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49 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What and when was Burgfriede? |
July 1914. A political truce agreed by parties of the Reichstag to all work together in their war efforts . |
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What divisions existed throughout the war? |
*social class divisions -the wealthy able to purchase food through the black market -lack of wage increases to match inflation (up by 50%) -workers in armaments received extra rations *regional divisions -urvan workers convinced that rural peasants were hoarding food -declining labour force for farmers due to conscription -idea that this was Prussias war (the elites) *political divisions -peoppe in power blamed for failures -inefficienct, eg in 1915 they slaughtered pigs resulting in shortages of meat *religious divisions -spike in anti-semitism |
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What were the key causes of tension throughout the war? |
*continuous defeat -1917, 2.5million German casualties -censorhaip of defeat broke down (heroic withdrawal) *shortages -750,000 germans died of starvation -1916/17, turnip winter -ersatz goods *government failings -caused the collapse of burgfriede and the patriotism that existed at the start of the war |
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How did WW1 initially create unity? |
*fear of Russian invasion - reichsfienxe *patriotism through burgfriede *propaganda and censorship *victories (eg at tannenberg, creating war heroes out of hindenburg and ludendorff) |
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When did Britain impose the naval blockade? |
February 1915 |
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When was the silent dictatorship and what was it? |
1916-18. Hindenburg and Ludendorff ruled Germany from behind the scenes. |
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What was Siegfrieden? |
Peace with victory. The idea that germany could not end the war without territorial expansion. |
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What was the Kreuznach Programme? |
A plan for huge territorial expansion to acquire Belgium, Poland, Luxembourg, the Balkans and French oil fields. Opposed initially by Bethmann-hollweg and members of the SPD. |
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When was the Kreuznach programme accepted? |
April 1917 |
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When did the USA enter the War? |
6th April 1917, due to the Zimmerman Telegram and the use of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare. |
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What was the Zimmerman Telegram? |
An offer from Germany to Mexico in January 1917 for Mexico to join the war on Germanys side if the USA entered the war. Germany would provide military assistance. |
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What did the Feb 1917 Russian Revolution cause in Germany? |
1.5 million German protestors demanding reforms to the political systems after vague promises made rhe dictator in his Easter speech. These were denounced by the dictators. |
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When was Bethmann-Hollweg forced to resign and who replaced him? |
July 1917. Replaced by the easy to control George Michaelis. |
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What was Erzbergers Peace Resolution? |
July 1917, the centre party Mattias Erzberger resolved that peace would be without territory. Passed through the Reichstag with 212 votes in favour, 126 against. |
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Why was Erzberger convinced of the need for peace July 1917? |
*Germany's military efforts failing *enemies growing in strength *allies leaving the war *costing money they didnt have |
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What was the impact of Erzbergers peace resolution July 1917? |
*bethann-hollweg resigned as chancellor (he had lost support of the Reichstag) *the resolution was passed but ignored *establishment of the fatherland party to support the war. 1919 - 1.2 million members *establishment of a peace league in contrast, highlighting divisions. |
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What were the October Reforms 1918? |
*ludendorff wanted to change Germany from an autocracy to a constitutional monarchy and the Kaiser would hand over power to a civilian government because an allied invasion of germaby would lead to division. *3rd October 1918, Germany changed to a Parliamntary democracy with Prince Max von Baden as Chancellor, and no Kaiser |
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What were Ludendorffs aims of the October Reforms 1918? |
*if they were a democracy, after losing the war they would have a better peace treaty from the allies. *hoped the change would be enough to prevent the outbreak of politically charged revolutionary disturbances *wanted to shift the responsibility I'd germanys defeat from the military and blame the new leadership |
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When did the Armistice Negotiations Open? |
11th November 1918 |
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When was the November Revolution? |
November 1918 |
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What happened in the 1918 November Revolution and why did it occur? |
Occurred after the realisation that the war was lost. Sailors at naval bases near Kiel rebelled October 29th 1918. The commanders had ordered a suicide attack on the British, and they revolted. Shows that the army discipline was breaking down and that the changes in the October Reforms were insignificant. This sparked the formation of revolutionary councils elected in chaotic mass meetings which reflected the Soviet style government. The army opened fire on trade unionists. It also led to Prince Max Von Baden abdicating the Kaiser's position. |
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When was the Bolshevic Revolution? |
October 1917 |
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When was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and what did it say? |
