Causes:
- German army was collapsing
- Allied blockade of ports
o Food shortages => suffering - Citizens and soldiers blamed Kaiser Wilhelm for their problems
o He had absolute power in Germany - Many were influenced by the recent Russian Revolution (1917)
o The Tsar was overthrown and replaced by a government of the people
o They felt the same should happen in Germany
Course:
25th October 1918 – German sailors mutiny instead of following orders to attack the British Navy
6th November 1918 – Government lost control of the country. The main aim of the workers + soldiers was to stop the war but politicians feared there might be a total revolution
7th November 1918 – Social Democrats sent the Kaiser an ultimatum => abdicate or they’d join the revolution
9th November 1918 – General strike => SDP announce the German Republic
10th November 1918 – Kaiser Wilhelm II fled Germany for the Netherlands => power falls into the hands of the SDP
11th November 1918 – Armistice is signed with the Allies
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Effects:
- Germany lost WW1
o The new Weimar Republic called for an immediate ceasefire => led to an armistice - Political Instability
o Extreme groups fought for power
o The new government didn’t take power until 1919
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Impact of WW1:
- New Government
o Many were unsure of the new government
o Some wanted the Kaiser to return - Deaths and Casualties
o Over 7M dead or injured - Financial Problems
o Almost bankrupt => war cost £37B - Social Unrest
o Thousands left the army => riots in Germany
o Freikorps (ex-soldiers) refused to give up their arms - Losing the War
o German population felt they weren’t losing
o The new government ‘stabbed them in the back’ by giving in - Mass Starvation
o Allied blockade => lack of food supplies
o 500,000 died as a result
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