Impact of World War I on Germany

Political Challenges:

• Stresses of World War I lead to revolutions in Oct. & Nov. 1918.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates in Nov. 1918.
• As a result, Germany became an unstable democratic republic.
• Many ex-soldiers and civilians despised the new democratic leaders and came to believe that their heroic leader Field Marshal Hindenburg had been betrayed by weak politicians.

Social Challenges:

• War left 600,000 widows and 2 million children fatherless.
• War deepened divisions in German society (huge gaps between the living standards of the rich and the poor).
• Many people see women working in factories as damaging to traditional family values and society as a whole.

Economic Challenges:

• National income was about ⅓ of what it had been in 1913.
• Industrial production was about ⅔ of what it had been in 1913.
• Many German workers were bitter at the restrictions placed on their earnings during the war while the factory owners made vast fortunes from the war.
• By 1925, the state was spending about ⅓ of its budgets in war pensions.

Germans React Angrily to the Treaty

1. Germans were not aware of the situation in 1919.

In 1919, many Germans did not understand how bad Germany’s military situation had been at the end of the war. They believed that the German government had simply agreed to a ceasefire and therefore should have been at the Paris Peace Conference to negotiate peace. They were angry that their government was not represented at the talks and that they were being forced to accept a harsh treaty without any choice or even a comment.

2. War Guilt & Reparations

Germans hated the ‘war guilt’ clause, feeling that at the very least the blame should be shared. Because Germany was forced to accept blame for the war, it was also expected to pay for all the damages. Germans feared that the reparation payments would cripple them. The German economy was already in tatters, and people had very little food.

3. Disarmament

The disarmament terms greatly upset Germany. An army of 100,000 was very small for a country of Germany’s size, and the army was a symbol of German pride. Additionally, they were angered over the fact that none of the Allies disarmed to the extent that Germany was disarmed in the 1920s.

4. German Territories

The loss of a lot of territory was a major blow to German pride as well as its economy. Both the Saar Valley and Upper Silesia were important industrial areas which Germany lost. Furthermore, as Germany was losing land, the British and French were increasing their empires by taking control of German and Turkish territories in Africa and the Middle East.

5. Fourteen Points and League

Most Germans were furious that that the treatment of Germany was not in keeping with Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points. German-speaking peoples were divided by the terms forbidding Anschluss with Austria or hived off into new countries such as Czechoslovakia to be ruled by non-Germans. Germans also felt insulted when they were not invited to join the League of Nations.

6. Double Standards?

Although Germans complained about the treaty, many people did not listen because they felt that the Germans themselves were operating a double standard. Germany’s call for fairer treatment did not square with the harsh way they had treated Russia in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918. Versailles was not nearly as harsh as this treaty.

Germany Is "Punished" by the Big Three at Versailles

1. Using information and sources on pages 14 – 17, summarize the aims of the three leaders at the Paris Peace Conference.

Georges Clemenceau (France)

• Attitude towards Germany: Germany is as powerful and threatening as ever. Clemenceau and other French leaders wanted Germany to be broken into a collection of smaller states, but he knew that the Americans and the British would not agree to this.
• Main Aim: Clemenceau, aware of public opinion in France, stated his goal was to weaken Germany as much as possible.
• How He Felt About the Treaty: Clemenceau saw the Treaty as an opportunity to cripple Germany so that it could not attack France again.

Woodrow Wilson (United States)

• Attitude towards Germany: Wilson believed that Germany should be punished, but the treaty should not be too harsh. He believed that if Germany was punished too harshly, it would recover and want revenge.
• Main Aim: Wilson’s main aim was to strengthen democracy in the defeated nation so that its people would not let its leaders cause another war.
• How He Felt About the Treaty: Wilson hoped to use the Treaty as means to accomplish some of his plans for international peace.

