early years of Weimar Republic Flashcards
(18 cards)
Who was the kaiser at the time of WW1?
Wilhem II of Germany.
What happened on 9th November 1918?
Wilhelm II’s abdication was announced without his knowledge.
When did Wilhelm actually abdicate?
9th November 1918, at 5pm.
Where did his companions suggest he flee too?
Holland.
What was clear to Ludendorff by the end of September 1918?
Germany was on the brink of defeat.
What was the conclusion that Ludendorff came to for Germany?
Germany must ask the Allies for an armistice.
What is an armistice?
An agreement to suspend fighting in order to allow a peace treaty to be negotiated.
What was Wilson’s 14 points?
A way of dealing fairly with the aftermath of war.
What are the two main points of Wilson’s program?
The return of Alsace Lorraine to France.
The establishment of a League of Nations to monitor future disputes and self- determination.
What were the October Reforms?
The Kaiser began a series of reforms that effectively ended his autocratic role;
-Appointed Prince Max of Baden as chancellor
-Chancellor was to be responsible to the Reichstag and he established a new government based on the majority parties in the Reichstag, including the SPD
-The armed forces were put under the control of the civil government
What were the October reforms known as?
The revolution from above.
When did Prince Max write to President Wilson?
October 3rd, asking for an armistice.
Why did it take Wilson so long to reply to Max?
He was concerned that German High Command was using the request for an armistice as a means of buying time to regroup and prepare for a new offensive.
What were Wilson’s terms for the armistice?
Germany must evacuate all occupied territory, call an end to submarine warfare and fully democratise its political system.
What was the problems with Wilson’s terms?
They effectively demanded the Kaisers abdication and German surrender, which was too much for Ludendorff to accept.
What happened to Ludendorff?
He fled to Sweden.
What was public morale like after hearing the news of Prince Max’s armistice?
Very low and people began to lose faith in the military situation their country was in. The Peace note was an admission that Germany had lost the war.
