Depth Study - Germany

The German Republic 1918 – 1929: Was the Weimar Republic Doomed From the Start?

Farming disruption: Many farmworkers were drafted into the army.
Reduced agricultural output: By 1918, Germany produced only 50% of the milk and 60% of the butter and meat it had before the war.
Starvation and harsh winters: Allied naval blockades prevented resources from entering Germany.
Estimated deaths: Approximately 750,000 Germans died due to disease and famine.

Damaged national pride: Germany's status as a proud state was ruined, leading to bitterness and anger.
Blame attribution: Germans sought someone to blame for their loss in the war.
Internal conflict: A society known for unity became known for squabbling.

Worsened pre-war problems: Existing political issues were exacerbated.
Weakening of the Reichstag: The Reichstag, once a symbol of ordinary people's influence, became weak.
Military dictatorship: Kaiser Wilhelm II made Germany a military dictatorship, imprisoning opposition leaders.
Attempted revolution: This led to an attempted armed revolution and overthrowing of the Kaiser.

Kaiser's weakened position: The Kaiser's position weakened significantly by the end of the war, with soldiers beginning to mutiny.
Social Democrat ultimatum: The Social Democrat party demanded the Kaiser's abdication under threat of revolution.
Kaiser's abdication: On November 9, 1918, the Kaiser abdicated.
Establishment of the German Republic: Friedrich Ebert, leader of the Social Democrats, announced the setting up of the German Republic and became Chancellor.
Kaiser's exile: The Kaiser fled into exile in Holland the next day.
Armistice: On November 11, an armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany.

Post-war instability: Germany was extremely unstable after the Social Democrats took over, with demobilized soldiers joining armed demonstrations.
Threats from revolutionaries: The new government faced threats from left-wing Spartacists and right-wing Freikorps.

Ideology: The Spartacists were communists seeking a socialist revolution like in Russia.
Distrust of Ebert: They distrusted Ebert, believing he would not prioritize the working class's interests.
Attempted overthrow: The Spartacist rising aimed to overthrow Ebert's government in Berlin.
Capture of headquarters: On January 5, they seized the headquarters of the German Newspaper and Telegraph Bureau.
Poor preparation: The uprising was poorly planned and lacked support.
Rosa Luxemburg's murder: Their leader, Rosa Luxemburg, was murdered.
Government response: Ebert sent Freikorps members to suppress the uprising.
Crushing of the movement: Within days, the Freikorps captured the Spartacists' headquarters. The movement was crushed soon after.
Casualties: 100 Spartacists were killed compared to 13 Freikorps members.
Aftermath: Over the next four months, the Freikorps helped Ebert crush left-wing revolutionaries.

The Freikorps: The Freikorps were an armed group of unemployed ex-soldiers with extreme right-wing views.
Growth in power: Due to the Treaty of Versailles, many army personnel joined the Freikorps, increasing their numbers and power.
Ebert's mistake: Ebert had indirectly empowered the Freikorps by using them to suppress revolutions.
Limiting the Freikorps: Ebert ordered the Freikorps to be limited to 100,000 men.
Kapp's actions: Kapp marched into Berlin in March 1920 and declared a new national government.
Army support: The army supported Kapp.
Ebert's response: Ebert fled to Dresden and appealed to workers to strike.
Collapse of the Putsch: The general strike was so successful that Kapp's Putsch collapsed within a few days.

Anticipation of consequences: The Germans knew they would have to pay for damages caused by the war.
Hope for leniency: Changes in Germany and Woodrow Wilson's