David Lloyd George (Great Britain)

• Attitude towards Germany: Lloyd George wanted Germany to be justly punished but not too harshly. He wanted Germany and Britain to begin trading with each other again. He wanted Germany to lose its navy and its colonies because Britain thought they threatened the British Empire.
• Main Aim: Like Wilson, Lloyd George aimed to prevent Germany from seeking revenge in the future and possible starting another war.
• How He Felt About the Treaty: Lloyd George, under public pressure, promised to use the Treaty to ‘make Germany pay.’

2. Read pages 18 – 19. Summarize the main terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

War Guilt: This clause stated that Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war.

Reparations: Without consulting Germany, the world’s major powers decide Germany had to pay reparations of $32 billion. The terms of the payment are later changed in 1929.

German Territories & Colonies: Germany’s overseas empire was taken away. Former German colonies became mandates controlled by the League of Nations, which effectively meant that France and Britain controlled them.

Germany’s Armed Forces: Both the size and power of the German army were greatly restricted to a level well below what they had been before the war. The army was limited to 100,000 men. Soldiers had to be volunteers. Germany was not allowed armored vehicles, submarines or aircraft. The navy could only have six battleships. The Rhineland, the border between Germany and France, became a demilitarized zone.

League of Nations: The League of Nations was set up as an international ‘police force.’ Germany was not allowed to join the League until it had shown that it was a peace-loving country.

The German Revolution

1. Using the documents in Chapter 1 as evidence, list the ways in which conditions in Germany worsened during the war.

There were several ways in which the conditions in Germany worsened during the war. First, there was a significant shortage of food for both civilians and soldiers. Additionally, there was no coal, electric lights were turned off, and the gas power was turned down. Food prices were also high.

2. Give two reasons why the war caused such bad conditions for German civilians.

The war caused terrible conditions for German civilians. British ships blockaded Germany’s ports, preventing food ships from entering the country. Also, in the winter of 1916 – 1917, hard frosts destroyed the potato crops. Civilians were forced to live on turnips instead.

3. After reading Chapter 2, give two reasons why Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated on November 10, 1918.

Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated his throne because German Socialists and Communists began to talk of overthrowing him in a revolution. Furthermore army generals refused to support him, and he could not stop the naval mutiny.

4. Using the information you have read in this chapter, give evidence to support the statement that there was "revolution all over Germany."

Evidence supports the statement that there was “revolution all over Germany.” The spark of revolution begins on October 28th with a naval mutiny. This mutiny in the ports quickly spreads inland. It took only six days for cities all over Germany to join in.

5. Study the information about the German Socialists in Chapter 2, page 5. What did the three Socialist groups have in common?

Even though the three Socialist groups had their own leaders and unique methods, all three groups had the same aims. They wanted to improve workers’ conditions and to give democratic rights to all Germans such as the right to vote.

6. In what ways were the Socialist groups different?

The three Socialist groups had their own leaders and employed varying methods to achieve their goals. The Social Democratic Party, led by Friedrich Ebert, planned to support the government and try to make reforms by acts of Parliament. Hugo Hasse led the Independent Socialists, who planned to oppose the government and force it to make reforms by organizing strikes. The Spartacists were led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg and intended to overthrow the government in a revolution. Councils of workers would then make reforms.

7. After reading Chapter 3 make a time chart of the events of the German Revolution from Nov. 10, 1918 to Jan. 15, 1919. You should be able to find six events

• November 10, 1918: Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates the throne.
• December 23, 1918: 1000 hungry and underpaid soldiers break into government headquarters and hold Ebert prisoner under gunpoint, demanding more pay.
• December 31, 1918: The Spartacists rename themselves the German Communist Party and decide to work for the communist revolution.
• January 6, 1919: The Spartacists begin their revolution.
• January 10, 1919: 2000 corps, hard men who hated communism and loved brutality, attack the Spartacists in Berlin. Bitter street fighting continues for three days.
• January 15, 1919: Rosa Luxembourg and her fellow leader Karl Liebknecht are arrested. They are both murdered after being beaten severely by the Free Corps.

8. At what time would you say the Communists had their best chance of seizing power? Explain your answer.

Communists had the best chance of seizing power after Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated the throne. Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated the throne in part because he was afraid that the Communists would overthrow him in a revolution. With a weak government, the Communists would definitely have had their best chance to grab control.

