1919-1923: impacts of war / weimar Flashcards
(71 cards)
1
Q
What are some democratic ideas in Germany? pre war
A
- Reichstag fully elected by universal male suffrage
- People can vote/ encouraged to vote
- Federal system; people represented USPD, SPD, etc
- Free and fair elections
2
Q
What was the constitution like Pre WW1
——–> the KAISER :
A
- King of Prussia - Hereditary monarch
- Appointed/ Dismissed government
- Could dissolve the Reichstag
- Controlled foreign policy and armed forces
3
Q
What was the constitution like Pre-WW1
———–> Reichstag
A
- Members (deputies) elected by universal male suffrage
- Could agree to or reject laws proposed by Kaiser or government
- Could not remove the chancellor or government
4
Q
What was the constitution like Pre-WW1
———–> Government: Chancellors and Other Ministers
A
- Appointed/ Dismissed by Kaiser
- Proposed new laws to the Reichstag
- Not dependent upon support in the Reichstag to stay in office
5
Q
What were there shortages of in Germany?
A
- Coal
- Fats
- Clothes
6
Q
Why was opposition to war growing?
A
- Food shortages
- Resource shortages
- Longer hours
- Forced labour
7
Q
How did Burgfrieden break down by end of 1917 ?
A
- Calls for Peace resolution
- Strikes
- Protests
8
Q
What did the German Fatherland Party want?
A
- To continue war and gain extra annexation of land
9
Q
Who demanded Germany begin armistice negotiations?
A
- Ludendorff
10
Q
What was agreed in the Revolution from Above?
A
- Reichstag would have more powers, armistice
negotiations would begin
11
Q
What was the economic impacts of the War?
A
- in winter of 1917 -> food shortages due to allied blockade of Germany
- Turnip winter
- Shortage of fuel meant many people were freezing
12
Q
how much did the mark lose its value between 1913-1918
A
75% of value
13
Q
What were political impacts of the War?
A
- 1917 Burgfrieden breaking down
- Radicals who opposed war broke with SPD and formed independent socialist party
- July 1917, Reichstag voted for peace resolution
- Hindenburg programme seen as forced labour, rural producers resented because of food prices low : production prices high
14
Q
how many casualties were there after the war
A
2 million soldiers deaths
15
Q
what were the military impacts of the war?
A
- controversial policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, USA joined Allies : April 1917
- Russia defeated + accepted Brest Litovsk -> more resources + territory and germany only fighting on one front
16
Q
What were the social impacts of the war?
A
- Many German workers bitter on restrictions of earnings during war
- factory owners made fortunes
- gap grew between social classes
- Women called to work in factories, seen as damaging to traditional values
17
Q
What was the Schlieffen Plan?
A
- To defeat France before Russia could mobilise , then to focus resources on Russia. - invading france through Belgium
- Resistance from belgium troops + British Expeditionary force -> advancement slow
- Ludendorff + Hindenburg 2 victories against Russian forces
18
Q
what was the peace note
A
prince max wrote to wilson, wilson replied 2 weeks later demanding germany evacuate occupied territory, fully democratise
ludendorff against this and urged military to continue war
19
Q
when was the peace note
A
3rd oct 1918
20
Q
what was the ebert groener pact
A
Ebert’s Motiv: wanted to protect government from communists to keep peace
Ebert’s outcome: The army protected him
General Groener’s motiv: Wanted to keep his position and for the army to keep their power
General Groener’s Outcome: Kept his position.
21
Q
who was ludendorff and what did he do
A
- responsible for defeat of russian forces
- nationalist
- nazi member 1924-1928
22
Q
who was ebert
A
trade union background
spd leader
not revolutionary
23
Q
what political challenges did ebert face after becoming chancellor
A
- Opposition and unenthusiastic reactions
- Communists wanted revolution and argued against Ebert’s plan
- Violent opposition from the right wing and assassinations were frequent
24
Q
social challenges ebert faced
A
- People believed he “stabbed germany in the back”
- He took the blame for the Treaty and Weimar Republic
- People disliked socialists
25
problems in general ebert faced
His government lacked legitimacy + had to establish a new constitution
- His authority didn't reach further than Berlin
- People rebelled and used violence
- Constant strikes and unhappy soldiers
- Hunger and flu and epidemics
26
what is parliamentary democracy
A system whereby parliament decides what happens and parliament is elected by the people
27
when did prince max of baden become chancellor
3rd october 1918
28
what did ludendorff aim to do after germany lost the war
- Secure peace terms with Allies
- Blame for end of the war to be on government
- Government who signed armistice but not army for their mistakes during fighting
29
why might the creation of democracy reach better peace terms
Woodrow wilson keen on spreading democracy
Allies disliked military style rule in Germany
30
why was the new gov weak
Army, judiciary ( rule of law), civil service maintained their place in society
they were right wing
31
how did the left wing feel about the ebert groener agreement
Betrayed
hoped to abolish influence of aristocratic elites, break up army, civil service, judiciary
wanted to nationalise key industries
32
How could the proclamation of socialist republic in Bavaria be seen as turning point in German revolution?
Convinced Prince Max of Baden that he lost control of government + should pass it to Ebert to control
33
What happened on the 8th Nov 1918?
A republic declared in Bavaria and Bavarian monarchy was deposed
34
how did workers react by october 1918
Strike in Friedrichshafen, workers shouted ‘The Kaiser is a scoundrel’ and ‘Up with the
German Republic.’’
35
What happened 9th Nov 1918?
