November?

Answer 7

formed the Council of People’s Representatives as a temporary measure

Question 8

• How did Berlin react to the Republic?

Answer 8

the streets were crowded, and some people were armed in hopes to take over the city

Question 9

• How long did the revolutionary period last?

Answer 9

November 1918 - August 1919

Question 10

• When was the armistice signed?

Answer 10

11th November 1918

Question 11

• Who decided to sign the armistice?

Answer 11

Friedrich Ebert

Question 12

• When did Ebert decide the elections for a Constituent Assembly?

Answer 12

19 January 1919

Question 13

• What coalition was formed between the parties?

Answer 13

Catholic Centre Party and German Democratic Party

Question 14

• When was the Weimar Republic finalised?

Answer 14

August 1919

Question 15

• What was the role of the Chancellor in the Weimar Republic?

Answer 15

this was chosen by the president, and had to have support of a majority of the Reichstag

Question 16

• What was the role of the Reichstag in the Weimar Republic?

Answer 16

this was elected every four years and could make laws, and the chancellor had to have support of most of its members

Question 17

• What was the role of the Reichsrat in the Weimar Republic?

Answer 17

they could not make laws but they could approve laws proposed by the Chancellor and the Reichstag

Question 18

• What did Article 1 state?

Answer 18

the German Reich is a republic and political authority derives from the people

Question 19

• What did Article 22 state?

Answer 19

the Reichstag delegates are universal, equal and secret in order to keep proportional representation

Question 20

• What did Article 23 state?

Answer 20

the Reichstag is elected every 4 years

Question 21

• What did Article 41 state?

Answer 21

the president is chosen by the whole of the German electorate

Question 22

• What did Article 48 state?

Answer 22

if public safety and order is disturbed, the president can take necessary measures to restore it

Question 23

• What did Article 54 state?

Answer 23

The Reich Chancellor and ministers resign if the Reichstag withdraws its confidence.