These revision notes provide an in depth summary of this specific chapter of AQA History in the Study of The quest for political stability: Germany, 1871–1991. They can be used directly as lecture notes or can be reduced further to more of a summary of the topic.
History revision – Revolution 1918-19 (6)
- Four years of Total War, culminating in defeat, brought Kaiserreich to its knees
- The war fractured the economy, wrecked government finances, caused serious social
tensions and exacerbated the polarisation of Gr politics
German parliamentary democracy established
- 1st October 1918 – Wilhelm II asked Prince Max von Baden, a moderate conservative
to form a government
- Prince Max’s government, which included representatives from the Majority Socialists
and Left Liberals, was stunned when it heard the seriousness of Gr’s position
- 3rd October 1918 – Prince Max wrote to President Wilson asking for an armistice and a
peace based on the Fourteen Points – Several weeks of secret negotiation followed
- The main obstacle to peace was the Kaiser as Wilson insisted on his removal from
power as a precondition of the armistice
Constitutional reform
- Prince Max’s government introduced a serious of reforms that turned Gr into a
parliamentary monarchy
o Wilhelm II gives up control of the army and navy
o Chancellor and government made accountable to the Reichstag
o Electoral reform would cut the voting privileges of the Elites
- These reforms leave the Kaiser as a figurehead with no real political power
o Prince Max is pushing for his abdication to allow the Fourteen Point agreement
with Wilson to commence
- In a three week period, power had been transferred from Kaiser to Reichstag
- The changes were essentially a ‘revolution from above’
- However, much of what took place came as a result of the influence of the Reichstag
The October reforms:
- Reichstag became key to Gr obtaining an armistice
o Reforms were implicitly driven by the Reichstag
- Reforms were a political necessity on the insistence of the Allies
- Reforms made to reflect the stigma of a Gr military surrender
The revolutionary situation
- By late October, a revolutionary situation existed in Gr
- Rationing had eroded the relationship between ruler and subject
- The shock of looming military defeat, after years of optimistic propaganda, radicalised
popular attitudes and Gr’s were ready to blame Wilhelm
- When public aware that Wilson regarded Wilhelm as an obstacle to peace, pressure
for his abdication grew
- Many S Gr’s blamed Prussia for Gr’s misfortunes
- Some Bavarians wanted independence
The Kiel Mutiny and revolution
- 29th October 1918 – rumours emerged that the Gr High Seas Fleet was going to be
sent out on a last do-or-die mission against the Royal Navy
- This resulted in a mutiny among the sailors at Wilhelmshaven
- This mutiny spread to Kiel and other ports
- 4th November 1918 – dockworkers and soldiers in Kiel joined the mutinous sailors and
set up workers’ and soldiers’ councils
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