Germany 1918

German Home Front The British blockade had been highly effective in stopping food and essential supplies from getting into Germany. The scarcity of food led to starvation and a lack of fuel led to people freezing in the winter. The German people were exhausted. Consequently an estimated million Germans died in the Spanish flu outbreak at the end of the war.

Military defeat The entry of the USA in 1917 marked the turning point in the war. Germany could not compete with the fresh men and supplies they were able to provide the allies. By September 1918 Germany’s allies-Bulgaria, Turkey and Austria-Hungary had surrendered, and German troop were surrendering in their thousands.

Mutiny On 28th October 1918 the German High Command decided on a final naval battle in the North sea. The German sailors realised it was futile as defeat was inevitable. They refused to fight. This was called a mutiny and started at the Kiel naval base. The revolution quickly spread to other naval bases. It seemed like Communism might spread in Germany as it had in Russia.

Source A is a photograph taken by an American photographer of German prisoners in a French prison camp in 1918. These men had voluntarily surrendered Evaluate the usefulness of source A as evidence of the difficulties faced in Germany by the end of 1918? (6)

It’s time to put your COAT on! Content Omission Author Timing

Content and Omission For this question we’ll just look at how to pick up content and omission marks. It’s the same principle as a how fully question. You just need to use different words to make sure you’re answering the question. The key words are in yellow. In an exam this would get you 4 marks.

Content (what the source says) The content of Source A is useful as it shows many Germans German prisoners in a French prisoner camp. This is useful as it is accurate. The content also states these men had voluntarily surrendered. This is useful as it is also accurate.

Omission However the source is less useful because it doesn’t show the other problems that Germany faced such as ………… The source is also less useful as it does not mention…

Omission (what the source misses out) However the source is less useful as it does not show other problems Germans faced such as widespread starvation caused y the British blockade. The source is also less useful as it does not mention the breakdown in disciple in the German navy shown by the mutiny at the Kiel Naval Base.

Author The author of the source is useful because… (Author was an eyewitness who was present when the German soldiers were surrendering)

Timing The timing of the source is useful because… (primary source written at the time when the German army was collapsing)

Abdication of the Kaiser and the end of WWI

Task You are going to read and watch sources that will help you understand events at the very end of WWI. Take a double page and create a mind map with the heading ‘End of WWI’. Use the information in the slides and the clips to build a picture of Germany’s last few weeks in WWI.

Kaiser Wilhelm II Kaiser Wilhelm II had been the leader of Germany throughout WWI. Under the German political system, the Kaiser had enormous power. He could hire and fire the Chancellor and was in charge of the army and foreign policy. He had a difficult relationship with Britain, despite being the grandson of Queen Victoria.

Abdication of the Kaiser The Allies had been clear they would not allow the fighting to stop until the Kaiser left. Politicians and military leaders sent messages to the Kaiser urging him to abdicate. The commander of the Germany army, Groener, summed up the situation by November 1918 when he said “If you won’t abdicate, the best thing for you to do is shoot yourself”. Many Germans blamed the Kaiser for Germany’s defeat in the war and resented the loss and destruction that had been caused for nothing.

The Kaiser must go! By 6th November 1918, sailors’, soldiers’ and workers’ councils controlled the main German ports and cities. Finally on the 9th November workers’ councils were set up in the capital city, Berlin. This was the same as had happened in Russia when the communists took over.

Armistice When law and order began to break down the Kaiser finally abdicated. He fled to the Netherlands where he was given political asylum. The armistice was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month 1918.

Play around first 6 minutes

What comes next? The German monarchy had ended, but what would replace it?

Exam Skill- Homework due 6th June Describe the problems facing Germany at the end of WWI. (4) Write one sentence about each of the following. Make sure you use your evidence to answer the question. This could be your wee list: The German Home Front Military Defeat Mutiny Voluntary surrender of individual soldiers The Kaiser’s abdication

Model Answer There were many problems facing Germany at the end of WWI. Firstly, the British Blockade meant that the German civilians were starving. A further problem was on the fighting front as Germany was unable to compete with the fresh troops and supplies brought by the arrival of the USA into the war. Another problem was mutiny as the Germany navy mutinied at Kiel, starting a revolution which spread to other bases. Finally the Kaiser was a problem as the allies were unwilling to accept Germany's surrender until he abdicated.