Impact of the First World War on Germany
- Created by: evicb
- Created on: 07-11-19 13:40
View mindmap
- Impact of the First World War on Germany
- Social
- Deepened divisions in Germany with huge gaps between the rich and poor
- was made worse by restrictions placed on workers earnings during war, while factory owners made large profits
- during the war, women worked in factories
- many saw this as damaging family values
- Deepened divisions in Germany with huge gaps between the rich and poor
- Psychological
- news of impending defeat was a shock, despite the naval blockade
- army commanders had been telling the people that they were close to victory
- navy disagreed with the armistice and ordered the fleet to sea
- This led to mutiny, followed by establishment of Soviets in many German cities
- news of impending defeat was a shock, despite the naval blockade
- Political
- 9 Nov the Kaiser abdicated
- power went to a council of peoples representatives, under Ebert.
- Ebert did not want a revolution like in Russia because it would
- lead to a civil war
- disrupt demobilisation
- disrupt the distribution of food
- hinder peace negotiations
- Ebert was able to prevent a revolution because
- He maintained support of the army by not reforming it or creating a new force
- He kept the support of the industrialists, who negotiated with trade unions, which gave workers an 8 hour day and established workers councils in large companies
- Working class was divided between communists (KPD) and SPD who wants parliamentary system
- 9 Nov the Kaiser abdicated
- Economic
- Industrial production was only two-thirds that of 1913 in 1918
- National income was one-third that of 1913
- There were 600,000 widows and 2 million children without fathers
- by 1925, the state was spending 1/3 of its budget on war pensions
- Social
Comments
No comments have yet been made