Setting up the Weimar Republic

• Who arranged for the civil servants to stay in office in Germany after the Kaiser?


  Ebert
• Why was it significant that civil servants remained in office after the Kaiser?


  It allowed the state to continue functioning, collecting taxes and maintaining public services, but these civil servants had no loyalty to the government.
• What did Ebert reassure Groener about regarding the army?


  That the army would not be reformed
• How did Ebert's reassurance to Groener impact his government?

  It provided military support to protect his government from riots
• What promise did Ebert make to industry leaders like Hugo Stinnes?


  That the new Republic would not confiscate land or factories and would not nationalize private industries
• What was the effect of Ebert's promise to industry leaders on the economy?

  It allowed the economy to continue operating
• How did Ebert gain the support of trade unions?

  By promising their leader Carl Legien the new republic would to try to achieve an eight-hour working day
• What was the impact of Ebert's promise to the trade unions on strikes?

  It helped limit further strikes
• What was Ebert's overall strategy regarding political support?

  He was trying to ensure both left and right wing support for the government
• Ebert arranged for the civil servants who had helped run Germany under the Kaiser to stay in office. This meant that the state could keep running (tax would be collected, public services would be maintained), but these civil servants had no loyalty to the new government.
• He reassured Groener that the army would not be reformed. This meant that Ebert had military support to protect his government from the continuing riots.
• He told industry leaders like Hugo Stinnes that the new Republic would not confiscate land or factories and that there would be no nationalisation of private industries. This meant the economy continued to operate.
• He won the support of the trade unions by promising their leader, Carl Legien, that the new Republic would try to achieve an eight-hour working day. This helped limit further strikes.
• Ebert was trying to ensure both left and right wing support for the government.