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The Weimar Republic 1918-29 - Impact of WW1 on Germany and the German…
The Weimar Republic 1918-29 - Impact of WW1 on Germany and the German Revolution
2) Impact of WW1 on Germany
Political
Ex soldiers in Germany felt betrayed by weak politicians
End of 1918: protests and strikes
Stresses of war → revolution in Germany (Oct Nov 1918)
Financial
National income was 1/3 of what it had been in 1913
1/3 of budget was spent on war pensions
German Government: 1914 - 1918 debts trebled
Social
Huge gap between rich and poor
11 million Germans fought. 2 million died and 4+ million wounded.
During the war: women work factories. Damaging family life
naval blockades → food shortages
1) Germany in 1914
Kaiser - popular
Army - finest in world
Business and industry
German people - well educated and prospered
Strong + powerful
3) German Revolution (1918 - 19)
By Nov 1918 - revolution begun
Kaiser Wilhelm's government - lost control to strikers + riots
Many towns - workers + soldiers set up own, unofficial councils to replace Kaiser's officials
4) Kaiser Abdicates
Nov 9th 1918 - Kaiser was at army headquarters in Spa (a town)
Ministers told him only way to restore order - abdicate
Kaiser refused
Kaiser lost support of army. Officers refused to help him
Kaiser agreed and abdicated eventually on same day
10th Nov 1918 - Kaiser went into exile (fled to another country for protection) in Holland
5) Declaration of a Republic
9th Nov 1918 - streets of Berlin - full of people
Inside Reichstag - Phillip Schneidmann (leading member of SPD - biggest party in German parliament)
Schneidmann - told that armed rioters were preparing to take over + announce a communist government in Berlin
Schneidmann wanted to keep control and a more moderate (not right/left wing) government
Schneidmann announced to crowds outside Reichstag that Kaiser had gone + new German Republic
Schneidmann appealed for peace from the old German Republic to a new German Republic
6) Coucil of People's Representatives
SPD needed to act quickly to establish new Republic. By doing these things, SPD could take control of Germany whilst preventing a Communist takeover
9th Nov - office handed over to Friedrich Ebert (leader of SPD)
10th Nov - Ebert made agreement with army to work together to keep communists out of power
10th November - Ebert suspended old Reichstag + named 6 moderate politicians - formed the Council of People's Representatives. Council - lead government until new constitution could be agreed
7) Armistice
11th Nov - Ebert's representative (Matthias Erzberger) signed armistice to formally (definitely) end WW1