Impact of the First World War Flashcards
All 19 cards in this deck
When did Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicate?
9 November 1918. He fled to the Netherlands, leaving government in disarray with no formal constitution until August 1919.
What was the armistice of 11 November 1918?
The agreement signed by the new German government to stop the fighting of the First World War; the peace terms came later, in the Treaty of Versailles (1919).
What was the 'stab in the back' theory?
The belief that the German army had not been beaten but was betrayed by the politicians (the 'November Criminals') who signed the armistice.
How much did Germany have to pay in reparations after the First World War?
£6,600 million (132 billion gold marks), the sum fixed in 1921 by the Reparations Commission; it caused economic hardship and resentment of the government.
True or false? The Treaty of Versailles took away 13% of Germany's land.
True. Germany also lost all of its overseas colonies.
Why did French and Belgian troops occupy the Ruhr in January 1923?
Germany had failed to make its reparations payments, so they took goods and raw materials instead.
What was the immediate cause of the hyperinflation of 1923?
The Weimar government printed more money to pay the Ruhr workers who were on strike, making the mark worthless.
True or false? Every German lost out because of the hyperinflation of 1923.
False. People with large debts or loans could pay them off easily; savers, the middle class and workers lost most.
What was the 'war guilt' clause (Article 231) of the Treaty of Versailles?
It forced Germany to accept the blame for starting the First World War. The Allies used this to justify demanding reparations, and many Germans bitterly resented it.
How did the British naval blockade affect Germany during the First World War?
It caused severe food and fuel shortages, such as the 'turnip winter' of 1916–17, and around 750,000 Germans died of starvation and disease, adding to war weariness.
How did Germany pay for the First World War?
Mainly by borrowing and printing money rather than raising taxes, leaving huge debts and rising prices by 1918.
What was the Kiel mutiny (November 1918)?
Sailors of the German fleet refused orders to put to sea against the British navy; the revolt at Kiel in early November spread into revolution across Germany and forced the Kaiser to abdicate.
Give one effect of the 1923 hyperinflation on ordinary Germans.
Savings became worthless. Money lost value so fast that people burned banknotes for fuel and wages could not keep up with prices.
True or false? Allied armies were occupying Germany when the armistice was signed in November 1918.
False. The German army was still fighting in France and Belgium, so many Germans found defeat hard to accept, which helped the 'stab in the back' myth spread.
True or false? The German government ordered armed resistance against the French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr in 1923.
False. It ordered passive resistance — workers went on strike and refused to co-operate, and the government printed money to pay them.
What were the Treaty of Versailles' military terms for Germany?
Its army was limited to 100,000 men, it could have no tanks, air force or submarines, its navy was cut to six battleships, and the Rhineland was demilitarised.
Why did many Germans call the Treaty of Versailles a 'Diktat'?
Germany was shut out of the peace talks in Paris and told to accept the terms or face renewed war, so many Germans saw it as an imposed ('dictated') peace.
What political changes did the Kaiser make in October 1918?
Prince Max of Baden became Chancellor of a government drawn from the Reichstag parties, and the constitution was changed so the Chancellor answered to the Reichstag, in the hope of winning milder peace terms from the Allies.
Roughly what did a loaf of bread cost in Germany in November 1923?
About 200 billion marks, compared with less than one mark in 1918.