Germany

this is for the book remeber!

What caused severe food shortages in Germany during the First World War?

Low domestic food production combined with the Allied naval blockade, which prevented Germany from importing enough food.

Why did the Allied naval blockade contribute to food shortages in Germany during the First World War?

The blockade prevented Germany from importing food, worsening shortages caused by low domestic production.

What did German leaders promise when Germany entered the First World War in 1914?

They promised Germany would achieve a quick victory.

What actually happened to Germany after it entered the First World War in 1914?

Germany became involved in a long and bloody conflict against the Allies, particularly on the Western Front.

What had happened to German troops by early November 1918?

German troops had been forced to retreat and Germany faced the threat of military occupation.

How long had Germany been fighting in the First World War by early November 1918 in WW1?

About four years.

What did the Allies demand before they would agree to peace with Germany in 1918 in WW1?

They demanded that Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicate.

Why did the Kaiser refuse to abdicate initially in 1918?

He refused to give up his position as ruler of Germany.

What did German naval commanders at Kiel order their ships to do in late October 1918?

They ordered the ships to fight British naval forces even though defeat was considered likely.

Why did sailors at Kiel mutiny in late October 1918?

They refused to carry out orders to fight the British navy because they believed the battle would be pointless.

What happened across Germany during the two weeks following the Kiel sailors' mutiny?

Strikes and protests spread across Germany, while other soldiers also mutinied against army leaders.

Why did many Germans demand Kaiser Wilhelm II's abdication in November 1918?

Many Germans blamed the Kaiser for Germany's military defeat and believed he should no longer rule.

What happened to the authority of the Kaiser's officials during the unrest of November 1918?

Many ordinary Germans rejected their authority and established their own workers' councils.

What were workers' councils in Germany in November 1918?

Local groups established by ordinary Germans that took control instead of accepting the authority of the Kaiser's officials.

Why had Kaiser Wilhelm II lost control of Germany by November 1918?

Mutinies, strikes, protests and workers' councils had undermined his authority, while many Germans demanded his abdication.

On what date did Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicate?

9 November 1918.

What did Kaiser Wilhelm II do after abdicating on 9 November 1918?

He fled to the Netherlands to live in exile.

Where did Kaiser Wilhelm II live in exile after his abdication?

The Netherlands.

What political system was established in Germany on 10 November 1918?

A new republic was established.

Who became the president of Germany when the new republic was established in November 1918?

The Social Democrat Friedrich Ebert.

What happened between Germany and the Allies on 11 November 1918?

An armistice was agreed, officially ending the First World War.

Who signed the armistice on behalf of Germany on 11 November 1918?

Matthias Erzberger, representing Friedrich Ebert's government, signed the armistice.

What did the armistice signed on 11 November 1918 officially end?

The First World War.

What did senior members of the German armed forces falsely claim about Germany's position at the end of the First World War?

They claimed Germany had been close to victory and that surrender had been unnecessary.

Why did many Germans refuse to accept that Germany had lost the First World War?

Senior military figures claimed Germany had been close to victory, leading many Germans to believe the army had not truly been defeated.

What did many Germans call the politicians who signed the armistice?

Traitors.

What was the "stab in the back" theory in Germany after the First World War?

The false belief that Germany's army had not been defeated militarily but had been betrayed by politicians who surrendered.

How did the "stab in the back" theory affect the Weimar Republic?

It helped make the new republic unpopular from the beginning because many Germans blamed its politicians for Germany's defeat and surrender.

Who took control of Germany after Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated in November 1918?

The Council of People's Representatives took control temporarily.

Why was the Council of People's Representatives only a temporary government in Germany in November 1918?

It was intended to govern until a permanent government system could be established.

What did Friedrich Ebert promise after the Council of People's Representatives took control of Germany?

He promised national elections for a new National Assembly.

When were elections held for Germany's new National Assembly?

19 January 1919.

What was the voter turnout in Germany's National Assembly election of January 1919?

82 per cent of the electorate voted.

What type of political parties won most of the seats in Germany's National Assembly election of January 1919?

Moderate parties won most of the seats.

