Nazis

• There were food shortages due to low domestic production and because of an imposed naval blockade.
• The first World War ended in 1918.
• The Allies called for the Kaiser to abdicait.
• The Allies threatend Germany with military occupation.
• In late October, the commanders at Kiel orderd their ships to attack the naval blockade. But the sailors led a mutiny and refused to fight. This was the begining of the German Revolution.
• Over the next fortnight there were many protests, strikes and mutinys led by the people of Germany.
• Many people called for the Kaiser to abdicate
• The Kaiser had lost control, many people set up their own workers council as they did not want to be under the Kaisers rule
• On the 9th of November 1918, the Kaiser abdicated and he fled to Holland.
• On the same day as the Kaiser's abdication a new republic was set up and a new chancellor took office, Friedrich Ebert.
• On the 11th of November one of Ebert's representatives, Matthias Ezberger, signed the armistice to end the first world war.
• Many people were confused on why the armistice was signed as the propaganda had led them to believe they were winning the war.
• People said they were 'stabbed in the back' by the 'November criminals'
• Most Germans believed they had been forced into the war
• Alsace and Lorraine were given to France in the treaty of Versailles
• Eupen and Malmedy were given to Belgium in the treaty of Versailles
• Posen and West Prussia were given to Poland in the treaty of Versailles
• The loss of territory meant that Germany lost access to important resources such as coal, iron ore and timber
• East Upper Silesia voted to become a part of Poland in the treaty of Versailles
• Nothern Schweswig voted to be a part of Denmark in the treaty of Versailles
• Germany had to accept war guilt because of the treaty of Versailles
• Germany had to pay reperations (£6,600 million)
• German military forces were cut
• The treaty of Versailles limited German military

  No tanks, no submarines, no air force, 100,000 men in the army, limited navy
• The German government was shocked by the harshness of the treaty and at first refused to sign it
• As they could not fight anymore, the German politicions were forced to sign the treaty
• The German people felt humiliated by the treaty
• The German people felt stongly about how the shouldn't have to accept war guilt