NEW TOPIC: What were the problems faced by the Weimar Republic 1919-23?

Defeat, unrest and the creation of a new republic 1918-9 Focus: the abdication of the Kaiser, the birth of the new republic, ‘a revolution from above’? The German Revolution 1918-19

Key points so far… In 1918 Germany came close to military success in the First World War, but then was forced to seek peace to avoid a military disaster Parliamentary democracy was created in October 1918 in a ‘revolution from above’, advocated by the generals as a device to blame others for military defeat

The creation of a democracy COPY By Sept 1918,Ludendorff made the decision to persuade the Kaiser to transform the Second Reich into a parliamentary democracy but still retaining a constitutional monarchy. Ludendorff also urged an immediate armistice What were Ludendorff’s motives? See next slide

“I have advised His Majesty to bring these groups into government whom we have in the main to thank for the fact that we have reached this mess. We will now therefore see these gentlemen move into the ministries. Let them now conclude the peace that has to be negotiated. Let them eat the broth they have prepared us.’ Ludendorff Origins of stab in the back myth?

What were Ludendorff’s motives? COPY A desire to secure the best possible peace terms from the Allies – it was believed that the Allied leaders would be more sympathetic to a democratic regime in Berlin. He hoped the change would prevent the outbreak of political revolutionary disturbances. He saw the need to shift the responsibility for Germany’s defeat away from the military and conservative forces in Germany. Instead he intended to put the blame for the defeat on the new leadership – ‘origins of the stab in the back myth’

‘Revolution from above’ – Oct 1918 29th Sept – Generals recommend a new civilian government and an armistice 3rd Oct- A new civilian government led by Prince Max of Baden, based on Reichstag support and including Liberals and Socialists, is formed What were the constitutional reforms? Does this really amount to a ‘revolution from above’?

October 1918 reforms In the following months a series of reforms came into effect which turned Germany into a parliamentary democracy. The Kaiser gave up his powers over the army and the navy to the Reichstag. The Chancellor and his government were made accountable to the Reichstag instead of the Kaiser. At the same time armistice negotiations with the Allies were opened.

‘Revolution from above’ – Oct 1918 The changes of Oct have been traditionally portrayed as a ‘revolution from above’. This suggests that they were brought about by those in power and not forced as a result from a ‘revolution from below’. In other words the army and conservative forces intended to prevent the radical overthrow of the system. However some historians have suggested that the steps taken by the military coincided with increasing pressure from the Reichstag to bring about political change. ‘Revolution from below’

November 1918 revolution By early Nov it was clear that the creation of a constitutional monarchy would not defuse what had become a revolutionary situation.

The start of the German Revolution? NOV 1918 News began to spread that Germany was suing for an armistice Mutinies Sailors began to mutiny at Kiel Plus, calls for the Kaiser to abdicate Mutinies spread to other ports; Worker councils set up Bremen and Rostock Revolt in Munich Kurt Eisner (leading member of the USPD) lead a demonstration in Munich which ended with his supporters taking over public buildings He proclaimed a Socialist Republic in Bavaria

By 1st week in Nov it was clear that the Oct reforms had failed to impress the German people. Calls grew for an immediate peace and the abdication of the Kaiser. 9th Nov – Prince Max hands over the chancellorship to Socialist leader Ebert. A republic is declared and the Kaiser abdicates and flees to Holland

GERMANY’S FIRST EXPERIMENT IN DEMOCRACY!! A Republic is born National defeat and humiliation Political division Revolution? Economic crisis Disgruntled political elite esp army and junkers questioning legitimacy Threats from the left and right Kaiser gone GERMANY’S FIRST EXPERIMENT IN DEMOCRACY!!

Problems/Issues/Challenges at the end of 1918 Situation in 1918 Economic Chaos Strikes Demobilisation of work force Hunger/Flu Inflation Naval Blockade Political Issues Continued activism of workers’ councils Extreme hostility of the political right / elite  threats of revenge Many demobilised soldiers very anti-communist and armed Fears of middle class Military Still powerful generals Bitterness at defeat Blame defeat on revolution Social Issues Politicization of Society Highly armed society Millions of returning soldiers See Layton p106

1918 A genuinely revolutionary situation existed in Germany in early Nov 1918. However, this revolutionary wave was not a united force Left wing movement, that was behind it, consisted of three main strands. Spartacists USPD SPD Left Wing

SPD- German Social Democratic Party Moderate socialist aims- Frederich Ebert and Philip Scheidemann. 1912 became the largest party in the Reichstag,1m membership. Wanted a socialist republic but was committed to parliamentary demo, therefore rejected anything that may have been likened to Soviet style communism.

USPD- Independent German Socialist Democratic party Breakaway group from the SPD. Hugo Haase/Karl Kautsky. Minority in the Reichstag, had a following of 300,000 members. Wanted socialist republic governed by workers and soldiers council in conjunction with parliament. Social/Economic and political reforms demanded. Lots of internal divisions and arguments.

