WWI and the armistice

• Germany pre WWI:

  • Industrial development
  • Poor conditions
  • Strong academic traditions
  • Militaristic 
  • No major natural boundaries
• OCT. 1918

  REVOLUTION FROM ABOVE:

  Ludendorff convinced Kaiser Wilhelm to create a constitutional monarchy: aimed to get better peace terms and shift defeat 
• 29TH OCT REVOLUTION FROM BELOW:

  Sailors refused to obey orders at Kiel: united with dissatisfied workers and declared themselves SOVIETS- revolution spread to Berlin
• 9TH NOV. KAISER ABDICATION:

  Soviets demanded the abdication of the Kaiser: Prince Max announced the abdication of Kaiser and handed chancellorship to socialist FRIEDRICH EBERT
• COALITION GOVT:

  Ebert created a provisional coalition govt (USPD and SPD) Ebert was a moderate who was determined to have law and order
• SENSE OF BETRAYAL: 

  Majority felt “stabbed in the back” by those who signed the armistice (november criminals)
• KAISER'S ABDICATION:

  Created a power vacuum, allowing anyone to seize power and authority
• UPRISINGS:

  Social issues led to radicalisation; rise of communism and other extremist views led to uprisings (munich putsch)
• LOSS OF DIPLOMATIC POWER:

  Ignored by the Versailles peace conference, lost global power
• POLITICAL DISAGREEMENTS: former soldiers and general society blamed WR for loss of war
• NOVEMBER 11TH, 1918: ARMISTICE IS SIGNED

  Germany was forced to surrender:  5,000 guns

        25,000 machine guns

        1,700 aeroplanes

  Forever branded the WR as NOVEMBER CRIMINALS
• ECONOMIC DISASTER:

  Industrial output fell by over 40% and machinery became obsolete
• CRIPPLING ECONOMY:

  In 1913-19 the mark lost 75% of its value
• FOOD SHORTAGES:

  The population resorted to eating dogs, crows, zoo animals and rats 
• LOSS OF WORKFORCE:

  Millions of working men were killed, leaving the workforce unfit to support the economy
• DISAGREEMENTS:

  Social issues contributed to radicalisation and tension
• SUSPICION:

  Former soldiers theorised that Jews and communists were responsible for germany's defeat
• CHANGING ROLES:

  Women played a larger role in the economy: 37% of women were in the workforce
• DEATH + DISEASE:

  1918 flu epidemic and military deaths (two million) created disastrous consequences

  750,000 germans died due to food shortage