Topic 1: Establishment and early years of the Wiemar Republic 1918-1924

October reforms 

• Prince Max appointed Chancellor, responsible for the Reichstag
• Government based on majority parties and controlled the army
• "Revolution from above" to avoid abdication of the Kaiser

The peace note 

• Allies demand unconditional surrender and the abdication of the Kaiser
• German public demand an end to the war but Kaiser refuses to abdicate

The November Revolution

• Strikes and  mutinies Groener tell the Kaiser the army accept his authority his control
• Prince Max says the Kaiser has abdicated then resigns, Ebert of the SPD becomes Chancellor
• The Kaiser abdicates

Ebert-Goerner Pact

• Spartacist revolt is crushed by the army and Freikorps
• 1919 Spartacists are crushed and Rosa Luxemburg is killed

Constituent assembly

• SPD formed a coalition with Zentrum + DDP, Ebert elected President and Schneiderman appointed chancellor.

Strengths

• Elected President 
  
• Enlarged franchise (men and women 20+)
• Freedom of the individual guaranteed

Weaknesses

• Coalitions 
• Proportional representation (no. of votes = no. of seats)
• Article 48

Undemocratic Institutions

• Army ( aristocracy, independent for the government, favour right-wing groups)
• Civil service (higher levels dominated by the aristocracy)
• Judiciary ( rulings favoured right-wing groups over the left wing)