Impact of WWI on Germany

Make a list of the challenges facing Friedrich Ebert when he became the leader of Germany following the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II on Nov. 9, 1918.

Political Challenges

• Political system was completely altered - monarchy has been destroyed
• Became a democratic-republic (Weimar Republic)
• Many ex-soldiers hated the democratic leaders – “Field Marshall Hindenburg was betrayed by weak politicians”
• Thought of the democrats as evil and that they were ruining the role that Hindenburg played in Germany
• Bavaria declared themselves an independent Socialist Republic

Social Challenges

• War had divided Germany even more - people with different ideas and living in different classes of society
• Large gaps between rich and poor living standards
• The poor lived to the extremes because they were being payed less while the rich lavished in the money they were making from the war
• Women being called to work in factories during the war – damaging to family values
• Families were torn apart when women had to work in factories and the men were busy fighting in the war

Economic Challenges

• National income was about 1/3 of what it used to be in 1913
• Germany was virtually bankrupt
• Had to start over if they were dependent on old currency
• Currency was basically worthless - people had lost life savings
• Industrial productions was 2/3 of what it used to be in 1913
• Workers had to earn less which was making them bitter while factory owners gained vast profit

The German Revolution

1. Using the documents in Chapter 1 as evidence, list the ways in which conditions in Germany worsened during the war.

• Woman complaining of high price of food (large inflation) & want 'their men' back from the trenches
• Lack of food - ships couldn't get through
• "Turnip Winter" - no coal, gas, light, food
• Little to no glory in the soldiers making the battles weaker

2. Give two reasons why the war caused such bad conditions for German civilians.

• Food shortages - blockades from cargo ships and the fact that the army needed the food so they took it from the civilians (malnutrition from the number of calories they were receiving)
• There was a large inflation causing prices of everyday items to heighten

3. After reading Chapter 2, give two reasons why Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated on November 10, 1918.

• Nothing he could do for his country
• Army stopped supporting him

4. Using the information you have read in this chapter, give evidence to support the statement that there was "revolution all over Germany."

5. Study the information about the German Socialists in Chapter 2, page 5. What did the three Socialist groups have in common?

All three socialist groups had aimed to improve workers' conditions and to give democratic rights to the citizens of Germany.

6. In what ways were the Socialist groups different.

The socialist groups had different methods.

Social Democratic Party - support government & make reforms by acts of parliament

The Independent Socialists - oppose government & make reforms with strikes

The Sparti

7. After reading Chapter 3 make a time chart of the events of the German Revolution from Nov. 10, 1918 to Jan. 15, 1919. You should be able to find six events.

8. At what time would you say the Communists had their best chance of seizing power? Explain your answer.