What percentage of the seats did Ebert's SPD win in the January 1919 National Assembly election?

40 per cent of the seats.

What was the new German system of government established after the Kaiser abdicated?

A republic without a Kaiser or any other monarch.

Why was the new German government called the Weimar Republic?

The National Assembly first met in Weimar because Berlin was considered too dangerous at the time.

What was the constitution created by Germany's National Assembly commonly called?

The Weimar Constitution.

What freedoms did the Weimar Constitution guarantee to German citizens?

Freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

What principle of equality did the Weimar Constitution guarantee?

Equality under the law.

Who was given the vote under the Weimar Constitution?

All men and women over the age of 20.

What type of political system did the Weimar Constitution establish?

A parliamentary democracy.

What was the Reichstag under the Weimar Constitution?

The elected German parliament responsible for making laws and appointing the government.

What was the role of the Reichstag under the Weimar Constitution?

It made laws and appointed the government.

Who was the head of the German government under the Weimar Constitution?

The Chancellor.

How was the Chancellor connected to the government under the Weimar Constitution?

The Chancellor headed the government and was responsible for running it.

Who was elected every seven years under the Weimar Constitution?

The President.

What power did the German President have under the Weimar Constitution in relation to the Reichstag?

The President could use presidential powers to provide checks and balances against the Reichstag.

How many states made up the Weimar Republic?

18 states.

How were the 18 states organised under the Weimar Republic?

They were organised as a federation.

What did the federal structure of the Weimar Republic allow each state to have?

Each state had its own parliament, laws and police force.

Which groups among Germany's senior figures often opposed the Weimar Republic?

Army leaders and judges were among the senior figures who did not support the new democratic republic.

Why did some Germans want the Kaiser to return after the creation of the Weimar Republic?

They opposed the new democratic system and preferred the traditional monarchy under the Kaiser.

Who wanted a communist revolution in Germany after the First World War?

People influenced by the Russian Revolution of 1917 wanted a communist revolution.

What did German communists hope to achieve through a communist revolution after the First World War?

They wanted to remove the industrialists and traditional ruling class.

What was the political situation in Germany during the early years of the Weimar Republic?

Germany remained highly unstable, with frequent riots and demonstrations in many cities.

Why was Friedrich Ebert's grip on power insecure in the early Weimar Republic?

The republic faced opposition from army leaders, judges, monarchists, communists and other groups, while Germany experienced widespread unrest.

What major political change was Germany undergoing after the First World War?

Germany was changing from the old monarchical system under the Kaiser to a democratic republican system.

What was the purpose of the Weimar Constitution?

It established the rules by which Germany would be governed under the new republican system.

Why have some historians criticised the Weimar Constitution?

They have argued that aspects of the constitution made it difficult for the republic to deal effectively with Germany's problems after the First World War.

What two major problems faced Germany when the Weimar Republic was established?

Germany was politically divided and economically damaged.

What did the success of the new Weimar political system require?

Politicians and other powerful forces in Germany needed to cooperate and work together.

Why was cooperation difficult in Germany after the First World War?

There was a lack of commitment to cooperation and Germany had little experience of operating a political system based on compromise.

What was proportional representation under the Weimar Constitution?

A voting system in which political parties received seats in the Reichstag according to the percentage of votes they gained.

Under proportional representation, how many Reichstag seats would a party receiving 10 per cent of the vote receive?

Approximately 10 per cent of the Reichstag seats.

How did proportional representation differ from the first-past-the-post system?

Under proportional representation, seats reflected a party's percentage of votes, whereas under first-past-the-post a party could receive votes but win no seats if it lost every constituency.

Why could proportional representation be considered a strength of the Weimar Constitution?

It ensured that parties receiving votes gained representation in the Reichstag.

Why could proportional representation be considered a weakness of the Weimar Constitution?

It allowed many small and sometimes extremist parties to gain seats in the Reichstag.

Why did proportional representation contribute to unstable governments in Weimar Germany?

Many parties gained seats, but no single party usually had a majority, forcing parties to form coalition governments.

Why did coalition governments become necessary under Weimar proportional representation?