Spartacists- Spartan League Extreme left- Karl Liebknecht/Rosa Luxemburg. 1918, 5000 membership. Deeply influenced by Lenin and Bolshevism- Germany should be same as Russia. Workers and soldiers councils.

Problems… Due to all of the above, lack of unity in Ebert’s coalition govt which included the SPD and USPD 9th Nov 1918, Ebert created a provisional govt- until new elections could be called. A republic was declared (Weimar) Difficult time in Germany

The forest at Compiegne Terms of the Armistice came into effect on 11th Nov The jubilant scenes in Paris and London were not repeated in Berlin where the city was under grave threat of a mass uprising

Ebert’s Problems & Solutions What does Ebert decide about the future of Germany’s political structure? A national democratically elected parliament Elections called for 19th January 1919 National Constituent Assembly formed on 6th February and assigned task to draft constitution What does Ebert want to do with the workers’ councils? Abolish them How does Ebert deal with workers’ unrest and uprising? 10th November Ebert-Groener Agreement Wilhelm Groener: Ludendorff’s successor Army agrees to support government in maintaining order and crushing uprisings Ebert agrees to maintain authority of army officers, no restructuring of army and to oppose the spread of revolutionary socialism. Army and Freikorps used to suppress Spartacist uprising in Berlin and Communist uprising in Bavaria Feb 1919

Ebert’s Solutions How does Ebert address workers’ rights and the power of industry? Stinnes-Legien agreement Hugo Stinnes: Leader of industrial employers Karl Legien: Leader of trade unions Creation of Zentralarbeitsgemeinschaft (centralised bargaining) Industrialists agree to workers’ committees and 8 hour working day Trade unions agree to support private ownership and free markets Public administration Focus on returning to stable government, so kept judiciary and bureaucracy in place Army No reform. Not really committed to the new democracy (Weimar Republic) Ebert-Groener Agreement

Key Debate: Did Ebert betray the German Revolution? No, he saved those changes which had been achieved during the October and November Revolutions by focussing on stability. Without this stability Germany would have succumbed to violent anarchy and communism: Change was revolutionary: a republic with a new constitution Danger of left illustrated by Spartacist uprising and uprising in Bavaria Instability of situation illustrated by National Assembly moving to Weimar Huge number of workers’ councils  system in place to instigate further socialist upheaval Yes, Ebert betrayed the revolution and undermined its successes by maintaining those elements of society which opposed the republic and had brought Germany to the point of destruction in the first place: Ebert-Groener agreement Stinnes-Legien agreement Administration kept in place Those responsible for German plight still in place Old elites are still powerful and just waiting for chance to overthrow republic. Army not really commited to democracy.

Left wing splits Divisions, divisions, divisions! SPD government moved increasingly to the right and grew dependent on the army to maintain effective government. Dec 1918 USPD members of Ebert’s government resigned. 1st Jan 1919 the Spartacists formed the KPD – German Communist party.

The Spartacist Revolt 1st Jan 1919 Spartacist Congress in Berlin and formally created the KPD German Communist Party Rev uprising in Berlin on 5th Jan - Spartacist revolt Newspaper offices seized Revolutionary committees formed 3 days of fighting

The Spartacist Revolt BUT: poorly planned and easily crushed by General von Luttwitz and Freikorps (bands of ex-soldiers) Liebknecht and Luxemburg murdered by army on 15th Jan

The Spartacist Revolt Germany saved from widespread Communist Uprising – the moderate socialist gov survives BUT: Strengthens position of right Anti-democratic forces and methods to establish democracy! This becomes a big issue for the WR

The new National Assembly, Jan 1919 Despite the disturbances across Germany, the republic held its first elections for a National Assembly in Jan 1919. All Germans over the age of 20 could vote for the first time Elections to the new National Assembly held for the first time 19 Jan 1919 against backdrop of left wing uprisings High turnout – 85%

Political Parties Look at the political parties on page 70-1 red book. Pick out: Obvious coalitions Possible coalitions Unlikely coalitions.

Constituent Assembly Election, January 1919 Parties committed to democracy that later voted for the Weimar Constitution % of vote Deputies SPD 38 163 ZP 20 91 DDP 19 75 Parties that later voted against the Weimar Constitution % of vote Deputies DNVP 10 44 USPD 7.6 22 DVP 4.4 19 What was encouraging for the survival of democracy in the election results? What do the results suggest about the strength of socialism? Do they prove that Ebert’s fears of radical revolution in 1918 were unjustified?

The new National Assembly, Jan 1919 Strength of centre ground Clear winner was SPD – 37.9% 76% voted for democratic parties. Main 3 democratic parties – SPD, DDP, Centre party (ZP)formed a coalition gov – ‘Weimar coalition’ DNVP – Hostile to the new republic only received 10.3%

Hmk: Read Layton handout p.111-113 and make notes on what kind of revolution had taken place in Germany and whether or not Ebert and the SPD had betrayed the revolution. Complete slide 10 google docs.