March 1918. Russia left the war. Germany took over 90% of Russias coal mines, which gave the germans hope, as well as the fact that they were no longer fighting on two-fronts. |
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When was the Spa Conference and what did they say? |
September 1918, Bulgaria departed the war and Ludendorff told the Kaiser that the war was lost. |
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What happend on the 8th August 1918? |
The Black Day of the German Army. 16000 prisoners, and the army was now in retreat. The country was demoralised and broken. |
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Throughout WW1 what factors increased unity? |
*Burgfriede *War Rallies, *Russian Withdrawal *War Bonds |
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Throughout WW1 what factors decreased unity? |
*Scapegoating (October 1918 reforms) *regional divisions *class divisions *political divisions *differences in war aims (erzberger vs the silent dictators) |
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When did Prince Max Von Baden hand power to Ebert and why? |
In response to the November Revolutions of 1918. He gave the power to the SPD after being in power for a month. |
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What was the attitude of Ebert and the SPD to the October reforms and November Revolution? |
*reforms were substantial and there was no need to go beyond them *the peoples councils could cause Germany to be accused of being communists. (Could cause civil war) |
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When did the SPD and USPD form the coalition government? |
November 11th 1918 |
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What was Eberts priority when he came to power? |
To put down communist revolutions as he prioritised bringing stability to an already divided Germany. |
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What divisions existed in Germany in November 1918? |
*the SPD was split in two, with Ebert being called a traitor to the left *government stabbed military in the back *people blamed Jews for the defeat in the war *debates over how far revolution and transformation should go |
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Why did the SPD split in 1917? |
The SPD supported the war, however they split into the USPD when half decided that they could no longer support it due to the severe losses that were occurring. |
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What happened in Berlin in December 1918? |
Communist revolution led by the USPD. Taken down by the Freikorps and the Army. |
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What divisions existed in Germany in 1919, when the Weimar Republic was founded? |
*monarchists who wanted the Kaiser back *the freikorps (ex soldiers) who wanted revenge because they believe they lost the war after being stabbed in the back *communists who saw the republic as a capitalist system designed to exploit the workers. |
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What laws did the SPD establish with the signing of the Armistice on 11th November 1918? |
Freedom of Speech religion and the press established Releasing of political prisoners Equal voting rights proclaimed |
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What and when was the Ebert-Groener Pact? |
10th November 1918. A secret pact between the leader of the SPD and the army commander that stated that Groener would support the republic and help put down any revolutions if the army remained unreformed. |
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When was the 1919 Communist Uprising ans what happened? |
10-13th January 1919 in Berlin. They were crushed by the Freikorps. |
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When was the first election of the Weimar Republic and what was the result? |
19th January 1919. SPD, ZP and DDP won around 76% of the vote. SPD won 37.9%, forcing there to be a coalition. |
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What divisions still existed in the Weimar Republic? |
*many people viewed the Constiution as illegitimate as it was so suddenly declared a republic by communists. -DNVP (won 10.3% of the vote) ands DVP were the anti-weimar parties *stab in the back theory, and that it was the socialists and Jews responsible for the defeat of Germany. *economic issues creating class divisions *returning soldiers left without jobs |
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When was the Weimar Consitution officially put into place? |
11th August 1919 |
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When was the Treaty of Versailles and what did it say? |
28th June 1919 by two SPD officials as Scheidemen (Eberts successor) refused to sign it and stepped down initially. German army limited and they were forced to accept article 231, which stated that Germany was solely responsible for the war. Gave more weight to the stab in the back myth. |
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What was the Franchise in the Weimar Republic? |
All germans over 21. |
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What powers did the president have in the Weimar Constitution? |
Power of article 48. Appointed/dismissed chancellor Could dissolve Reichstag Commanded the army -elected every seven years with universal adult suffrage |
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What powers did the Chancellor hold? |
Proposed laws to the Reichstag Could not ignore Reichstag resolutions Appointed by kaiser |
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What powers did the 18 Lander have? |
Ran major services of their state Federal government could intervene |
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What powers did the Reichstag have? |
Discussed laws and could make resolutions *elected by proportional representation |
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What was the problem with Proportional Representation? |
Made unstable coalitions common Gave extremists a voice |
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What powers did the Reichsrat hold? |
Could give advice and reject new laws Could be overridden by the Reichstag 67 representatives |
