The Weimar Republic Flashcards
(105 cards)
What % of German troops became casualties?
55%
Germany’s debts in 1918
Trebled pre-war levels
How many Germans died from food shortages in WW1?
750,000
When did the Kaiser initially refuse to abdicate?
9th Nov
Who did the Kaiser lose the support of?
The army
When did Kaiser go into exile in Holland?
10th Nov
Who announced the Kaiser had gone and there’d be a new republic?
Philipp Scheidemann - leader of SPD
9th Nov - streets of Berlin
Full of people - some peacefully protesting, some collected guns and took over parts of the city
Who had the Kaiser’s chancellor been?
Max Von Baden
What did von Baden do on Nov 9th
Hand over his office to Ebert
What did Ebert do on 10th Nov with the army?
Agreed with General Groener to work together to keep communists out of gov
Who formed the Council of People’s Representatives?
6 moderate politicians
What did Ebert do to the Reichstag on Nov 10th
Suspend it temporarily so the Council of People’s Representatives could make a constitution
Who signed the armistice?
Erzberger
How did Ebert ensure the state kept running?
Kept the civil servant stay who’d been there under the Kaiser’s rule
What did Ebert assure General Groener?
The army wouldn’t be reformed - officers to keep ranks. Groener agreed to use the army to keep the republic in power
How did Ebert ensure the economy would continue to operate?
Reassured leaders of industry - like Hugo Stinnes - that the Republic wouldn’t confiscate land or factories, no nationalism of private companies
How did Ebert win the support of trade unions?
Promised their leader - Carl Legien - that they’d work towards an 8 hour working day
What would the National Assembly do?
Create the constitution
When were the elections for the National Assembly
19th January 1919
What % of the seats in the National Assembly were held by moderates?
60%
Who would chose all gov ministers?
Chancellor
How many votes was the new constitution agreed by?
262 to 75
Article 1 of the constitution
Democracy - voting age 21 (men + women),