Weimar 1.1

Question 1

What was the political situation like during WW1?

Answer 1

1. Germany under political strain
2. Kaiser not a good war strategist
3. Hindenberg and Ludendorff in charge
4. When US entered, Ludendorff suggested to change govt from autocracy to constitutional monarchy- Revolution from above- Prince Max of Baden the new govt.

Question 2

Treaty of Versailles

Answer 2

28th June 1919
very harsh

1. lost land: Upper Silesia, Alsace Lorraine, Saar, Polish corridor etc
2. no subs, planes, tanks, no conscription, 100,000 men, demilitarisation of Rhineland,
3. Reparation: £6.6 billion
4. no involvement in LON

Question 3

When did Prince Max ask for an armistice?

Answer 3

3rd Oct 1918

Question 4

What did Prince Max do?

Answer 4

1. extended vote to all men
2. ministers and army responsible for govt not kaiser
3. wanted a revolution
4. forced kaiser to abdicate- refused

Question 5

What happened on the 8th November?

Answer 5

Bavaria broke from Germany, kaiser abdicated and fled to Holland, Max’s govt resigned

Question 6

When was the new left wing coalition govt set up?

Answer 6

10 Nov 1918

Question 7

Who was the new left wing govt led by?

Answer 7

Socialist party that held majority

• Social democrats SPD
• Independent Social Democrats USPD
• Spartacus League

Question 8

who was SPD- Social Democrats- led by and what were their aims?

Answer 8

led by Freidrich Ebert

Aim: establish a socialist republic by the creation of a parliamentary democracy

Question 9

Who was USPD led by and what were their aims?

Answer 9

Hugo Haase

Aim: create a social republic governed by workers and soldiers council with a parliament

Question 10

What was the Ebert Groener pact?

Answer 10

An agreement on 10 nov between Ebert and Army general. Army would support govt if Ebert opposed left wing ideas

Question 11

What was the Stinnes Legien agreement?

Answer 11

A deal where trade unions wouldn’t interfere with private ownership and the free market in return for workers committees, an 8 hour working day and legal recognition

Question 12

Who were the Spartacists led by and what were their aims?

Answer 12

Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht

Aim: create a soviet republic with workers and soldiers in charge

Question 13

What problems did the new coalition govt face?

Answer 13

Due to conflicting of aims and methods, there was a lack of unity

Question 14

When was armistice for war signed?

Answer 14

11 November by Matthias Erzberger

Question 15

What social reforms did the govt make to improve the social and economic situation?

Answer 15

8hr working day, independent trade unions, jobs for ex soldiers, health and unemployment benefits

Question 16

The Spartacist Revolt

Answer 16

Jan 1919

• communist rising in Berlin with the aim of overthrowing the provisional govt and creating a soviet republic.
• Freikorps deal with this
• Luxemburg and liebknecht were captured and murdered

Question 17

How were the Jan 19 elections for Weimar?

Answer 17

successful, 82.7% voted, SPD didn’t get majority so coalition was necessary

Question 18

What was the impact of the treaty of versailles?

Answer 18

made govt hugely unpopular, soldiers were recruited by political parties to form private armies, most deeply resented because of war guilt, not able to take part in negotiations and the anger towards reparations

Question 19

what challenges did the constitution face?

Answer 19

1. Constitution let lots of parties in the reichstag- there were 29 in total, politicians moved between parties which made it confusing
2. Proportional representation- lots of small parties formed- coalition necessary to get majority
3. Article 48- unnecessary power to president