Political and government change 1918-89

Question 1

This was from the Reichstag

When was the Republic set up and who did they appoint chancellor

Answer 1

10th November 1918
The Council of People’s Representatives appointed Friedrich Ebert as chancellor

Was mainly led by the socialist groups SPD and USPD. SPD’s leader was Friedrich Ebert and USPD’s leader was Hugo Haase

Question 2

Army

When and what was the Ebert-Groener Pact

Answer 2

10th November 1918
Ensured full loyalty of the army to the government as long as the government would take prompt action against leftist uprisings, that he would call a national assembly and most importantly that military command would remain with the professional officer corps

Question 3

What was the result of the government signing the Armistice on 11 November 1918

Answer 3

Germany had no say in any treaty negotiations
The Treaty of Versailles

Question 4

What were the military consequences of the ToV

Answer 4

Rhineland was now a demilitarised ‘buffer-zone’ for france
Army was limited to 100,000 troops stationed only in Germany
No airforce, tanks, ships or heavy artillery

Question 5

What land was lost as a result of the ToV

Answer 5

Land gained at the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Upper Silesia
Alsace and Lorraine (on its border with France)
Eupen and Malmédy (on its border with Belgium)

Question 6

What social reforms did the government make following the humiliation of the armistice?

Answer 6

1. Set an 8 hour working day
2. Allowed inderpendant trade unions
3. Set up help for ex-soldiers to find work
4. Widened health and unemployment benefits

Question 7

Who were the Freikorps?

Answer 7

A private army formed in December 1918 made up of ex-soldiers and unemployed youths and led by ex-officers.

Question 8

What was the Spartacist revolt?

Answer 8

A German communist uprising in Berlin on January 1919 sparked by rising violent politcal tensions. Ebert moved the government into Weimar and asked the Freikorps to deal with it.

Had 100,000 involved to take over newspapers
Both Liebknecht and Luxemburg (leaders of the revolt) were captured, beaten and murdered

Question 9

Who were the major parties following the establishment of the Weimar government 1919?

Answer 9

1. DVNP - most right-wing party, was anti-Semetic, conservative, nationalist and monarchist.
2. DVP - moderately conservative, nationalist, right-wing party formed in 1919 under the lead of Gustav Stresseman.
3. Centre party - largely Catholic, attracted many social groups and anti left-wing.
4. DDP - liberal, well-educated professional who liked the idea of the republic.
5. SPD - largest party in the Reichstag from 1919-29, believed in social reform, not revolution, and attracted working - middle class.
6. USPD - split from SPD in 1917 as they were more radical. Luxemburg and Liebknecht were members before forming the Spartacists.
7. KPD - set up in 1919, wanted a communist state and attracted the young, poor and unemployed.

Question 10

What was the problem with coalitions?

Answer 10

As the Reichstag was based on a majority, parties made coalitions that were short-lived as the parties involved usually did not have the same policies and were focused on achieving their own ideals rather than Germany’s issues.