Years of Crisis, HI290- History of Germany

The Birth of German Democracy? Did 1918 mark a break from the 19 th century? How revolutionary were the events of 1918? What compromises led to birth of the parliamentary republic? What changes in German politics and society did the birth of the Weimar Republic signal?

The October Reforms  3 October: Prince Max von Baden installed as Chancellor.  Coalition of Centre Party, Liberals and SPD.  26 October: Reform of the Constitution announced  The 3 class franchise in Prussia abolished.  The Kaiser’s powers over the army and appointments severely curtailed.  The Chancellor and the Government made accountable to the Reichstag.  A ‘Revolution from above’? Prince Max von Baden ( )

The November Revolution Mutinous sailors at Kiel, November 1918

Philipp Scheidemann proclaiming the new Republic on November 9, 1918

The Council of Peoples’ Representatives

Friedrich Ebert ( )General Wilhelm Groener ( )

The Challenge from the Left: The Spartacist Uprising, January 1919 Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg

The Constituent Assembly

The Weimar Constitution

The Threat from the Right: The Kapp Putsch Wolfgang Kapp ( ), figurehead of the Kapp Putsch Freikorps distribute leaflets in Berlin, March 1920

The Challenge from the Left: The Ruhr Uprising

The Threat from the Right: Terrorism Victims of Feme killings: Hugo Haase ( ), Mattias Erzberger ( ) and Walter Rathenau ( )

Hyperinflation DateGerman Marks to the Pound Sterling German Marks to the US Dollar January July January July January July 19222, January ,19017,972 July 19231,594,760353,412 August ,040,0004,620,455 September ,375,00098,860,000 October ,503,000,00025,260,208,000 November 19239,604,000,000,0004,200,000,000,000 Sources: Edgar, Viscout D’Abernon, An Ambassador of Peace, vol. 2 (London, 1929), p Matthew Stibbe, Germany (Harlow, 2010), p. 99 German children play with stacks of worthless banknotes

Conclusion German politics were radicalized by the experience of war and defeat. But the vast majority of Germans were primarily concerned with their material well-being, not radical political reform. The circumstances of its birth hampered the Weimar Republic – revolution and counter- revolution, economic crisis and the bitter legacy of defeat all helped to undermine faith in the new democracy. The Weimar constitution achieved much (a democratic system, welfare state etc.), but did little to solve deep divisions within German society and left key institutions unreformed. But the Republic weathered the storm – which should indicate that it had more popular support and stronger institutions than has sometimes been suggested.