Empire to democracy 1914-1929

what was political truce of parties for WW1 called

1914 Burgfriede, agreed by all parties- SPD supported ‘defensive war’ although had been viewed as enemies of state.

-lasted two years, government faced no real opposition from Reichstag or public.

what was the OHL?

supreme army command led by Hindenburg and Ludendorff.

-controlled military strategy however gained huge political influence by 1916 (silent dictatorship).

-pushed for unrestricted submarine warfare 1917, when defeat became clear in 1918 they encouraged shift to parliamentary gov.

emergence of a military dictatorship point?

Kaiser appoints Hindenburg as army chief of staff.

-August 29th 1916 surrenders supreme command to Hindenburg allowing him superiority over the chancellor- Willem allows military dictatorship to emerge?

When did Kaiser abdicate

November 9th 1918

Explain 1918 revolution from above

-Ludendorff abandoned objections to parliamentary democracy and suggest chancellor to seek armistice.

-1st October 1918, Kaiser asks Max Von Baden (chancellor) to form gov with ministers appointed by Reichstag.

-28th October- Germany becomes a parliamentary monarchy with chancellors and ministers responsible to reichstag and Bundesrat. Abolishes Prussian 3 class voting system

Revolution from below 1918

29th October- crews on two naval vessels mutiny, when ordered to make suicidal attack against British ships raised communist flags.

4th November- Kiel was held by 40,000 rebellious soldiers.

impact of war on German people from 1916-18 and statistic

• British naval blockade resulted in severe food shortages, labour shortages due to farmers drafted into military.

• Poor harvest such as turnip winter (1916-17) exacerbated this.

• Deaths from hypothermia and starvation increased from 121,000 in 1916 to 293,000 in 1918.

When was Weimar coalition formed?

February 6th 1919, national assembly met- also elected SPD leader Ebert ad president of Weimar republic,

what was the Fatherland Party

right wing party which mobilised mass support behind the OHL by giving political expression to the demands of the right wing.

-supported military dictatorship and wanted total victory.

-mobilise opinion against socialists and pacifists,

Why did Germany seek an armistice (ceasefire)?

Strikes taking place 1918, OHL believed victory would improve situation therefore focussed on ‘spring offensive’ March 1918.

• this failed and Ludendorff encouraged the chancellor to seek an armistice based on Wilson’s fourteen points (

Revolution from above to get armistice/ better peace deal.

Germany wanted better peace deal (give up less land/less reparations).

• 30 September Kaiser proclaims a parliamentary gov. 1 October- asks Max to form gov w/ ministers appointed by Reichstag rather than kaiser.

• October- Wilson states that because Germany is an autocratic dictatorship the allies will accept nothing but total surrender and change of regime. Led to increased calls from SPD, Zentrum for abdication of Kaiser.

• 4 days later Germany becomes a parliamentary monarchy, abolish three class voting system.

revolution from below due to ww1?

appalling living conditions and news of imminent defeat.

-29 October crews on two naval vessels mutiny, ordered to perform suicide attack against British ships however they raised communist flag instead.

-November, Kiel (place) held by 40,000 rebellious soldiers.

-9th November Prince Max announces Wilhem’s abdication and transfers political authority to SPD leader Ebert to create sense of legitimacy.

chancellor in 1st October 1918

Max von Baden.

why was Ludendorff forced to resign

ordered army generals to resist surrender.

Weimar constiution structure

President- appointed, dismissed ministers, could dissolve Reichstag and could rule by emergency decree. Elected every 7 yrs.

Chancellor- retain confidence of ½ of reichstag.

reichsrat- provide advice on laws, could be overridden by reichstag.

Reichstag- could vote on budget, new laws had to originate in Reichstag required approval of Reichstag.

Strengths of Weimar constitution

more democratic, women and men over 20 could vote for chancellor, elect reichstag.

chancellor accountable to reichstag.

Social rights which weren’t acknowledged in old constitution.

Weakness of Weimar constiution

Reichstag could still be bypassed by head of state in ‘emergency’- article 48.

similarities of constiutions (old and weimar)

• Head of state could appoint and dismiss chancellor and other ministers.

• could rule by emergency decree

• head of state could dissolve reichstag

-Reichstag could now overrule Reichsrat.

What happened in the elections in January 1919

SPD, USPD and Zentrum won nearly 80% of votes- these parties favoured a democratic republic.

why was there instability after ww1

proportional representation- led to many small parties, making it nearly impossible to form a majority government and resulting in weak, short-lived coalitions.

-set system up for failure? Made article 48 necessary in order to gain any progress in politics.

-radical parties, right wing like freikorps assassination attempts

Terms of Treaty of Versailles

• limited size of army to 100,000 men.

• Lost all it’s colonies

• Coal production from Saar went to France until 1935

• Lost around 48% of iron resources- exacerbated issue of paying reparations

• War guilt clause-moral justification for reparations- deep resentment.

• Prevented Germany from joining league of nations, Germany also not included in discussion for treaty of Versailles

Stab in back theory

• Soldiers betrayed by ‘November criminals’- largely from SPD and Zentrum signed armistice.

• Idea politicians had betrayed war effort.

• Weimar gov associated with failure for signing treaty.

Treaty of Versailles impact on voting?

22% to 48% from Jan 1919-1920 for anti republican parties e.g USPD.

-shift in voting due to Treaty of Versailles, near equal split in votes by 1920 for pro Weimar and anti republican.

Spartacist uprising

Uprising from left- 1200 workers killed.

• Used right wing freikorps to suppress uprising- killed leaders Rosa Luxembourg and Liebknecht despite orders.

• Further alienated left wing support, SPD viewed as traitors.

What was Kapp Putsch

-plans to reduce army created unease within army, Kapp (founder of fatherland party) politted to overthrow gov.

-5000 Freikorps troops marched to Berlin. regular army did nothing despite Ebert’s requests.

• Kapp Putsch failed due to lack of support, gov bureaucrats refused to acknowledge legitimacy of Kapp and obey orders,

• Gov ordered general strike, prevented military movement and cut off supplies.