Germany Depth Study Flashcards
Who was the last Kaiser in Germany?
Kaiser Wilhelm (1888-1918)
How did the Revolution to overthrow the Kaiser start?
On 28th Oct. 1918, Navy Chiefs ordered one last attack against the British. This was suicide and so the sailors refused. 1000 were arrested, and in protest, a large meeting was held. Workers soon joined, and together they formed ‘soviets’. These were popular, and the Kaiser was loosing control. The 9th of Nov. the admy tells the Kaiser they don’t have its support. He abdicates and flees to Holland.
What were the aims, methods and leader(s) of ‘The Social Democratic Party’?
Aims: improve conditions of workers and give all Germans democratic rights.
Methods: using parliament to change the law
Leader: Friedrich Ebert
What were the aims, methods and leader(s) of ‘The Independent Socialists’?
Aims: improve conditions of workers and give all Germans democratic rights.
Methods: force reforms on gov. by organising strikes
Leaders: Hugo Haase, Georg Ledebour
What were the aims, methods and leader(s) of ‘The Spartacists’?
Aims: to set up a workes state with ‘soviets’
Methods: to overthrow the gov. in a revolution
Leaders: Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg
Why did the Spartacist uprising fail?
Friedrich Ebert had managed to gain the support of the Freikorps, who very quickly defeated the Spartacists. Both of the party leaders were tortured and later murdered.
What were the fundamental laws of the Weimar Constitution?
- Personal freedom: no one can be arrested if they haven’t broken the law.
- Freedom of expression: all Germans can express their opinion in speech, writing, or picture.
- The freedom to hold peaceful meetings and to form unions and societies
What powers did The President have?
The president had the power to appoint:
- the Chancellor
- the Courts
- the Reichswehr
- Power to use the emergency power (article 48)
What was the ‘Red Army’ , why were they a threat, and why did they fail?
A group of 500,000 workers, led by the Communist party, that in 1920 occupied of the Ruhr, in the hopes of achieving better working conditions and pay. They had a very weak leadership and an unclear plan. The lack of support and the strength of the Freikorps defeated the group.
