❶Impact of war, political crises and establishment of the Weimar Constitution

1918

End of war

Sep 1918 clear to Ludendorff that Ger on brink of defeat, retreating along western front
Elsewhere in EU Ger allies negotiating peace terms
Ludendorff- only way to avoid surrender was to ask for armistice
Woodrow’s 14 points possible basis for peace settlement but Ludendorff knew that autocratic system was an obstacle
Ludendorff advocated partial democratisation of the system as a way to get better peace terms

October reforms

Oct, after Ludendorff’s advice Kaiser began a set of reforms that effectively ended his autocratic rule
Appointed prince Max as chancellor- responsible of the Reichstag
Established new gov based on majority parties including SDP
Armed forces put under the control of gov
Major constitutional transformation- designed to save Germany from humiliation

The peace note

3^rd Oct max wrote to pres Wilson asking for armistice, took 3 weeks to reply- suspicious they were using armistice as a means of buying time to regroup
Wilson demanded Ger evacuate all occupied territory, end submarine warfare and become fully democratic.
His terms basically demanded German surrender and the Kaisers abdication- too much for Ludendorff to accept
He tried last ditch military effort but resigned and fled to Sweden- reforms failed to meet his objectives.
Big blow to ger morale + armed forces- basically an admission that they had lost the war, was the first they knew that they were losing.
Lost respect for Kaiser + military and political leaders.
Soldiers lost respect for officers
Kaiser obstacle of peace- refused to abdicate

November revolution

Unrest in navy led to this
3^rd Nov- naval base at Kiel, sailors mutinied against officers and took control
Day after, spread to city- workers and soldiers councils established similar to soviets in Russia
Gov tried to meet their demands but revolt spread to other ports and cities
Seemed like ger was on verge of revolution like Russia’s (from the outside) but not radical socialists leading the revolt
most were patriotic Germans who wanted Kaiser gone and a democratic republic
Once authority challenged- collapse quick
8^th Nov Bavarian monarchy deposed- William Carr ‘decisive moment in the German revolution’
Let Max know that he had no control, most important developments happening in Berlin.
9^th Nov SPD asked workers in Berlin to do general strike to get Kaiser to abdicate. – Also threatened to stop supporting Max’s new gov
Max knew he couldn’t continue w/out SPD so did things himself – released press saying that KW had abdicated
Desperate move, resigned as chancellor + gave to Freidrich Ebert- leader of SDP
Phillip Scheidemann announced on Reichstag balcony that the German republic now existed.
Groener told KW that the army wouldn’t fight for him- no choice but to abdicate.

Abdication of the Kaiser

9^th Nov 1918, house near German army headquarters KW told his abdication had been announced in Berlin
By 5.00pm forced to accept
Advised only that only safety was…

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