Germany whole

• Wilhelmshaven Mutiny


  28th October 1918
• Kiel Mutiny


  3rd November 1918
• Abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II

  9th November 1918
• Armistice signed


  11th November 1918
• 82% of electorate vote in new elections


  19th January 1919
• Sparticist uprising


  5th January 1919
• Ebert becomes the President

  February 1919
• Treaty of Versailles signed

  28th June 1919
• Kapp Putsch


  12th March 1920
• French occupation of the Ruhr begins - leads to hyperinflation


  9th January 1923
• Large amounts of enthusiasm when the war first began
• In the winter of 1918, a killer strain of the flu virus was sweeping Europe. In Germany, thousands were dying every week
• By the second half of 1918, food supplies were so low that most adults were living on less than 1000 calories a day
• By 1918, Germany had lost 1.7 million men in the fighting and 4.3 million men were wounded
• By August 1918, the US had joined the war and Germany's allies were on the verge of collapse
• In October 1918, there was a mutiny of German soldiers at Kiel, they refused to attack a British blockade
• Revolution from above


  General Ludendorff persuaded the Kaiser to hand power over to a civilian government. He hoped the new government would be to blame for Germany's defeat
• Revolution from below


  The Kiel and Wilhelmshaven mutinies encouraged the creation of sailors', soldiers' and workers' councils throughout Germany. To stop a full revolution Prince Max of Baden announced the abdication of the Kaiser
• 9th November 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated
• 11th November an armistice was signed
• Stab in the Back


  The idea that Germany had been stabbed in the back by weak and unpatriotic politicians soon spread. The idea was that Germany had been incredible during the war and had not been defeated by the Allies but by pacifists and socialists who undermined the war effort
• Elections were held on the 19th January 1919 and 82% of the electorate voted
• Weimar Constitution


  • Guaranteed every German citizen freedom of speech and religion, and equality under the law
  • All men and women over 20 given the vote
  • The head of the government was a chancellor, he was elected every 7 years
  • The Weimar Republic was split into 18 states. Each state had its own parliament, passed its own laws and ran its own police force
• Ebert


  • In November 1918, he became Chancellor and in February 1919, he was elected by the assembly to be the new president
  • He kept the civil servants from previous governments for continuity
  • He reassured industrial leaders that the new government would not take state control over their industries
  • He promised trade unions an 8 hour work day
• People who opposed Ebert

  • Senior figures and judges did not like the republic
  • Many Germans wanted the Kaiser to return
  • Many Germans wanted a Communist revolution
• Strengths of Weimar Republic

  • Democracy: Everyone over 20 could vote. 4 years for the Reichstag and 7 years for the President
  • Proportional Representation: Seats in the Reichstag were given according to the percentage of the votes gained
  • President's Role: A strong president could protect the country in times of need and he could act as a check of power on the Reichstag
  • Chancellor's Role: The Chancellor needed a majority in the Reichstag so their appointment was democratic
  • Article 48: Meant the president could pass laws in an emergency
  • Federal System: 18 states who run major services so different states could prioritise their own needs
• Weaknesses of Weimar Republic

  • Democracy: Faced serious opposition from the German people. Giving everyone the right to vote meant that people could vote for more extreme parties
  • Proportional representation: Led to many small parties in the Reichstag. No single party could get a majority and none did during Weimar Elections. This led to instability
  • President's Role: In an emergency, he could issue laws by decree and override the constitutional rights of the German people
  • Article 48: It was never stated what an emergency was therefore it was open to abuse
  • Federal System: Individual states could oppose the government and try to remove it
• Clemenceau


  Wanted the maximum amount of revenge possible
• Wilson


  An idealist who wanted the Treaty to be as fair as possible to prevent Germany from seeking revenge
• Lloyd George


  Acted as a balance between the two. He had won his election with the slogan 'make the Hun pay'
• Clause 231 (the War Guilt Clause)


  Fixed the blame for the outbreak of the war solely on Germany and her allies to provide a legal basis for reparations
• Germany was to pay £6,600 million (announced in 1921)
• Restrictions on German military

  • A maximum of 100,000 soldiers
  • No conscription
  • No tanks, military aircraft or submarines
  • Only six battleships
  • The Rhineland was to be demilitarised
• Territory lost by Germany

  • Alsace-Lorraine to France
  • West Prussia and Posen to Poland
  • Eupen and Malmedy to Belgium
  • Northern Schleswig to Denmark
  • The Saar to Poland
  • 11 colonies lost
• Germany lost 13% of its land, all overseas colonies, 12.5% of its population, 15% of its coalfields and almost 50% of its iron and steel industry
• The German reaction was incredibly strong against the Treaty. They did not feel they had caused the war so did not want to sign. The Germans objected because it was a diktat
• The treaty was not based on Wilson's 14 points which they had expected
• The treaty had high reparations which Germany felt strongly against given that much of their economic land had been taken away
• Left Wing views


  • Workers should hold political power
  • Promoted interests of workers
  • Main left-wing party was the Communist Party
  • Inspired by the Russian Revolution
• Right Wing views


  • Wanted a strong authoritarian government
  • Believed in capitalism and the interests of private business and landowners
  • The main party was the National Party
  • Hated the Communists