starter activity

Senior members of the German government and military signed an armistice with the Allies. What effect do you think this event had on the German people?

Two armistices

were signed here. When

was the second one

signed?

What effect did What effect did WWI have on WWI have on

GermanyGermanyTo study the impact of WWI on German To study the impact of WWI on German

societysocietyTo understand how the Kaiser was To understand how the Kaiser was

forced to abdicateforced to abdicateTo assess the political threats the new To assess the political threats the new

government facedgovernment faced

Aims

Your taskYour task

Study the different reactions to the Study the different reactions to the end of the War on p.10 and create a end of the War on p.10 and create a spider diagram summarising the key spider diagram summarising the key reactions. Include the following:reactions. Include the following:

Political effectsPolitical effects Physical effectsPhysical effects Psychological effectsPsychological effects AnarchyAnarchy

Political effectsPolitical effects Society was unfair & Society was unfair &

undemocratic – undemocratic – ReichstagReichstag was weak, was weak, lower classes under-lower classes under-represented, no represented, no opposition to Kaiseropposition to Kaiser

Opposition leaders Opposition leaders imprisoned during Warimprisoned during War

German ruled as a German ruled as a military dictatorshipmilitary dictatorship by by Kaiser & leaders, e.g. Kaiser & leaders, e.g. Ludendorff & Ludendorff & HindenburgHindenburg

Physical effectsPhysical effects Disruption to farming Disruption to farming

– by 1918 Germany – by 1918 Germany producing 60% of producing 60% of butter & meat before butter & meat before 19141914

British British naval blockadenaval blockade disrupted food disrupted food suppliessupplies

Starvation – basic food Starvation – basic food supplies exhaustedsupplies exhausted

Disease – ¾ m died of Disease – ¾ m died of hunger & diseasehunger & diseaseBritish naval blockade of

German ports

Psychological effectsPsychological effects

DemoralisedDemoralised Bitter & angryBitter & angry Looked for Looked for

someone to blamesomeone to blame

Why did Germany’s experiences before 1914 make the effects of the War even harder to swallow?

AnarchyAnarchy

Soldiers Soldiers demobiliseddemobilised Demonstrations against Kaiser and Demonstrations against Kaiser and

governmentgovernment Organised opposition groups, e.g. Organised opposition groups, e.g.

Communists stirred up troubleCommunists stirred up trouble

Your taskYour task

What happens during a What happens during a revolutionrevolution? ? Find out about the events that led to Find out about the events that led to the the abdicationabdication of the Kaiser. Was of the Kaiser. Was this really a revolution?this really a revolution?

25 October 191825 October 1918

Mutiny of German sailorsMutiny of German sailors

Dreadnought battleships

26 October – 5 November26 October – 5 November

Strikes & demonstrations against the War Strikes & demonstrations against the War & the Kaiser& the Kaiser

Soldiers begin to Soldiers begin to mutinymutiny

Workers protest

throughout Germany

6 November6 November

Soldiers and workers’ councils took Soldiers and workers’ councils took control in many citiescontrol in many cities

An early session of the

Weimar Government

7 November7 November

Social Democrats (including leader Social Democrats (including leader Friedrich Ebert) send an Friedrich Ebert) send an ultimatum ultimatum to the to the Kaiser demanding he Kaiser demanding he abdicateabdicate

Friedrich Ebert, leader of Social

Democrats

9 November9 November General strike in BerlinGeneral strike in Berlin Armed workers & soldiers roam streetsArmed workers & soldiers roam streets Ebert & Social Democrats fear revolution Ebert & Social Democrats fear revolution

and announce Kaiser’s abdication & and announce Kaiser’s abdication & setting up a a German setting up a a German RepublicRepublic

Demonstrations in Berlin

10 November10 November

Kaiser Wilhelm fled into exile in HollandKaiser Wilhelm fled into exile in Holland

Members of the Kaiser’s retinue leave the Imperial Palace their services no longer

neededOne of last photos of

Kaiser before his death in 1941

11 November11 November

ArmisticeArmistice agreed with Germany and Allies agreed with Germany and Allies

End of WWI

Your taskYour task

To what extent was the abdication of To what extent was the abdication of the Kaiser a revolution? Discuss this the Kaiser a revolution? Discuss this question with your partner?question with your partner?

PlenaryPlenary

Your teacher will give you a role Your teacher will give you a role card. Imagine you are the person on card. Imagine you are the person on this card. Discuss with other people this card. Discuss with other people around your table how you would around your table how you would have felt about the news the Kaiser have felt about the news the Kaiser had abdicated and what you would had abdicated and what you would expect the government to next.expect the government to next.