Impact of the war, the political crises of October to November 1918, and the establishment of the Weimar Constitution

Question 1

Abdication of the Kaiser announced

Answer 1

1.30 pm November 9th 1918

Question 2

10th November 1918

Answer 2

Kaiser fled to Holland

Question 3

President Wilson’s 14 points

Answer 3

1. No Secret Agreements
2. Free Navigation of Seas
3. Free Trade
4. Reduce Weapons
5. All Decisions about colonies should be Fair
6. German Army Removed from Russia
   Russia Must Develop own Political Structure.
7. Belgium Independent
8. Germany Leave France and
   Give back Alsace-Lorraine
9. All Italians Allowed to live in Italy.
10. Self-Determination for those in Austria-Hungary.
11. Self-Determination and Independence
    for the Balkan states.
12. The Turkish people have Turkish government.
    Non-Turks in Old Turkish Empire Govern themselves.
13. Poland Independent with
    Access to the Sea.
14. A League of Nations Set Up

Question 4

October Reforms 1918

Answer 4

Ludendorff advised the Kaiser to make reforms to the democracy in order to get better peace terms and accept the 14 points from President Wilson: This basically ended the Kaiser’s rule.

*Prince Max Of Baden appointed chancellor
He made a new government

Question 5

The Peace Note

Answer 5

3rd October 1918. A message sent from chancellor Prince Max von Baden to President Wilson asking for an armistice.

Question 6

Peace Note was an…

Answer 6

admission of defeat

Question 7

Naval mutiny at Wilhelmshaven

Answer 7

30th October 1918

Question 8

3rd November 1918

Answer 8

Naval mutiny spread to Kiel

Question 9

8th November 1918

Answer 9

Revolt in Bavaria led to declaration of Bavarian Socialist Republic (Bavarian monarchy collapses)

Question 10

10th November 1918

Answer 10

Ebert-Groener Pact

Question 11

11th November 1918

Answer 11

Armistice signed

Question 12

26th October- 5th November 1918

Answer 12

Strikes and demonstrations across Germany

Question 13

1st October 1918

Answer 13

Prince Max of Baden formed new government

Question 14

30th September 1918

Answer 14

Kaiser promised political reform

Question 15

29th September 1918

Answer 15

Ludendorff called for armistice negotiations

Question 16

socialist groups and parties in 1918

Answer 16

Sparacist League(no ww1, minority spd group), USPD (no ww1, minority spd group), SPD (support ww1)

Question 17

6th December 1918

Answer 17

Soldiers fire upon a Spartacist demonstration killing 16 people

Question 18

23-24th December 1918

Answer 18

sailors revolt against the government in Berlin

Question 19

6th January 1919

Answer 19

Spartacist Uprising

Question 20

Strengths of the Weimar Constitution

Answer 20

• democratic system meant that no group could hold absolute power
• voting age was reduced to 21 for men and women
• presidential elections were held every 7 years

Question 21

Weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution

Answer 21

• proportional representation made it very difficult for a chancellor to get a majority
• this made decision-making slow and indecisive as chancellors need coalitions to gain a majority
• it gave representation in the Reichstag to extremist parties
• Article 48 - the president had the power to suspend the Constitution and govern by decree
• many important groups, such as the civil service and extremist parties did not support it

Question 22

19th January 1919

Answer 22

Ebert is president Scheidemann is chancellor, constituent assembly

Question 23

26th October 1918

Answer 23

Ludendorff resigned and fled to Sweden

Question 24

6th November 1918

Answer 24

Soldiers and workers took control of cities like Munich and Hamburg

Question 25

What date did the Kaiser abdicate?

Answer 25

9th November 1918

Question 26

What was the name of President Wilson’s list of factors needed to negotiate a peace between countries?

Answer 26

Wilson’s 14 Points

Question 27

Who was Ludendorff?

Answer 27

A German Military General

Question 28

Who was Prince Max of Baden?

Answer 28

The Chancellor of Germany from September to November 1919. He shared power with the Kaiser- marking the end of the Kaisers autocratic ruling. Max was also the Kaisers cousin

Question 29

On October 3rd, he wrote a peace note to President Wilson asking for an armistice. Wilson took nearly 3 weeks to reply. What did he demand in his response?

Answer 29

• withdrawal of military from occupied territory
  -End of submarine warfare

Question 30

What happened with the naval ships at Wilhelmshaven on 28th October?

Answer 30

They refused to attack British ships, leading to a naval mutiny

Question 31

What was set up in Kiel after the mutiny at the Naval base on the 3rd November?

Answer 31

A workers and soldiers council

Question 32

In which German state was the monarchy overthrown and a republic claimed on 8th November?

Answer 32

Bavaria