The German Revolution The Years of Turmoil S4

The Republic Kaiser Wilhelm II and generals led Germany throughout war On Oct Prince Max of Baden became Chancellor He asked Allies for an armistice President Wilson insisted the government leaders resign & the Kaiser give up throne Inside Germany major problems –Mutiny at Wilhelmshaven & Kiel –Uprisings in cities –Workers’ and Soldiers’ Councils set up to run local government –Possibility of Communist revolution like Russia in 1917 –Over two and half million Germans had died in the war and four million were wounded. –The army and many other Nationalist groups in German society were unhappy that the Kaiser had been forced to abdicate. Some of these owed a very shaky allegiance to the new republic. Many were completely hostile and viewed the government with contempt. –Economic problems were serious, including rising prices, unemployment and a continued Allied blockade. –Germany faced the prospect of a harsh treaty that was being negotiated in Paris.

Revolution Even before the Constitution had been drawn up there was a serious challenge from the Left Many hoped to see a Russian style revolution in Germany. The left wing Spartacus movement led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg began a revolt in Berlin in January The government fled the city.

Ebert and Socialism Ebert: head of country in chaos Some = keep peace, support law & order Others = government to break power of army, take over land and industry and run them for the people SOCIALISM Ebert = Socialist but wanted these things gradually, by way of people voting for them Those who wanted quickly, through violent revolution called COMMUNISTS or ‘Reds’ Already they had taken over some cities

Help! On 9 th Nov (day of uprising in Berlin) Ebert met Wilhelm Groener, army Chief of Staff Agreed army would support new government In return, government would fight against Communism Communists angry Ebert not following Socialist policies Accused him of betraying working classes On 6 th Jan 1919 a band of Communists calling themselves Spartacus League, led by Karl Leibknecht & Rosa Luxemburg, rose in Berlin Became known as the SPARTACISTS

Spartacists Called a general strike Took over important buildings eg. Newspaper offices, railway stations and even a brewery Put up barriers and stood guard in some of the main streets

Freikorps Government needed more help than army could give Others they could turn to! Men who had been officers in army and left with no jobs when army reduced in size Hated what had been done to Germany and to the army Also hated Communism These men began to form small volunteer groups called Freikorps (Free Corps) Gathered uniforms, weapons used in WWI

Freikorps Gustav Noske, the Defence Minister, raised an army from these men to march on Berlin On 11 th Jan he led them to centre of city Used artillery to capture police HQ from rebels Over next 4 days Freikorps defeated rebels & took control of city Hunted down Spartacist leaders Arrested and murdered the same night Revolt was over but many working class never forgave government for putting it down Freikorps

Tasks Here are some sentences. Copy them into jotter in correct order to tell story of Spartacist revolt in Berlin