Post WW1

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The End of World War One for Germany

By 1918, it was apparent that Germany was losing the war. Both the military and civilians were exhausted.

War economy

Total war geared the economy to the war effort, prioritising military over civilians.
The government introduced price ceilings, requisitioning and then rationing. Food, even potatoes, were in short supply. So were coal and clothing.
Long queues for food, malnutrition and starvation were common. 80,000 children died of starvation in 1916. The harsh winter of 1916-17 made shortages worse.

War developments 1917-1918

In 1917, the new Russian government admitted defeat against Germany. Germany imposed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on Russia in spring 1918.
In 1918, a major spring offensive by the German army failed.

Losing morale

By autumn 1918, the German army recognised it needed to sue for peace. It realised US President Wilson would be more amenable to a civilian government.
Bitterness and resentment at the sacrifice and hardship that people faced through the war fuelled social and political unrest, even in the armed forces.
Ludendorff said in his autobiography:
- ‘Retreating troops, meeting a fresh division going bravely into action, shouted at them things like “Blacklegs” and “You’re prolonging the war.”'

Political Crises of October - November 1918

By 1918, people who once really respected authority became rebellious and open to revolutionary ideas. Meanwhile, the traditional élites worried not only about preventing revolution, but how they could escape the blame for the defeat.

Impact of the Bolshevik Revolution

The 1917, Bolshevik Revolution in Russia alarmed political élites across Europe and led to greater political activity among the working classes.
A small group of Bolshevik revolutionaries showed it was possible to overthrow an autocratic monarchy and that the army could not prevent revolution.

Revolutionary winds in Germany

Economic problems and military failures in 1918 destroyed morale and led to criticism of the government. People became more open to revolutionary politics.
Mutinies spread from Kiel across Germany. Revolutionary committees were formed, demonstrating anger at Germany’s leaders, military and political.
The unrest in Germany from 1918 into 1919, alongside important political change, is often called the ‘German Revolution’ – a revolution from below.

General Ludendorff and Prince Max

The military wanted a new, civilian government to be formed – preferably from moderate and left wing parties – to admit Germany’s defeat and take the blame.
It was hoped that a civilian government would get better peace terms.
Ludendorff persuaded the Kaiser to make Prince Max Germany’s Chancellor in October 1918. Prince Max had credibility with the military and civilians.
More importantly, Prince Max could bring the SPD into government. So a moderate to left-wing, civilian government would take the blame for defeat.

Key political developments in 1918

29 Sept: German generals recommend a civilian government and armistice.
3 Oct: Prince Max is made chancellor and forms a government.
31 Oct: Kiel mutiny. Unrest spreads.
9 Nov: Max hands chancellorship to SPD leader Ebert. A republic is declared. The Kaiser abdicates and flees to the Netherlands.
10 Nov: Ebert makes a secret deal with the army: the Ebert-Groener Pact.
11 Nov: The new German government signs the armistice.

Chancellor Ebert

Ebert was made chancellor. He was leader of the SPD, an elected deputy in the Reichstag and chair of the Council of People’s Deputies.
He brought members of the more radical USPD into the government as well.
Ebert made a deal with General Groener, vital to the transition to a republic.
Groener guaranteed the army and civil service would support Ebert’s government if it supported the officer corps and protected the army’s food supply.

Historical views

Assessment of Ludendorff:
- Hite and Hinton (2000): ‘Ludendorff’s manoeuvre … the myth of the ‘stab-in-the-back’ and the shock of defeat [were] the background of the birth of democracy in Germany. It was not a promising beginning.’
Assessment of Ebert:
- Pinfield (2015): ‘Ebert could reconcile the radicals … to a process of reform and prevent mass support being given to the revolutionaries.’

Historical views cont.

Assessment of the Republic:
- Carr (1987): ‘The Republic was widely accepted by many Germans … as a convenient means of filling the void left by the collapse of monarchy.’

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1933

1.1Establishment Of The Weimar Republic 1918-1924

1.1.1Post WW1

1.1.2Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Peace Settlement

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Germany Post WW1

1.1.5Economic Issues

1.1.6Economic Issues 2

1.1.7Social Issues

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Economic & Social Issues

1.1.9Extremist Threats

1.1.10Extremist Threats 2

1.1.11End of Topic Test - Extremist Threats

1.1.12Political Instability & The Invasion of the Ruhr

1.1.13Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.14End of Topic Test - Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.15A-A* (AO3/4) - Germany Post WW1

1.2The 'Golden Age' Of The Weimar Republic 1924-1928

1.2.1Economic Developments

1.2.2Industry & Agriculture

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Economic Developments

1.2.4Social Developments

1.2.5Social Developments 2

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Social Developments

1.2.7Political Parties

1.2.8Political Stability

1.2.9End of Topic Test - Weimar Politics

1.2.10Germany's International Position

1.2.11Germany's International Position 2

1.2.12End of Topic Test - International Position

1.2.13A-A* (AO3/4) - The Weimar 'Golden Age'

1.3The Collapse of Democracy 1928-1933

1.3.1The Impact Of The Depression

1.3.2Politics After The Depression

1.3.3The Appeal Of Extremism

1.3.4End of Topic Test - The Depression & Politics

1.3.5'Backstairs Intrigue'

1.3.6'Backstairs Intrigue' 2

1.3.7End of Topic Test - Backstairs Intrigue

1.3.8Political Developments

1.3.9The State by March 1933

1.3.10End of Topic Test - Political Developments

1.3.11A-A* (AO3/4) - The Collapse of Democracy

2Nazi Germany 1933-1945

2.1The Nazi Dictatorship 1933-1939

2.1.1Hitler's Consolidation Of Power

2.1.2The Terror State

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Consolidation of Power

2.1.4Opposition

2.1.5Propaganda

2.1.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Terror State & Propaganda

2.1.7End of Topic Test - Propaganda

2.1.8Economic Policies

2.1.9Economic Policies 2

2.1.10Impact Of Economic Policies

2.1.11Impact Of Economic Policies 2

2.1.12End of Topic Test - Economic Policies

2.1.13Social Policies

2.1.14Social Policies 2

2.1.15Volksgemeinschaft

2.1.16End of Topic Test - Social Policies

2.1.17A-A* (AO3/4) - Economic & Social Policies

2.2The Racial State 1933-1941

2.2.1The Radicalisation Of The State

2.2.2Anti-Semitism

2.2.3Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies

2.2.4Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies 2

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Anti-Semitism

2.2.6Treatment of the Jews in the Early Years of War

2.2.7Deportation & Anti-Semitism Evaluation

2.2.8End of Topic Test - Early Treatment of the Jews

2.2.9A-A* (AO3/4) - The Racial State

2.3The Impact Of War 1939-1945

2.3.1Home Front

2.3.2Impact On Society

2.3.3Impact On Society 2

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Impact of the War

2.3.5War Economy

2.3.6War Economy 2

2.3.7Policies Towards The Jews & Untermenschen

2.3.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Impact of the War

2.3.9End of Topic Test - War Economy

2.3.10Opposition

2.3.11Opposition 2

2.3.12Nazi State by 1945

2.3.13End of Topic Test - Opposition

2.3.14A-A* (AO3/4) - Opposition & The State in 1945

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