No individual party usually won enough seats to form a majority in the Reichstag.

When could coalition governments work effectively?

They could work effectively when the coalition parties were able to agree and compromise.

Why did many Weimar coalition governments break down?

The coalition parties often disagreed and failed to cooperate.

What happened when a Weimar coalition government lost its majority in the Reichstag?

The government could no longer effectively pass legislation and was often replaced.

What was one consequence of repeated coalition breakdowns in Weimar Germany?

A series of short-term governments was created.

Why were short-term governments a problem for the Weimar Republic?

They struggled to deal effectively with Germany's political and economic problems.

How did repeated changes of government affect public attitudes towards Weimar politicians?

Politicians were increasingly viewed as unhelpful and self-interested, contributing to resentment among the German public.

Why did proportional representation require compromise in the Weimar Republic?

Because many different parties gained seats, governments usually needed several parties to cooperate in coalition.

Why was compromise particularly difficult under the Weimar Republic?

Germany had little previous experience of operating a political system based on cooperation between multiple parties.

How did the political divisions of Germany affect the new Weimar Republic?

They made it difficult for politicians and powerful groups to cooperate and created instability.

How did Germany's economic condition affect the Weimar Republic in its early years?

The country was economically damaged after the First World War, adding to the problems faced by the new government.

Why was the Weimar Republic unpopular among some Germans from the beginning?

Many blamed its politicians for surrendering in the First World War and accepted the false "stab in the back" theory.

What combination of political conditions made the Weimar Republic unstable in its early years?

Political divisions, opposition from powerful groups, proportional representation, coalition disagreements, economic damage and widespread public resentment.

Why did Germany expect to be punished after the First World War?

Germany was the defeated nation, so it expected the victorious Allies to impose punishment through the peace treaty.

Why did many Germans hope the Treaty of Versailles would not be too harsh?

Many Germans believed they had been forced into the war and that responsibility should be shared by all the countries involved.

Why did some Germans believe a harsh peace treaty would be harmful to Germany?

They believed a harsh treaty would make it harder for the new German government to restore political stability.

Why did Woodrow Wilson want the peace treaty to be fair to Germany?

Wilson believed harsh terms would create German bitterness and a desire for revenge in the long term.

Who was Woodrow Wilson?

Woodrow Wilson was the president of the United States and a key figure in the negotiations over the post-war peace settlement.

When did Woodrow Wilson produce his Fourteen Points?

January 1918.

What were Wilson's Fourteen Points?

A list of proposed principles for creating a fairer and more peaceful settlement after the First World War.

Why did Germans expect the peace treaty to be based on Wilson's Fourteen Points?

They believed Wilson's promise of a fair peace meant the final treaty would follow the principles in his Fourteen Points.

Why did some Germans believe the Allies should not punish the new German government heavily?

The Kaiser had fled and Germany had established a democratic government, so Germans believed the new government should not be blamed for the Kaiser's decisions.

Why did Germany's expectations of a lenient peace settlement prove incorrect?

The Allies were not prepared to forgive Germany for the war and imposed a harsh peace settlement.

Which Allied leader was willing to compromise over the peace treaty in WW1?

Woodrow Wilson, the president of the United States.

Which Allied leaders wanted a harsher settlement against Germany after there loss in WW1?

Georges Clemenceau of France and David Lloyd George of Britain.

Who was Georges Clemenceau?

Georges Clemenceau was the prime minister of France during the Versailles peace negotiations.

Why did Georges Clemenceau want Germany to pay heavily after the First World War?

He wanted Germany to pay for the severe destruction caused in France during the war.

Why did Clemenceau want Germany's armed forces weakened after Germany’s lose in WW1?

He wanted to reduce the threat of another German attack on France.

Who was David Lloyd George?

David Lloyd George was the British prime minister during the Versailles peace negotiations.

What was David Lloyd George's main concern about the peace settlement after the loss of Germany in WW1?

He wanted to avoid a settlement that would create conditions for another war in the future.

Why did David Lloyd George still support punishing Germany after germany losing WW1 even though he many concenrns?

His government had won the December 1918 British election after campaigning for a harsh settlement against Germany.