- SPD call general strike + want Kaiser abdication
- Prince max releases statement about this
- Resigned as Chancellor + hands to Ebert
- Phillip Scheidemann declared that a German Republic now existed.
36
where were there most riots during october 1918
Cologne, Dortmund, Essen, Berlin, Dresden
37
What deal was made between the industrialists and trade union representatives?
- The ‘Central working association’. This set up workers committees to campaign for more rights
- an eight hour day and arbitration- a neutral observer to settle industrial disputes.
38
Why were the Industrialists willing to make a deal with trade union representatives
worried about losing money due to increasing workers unrest
worried about communist revolution
39
Describe how the new caretaker government was organised:
- 3 members SPD and USPD
- vote that called for constituent assembly rather than use of workers councils to make constitution
40
impacts of ww1 + problems
- Growth in government debt + inflation
- Unexpected defeat
- Myth of Stab in the Back
- Treaty Of Versailles
impacts:
- Weimar regime printed too much money
- national humiliation / November criminals blamed
41
what were the friekorps
about 200 ex soldiers
right wing nationalists
saw themselves as protectors of germany from bolshevism
42
what was the reichstrat
- Assembly of representatives of the 17 states
- Gave advice and reject new laws
- Could be overridden by Reichstag
43
what was the reichstag
- Deputies elected by all germans over 20
- Germany's parliament and deputies elected every 4 years
- Voted on whether bills should become law
44
strengths of weimar constitution
- Election of president
- President had 7 year terms - stable
- Proportional representation - everyones voices heard
- Article 48
- Universal suffrage
- Fundamental rights for workers
45
weaknesses of weimar constitution
- Article 48
- Appointment of Chancellor and Cabinet
- Bill of rights - more protests and less stability
- Splinter parties
- Proportional representation
46
social problems the republic faced
- Mass demobilisation
- Food shortages
- Shock end to WW1
- Workers unrest wanting more reform
- Lack of support from different social groups
47
political problems the republic faced
- Political unrest both left and right wings
- Political assassinations
- Political impact of Treaty of Versailles
- Less support for the Republic by 1920
48
economic problems the republic faced
- Deficit spending
- War debt
- Inflation
- Reperations
49
foreign problems republic faced
- Treaty of Versailles
- Land loss e.g. Alsace-Lorraine
- Isolation in foreign policy
- Tensions with France
50
why was ww1 and its legacy a problem
- Growth in government debt and inflation
- Stab in the back myth + unexpected defeat
- Treaty of Versailles
- Printed too much money
- Groups on fixed incomes - discontented
- Weimar = national humiliation
- November criminals blamed
51
Who was the first president and chancellor of the coalition government? (Weimar)
President - Ebert
Chancellor - Scheidemann
52
Describe the German Democratic Party: DDP + did they support the Republic
Leaders: Walther Rathenau + Hugo Preuss
- Support from Middle class
- Intellectuals + businessmen
- Supported Republic
53
Describe the National People's Party: DNVP + do they support republic
Leaders: Karl Helfferich + Alfred Hugenburg
- Right wing from old conservative parties + racist and anti-semantic groups (Pan German league)
- Monarchist + Antirepublican
- Land owners + small farmers
54
Describe the German People's Party (DVP)
+ whether they support republic
Leader: Gustav Stessemann
- Conservative + monarchist
- Initially suspicious of Weimar + voted against
- From 1921 - supporter of parliamentary democracy
- Support from protestant middle and upper classes
55
Descrihe the National Socialist German Workers Party : NSDAP + whether they supported Republic
- Leader: Adolf Hitler
- extreme right wing formed in 1919
- Anti republican, Anti Sematic
- Strongly nationalistic
- until 1930, support from lower middle classes
56
Describe the Centre Party + whether they supported Republic
- Leaders: Matthias Erzberger and Heinrich Bruning
- Created in 19th century to protect interests of roman catholic church
- Support from aristocratic land owners to christian trade unionists
- Committed to Republic
- 1920s sympathetic to Right Wing
57
who remained in their positions + were hostile to the republic
elites
military
bureaucracy
professors
judiciary
big businesses
58
when was the constituent assembly elections held
19th january 1919
59
what happened during the constituent assembly elections
- spd won largest share
- no overrall majority
- assembly members met in weimar because berlin was unstable
- ebert elected as first president
- new coalition gov by scheidemann
60
how many seats did spd gain in the constituent assembly elections
163
61
when did workers start striking and what were they shouting in the revolution
22nd oct
"kaiser is a scoundrel"
62
how did the kiel mutiny start and when
28th october
navy high command resisting to peace + ordered ships from wilhelmshaven to attack british ships in english channel
crews refused
63
what happened by the 4th november
general mutiny spread to city and workers councils
64
when did councils reach over germany and what did they want
by 6th november
involved people who wanted the kaiser to abdicate
65
when was a republic declared in bavaria
8th november
monarchy deposed
66
who led the bavarian revolution
- kurt eisner led demonstration in munich
- took over public buildings
- proclaimed bavarian democratic/socialist republic with himself as prime minister
67
how did the november revolution worsen by 7th november 1918
spd advised prince max of baden they would withdraw from the coalition if kaiser didnt abdicate
68
what did scheidemann do on the 9th november
stood on reichstag balcony and declared a german republic
69
how did ebert believe in causing a revolution
through parliamentary elections
his gov lacked legitimacy
needed to establish a constitution
70
when was the kpd formed
22nd november 1918
71
where did the stab in the back myth start
newspapers
military spoke of betrayal
those accused were pacifists, socialists, communists
those responsible for strikes and armistice
