Germany Chapter 2- Impact of WW1 Flashcards
Germany 1890-1945- Chapter 2 (46 cards)
When did WW1 begin?
August 1914
Who did Germany and Austria go against in WW1?
France, Britain, Russia and Belgium
What was Germany’s reactions during the war in 1914?
-Patriotic Germans thought it would end quickly
-British navy stopped ships getting food into GER -> food & other shortages.
What was Germany’s reactions during the war in 1915-16?
-In GER, protestors demanded war to end. Demonstrations-> 500 to 10,000 people.
-War weariness increased
-Front line-> soldiers worn down by bombs, gas & machine gun fire
When did the Germany navy in Kiel mutinied?
28 October 1918
What event occurred on October 28, 1918, leading to significant unrest in Germany?
-German navy in Kiel mutinied
-Mutiny spread among soldiers & workers
-In 6 days, workers’ & soldiers’ councils governed towns & cities
-Kaiser lost control as army generals refused to support him
What significant event occurred on November 9, 1918, regarding the leadership transition in Germany?
-Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and fled Germany permanently
-Friedrich Ebert, leader of SPD, assumed temporary leadership
-Ebert promised elections and ended the war
When did Germany surrender WW1?
11 November 1918
What were some economic consequences faced by Germany after World War I?
Germany faced:
- Large debts from borrowing to finance the war.
- Loaned money to its allies.
- Exhausted factories.
- High costs for war pensions.
How did World War I affect German society by 1918?
- Society became more divided
- Factory owners profited, while workers faced wage restrictions
- Women entered the workforce, leading to concerns about traditional family values
What contributed to political instability in Germany after World War I?
- Mutiny and revolution occurred across Germany
- Ex-soldiers and civilians accused politicians of betraying Germany by ending the war
What event marked the declaration of Germany as a democratic republic?
-Temporary leader Ebert declared Germany a democratic republic
-Ebert arranged for elections for a new parliament to take place in January
What group attempted to seize power in Berlin on 6th January 1919?
Spartacists, a group of Communists, seized power in Berlin
How did Ebert respond to the Spartacist uprising, and what group did he deploy?
-Ebert deployed the Free Corps (a group of tough ex-soldier), to attack Spartacists
-After 3 days of street fighting, the Free Corps recaptured buildings and arrested (and later killed) Spartacist leaders
What occurred after the suppression of the Spartacists?
-Ebert’s party, the SPD, won the elections
Where did politicians meet to create a formal set of rules for governing Germany?
-Politicians met in Weimar to create the Weimar Constitution
What was the Weimar Constitution?
-Established a formal set of rules for governing Germany
What rights were granted to all Germans by the Weimar Constitution?
-Granted all Germans equal rights, including the right to vote
What was a weakness of the Weimar Constitution regarding the makeup of the Reichstag?
-Proportional representation led to difficulty in achieving a majority for one party
-Leading parties had to negotiate with smaller groups, slowing down the law-making process
Who were some groups that opposed the democratic system established by the Weimar Constitution?
-Older army generals, judges, upper-class families, rich factory owners, and university professors
-They preferred the previous rule under the Kaiser
What term did some Germans use to describe the politicians linked to Germany’s defeat in World War I?
-Some Germans called them “November Criminals”
Article 48
-granted the President of Germany emergency powers to pass laws without the approval of the Reichstag
November Criminals?
-politicians and leaders who were associated with Germany’s defeat in World War I & the establishment of the new government.
KPD
Communist Party