Russia, 1861 - 1905

1. List the general goals of the:

a. Socialists – The socialists hoped to create a classless society that would end the exploitation and suffering of the peasants and workers. This plan included the dismantling of the capitalist economic system by taking the “means of production” (land, factories, etc.) from the owners and placing them in the hands of the state.

b. Liberal Reformers – Liberal reformers believed that they could put in place western constitutional practices and the rule of law to solve Russia’s problems and correct the injustices of the past.

2. List three characteristics of serfs’ lives.

Serfs were mercilessly exploited by their landlords and had to pay rent to these landlords in the form of cash, produce, or labor. For most serfs, life was also extremely difficult and lasted only an average of 35 years. Serfs lived in small, dark, and dank cottages they shared with their animals. Lastly, Serfs were grouped together in communes. These communes typically consisted of between four and eighty households that worked together to farm the communal land.

3. List four reforms of Tsar Alexander II.

Tsar Alexander II and his government instituted several reforms. In 1861, Tsar Alexander II emancipated the serfs, and a new system of land transference was established. Additionally he instituted jury trials and relaxed censorship laws. The tsar also created local elected assemblies which were established to address issues such as road maintenance, irrigation, primary education, and taxation.

4. Why did the populists go “to the people” in 1873 -1874?

The populists went “to the people” in 1873 – 1874 because they desired to establish personal connections with the downtrodden peasantry. The populists, many of whom were propagandists, were convinced that they could persuade the “simple folk” to join the revolutionary cause.

5. List two consequences of the famine of 1891.

As a result of the famine of 1891, the government demonstrated that it could not handle the crisis by itself. Both the bureaucracy and the transport system proved not to be up to task. Another consequence was that hungry and discontented peasants became
increasingly bitter, and many peasant communities staged small-scale revolts and land seizures.

6. Why was Karl Marx important to Russian intellectuals?

To Russian intellectuals, Marx’s ideas were a means for transforming their society. Marx’s appeal among Russian intellectuals grew dramatically after the 1891 famine because his ideas seemed to offer explanation for the causes of the famine. Many intellectuals also believed Marx’s “European ideas” could help Russia become more like Europe.

7. What were the goals and methods of the following political groups in early twentieth-century Russia?

a. Liberal Democrats – This group consisted of liberals who supported evolving to a more Western European system of government. These liberals, who came largely from the middle class, valued individual liberty and saw the role of the state as protecting the rights of citizens.

b. Socialist Revolutionaries – Socialist Revolutionaries were intellectuals who saw themselves as leaders championing the peasants’ cause. They wanted two major changes: socializing all land and transferring it to the communes and replacing the monarchy with a democratic republic. To achieve their goals, this party engaged in political terrorism. This group often disagreed with the Marxist ideology.

c. Social Democrats – Social Democrats believed that as Russia industrialized and became more capitalistic, it was becoming more fertile ground for socialist activity focusing on the working class instead of the peasantry. They developed political ideology based on Marxism. In 1903, the party split into the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.

8. How did Bloody Sunday change people’s attitudes toward the Tsar?

“Bloody Sunday” permanently altered the attitudes of the people toward the tsar and his government. The centuries-old view of the tsar as a benevolent protector of the people was destroyed after thousands of the tsar’s troops confronted demonstrators and fired on them.

9. List four reforms in Tsar Nicholas’s October Manifesto.

Freedom of the press, freedom of the assembly, and freedom of association were introduced in Russia. Also, for the first time in history, Russians could legally form political parties and labor unions. Finally, the tsar was to share power with a two-chamber legislature. Half the members of the upper house, the State Council, were to be appointed by the tsar and other half were to be elected by the nobility and clergy. The lower house, the State Duma, was to be comprised of elected representatives.

The Seeds of Conflict

1. Define "The West." Make sure you could identify several countries as examples.

The West refers to the capitalistic, democratic countries of western Europe and North America during the Cold War. The United States, Great Britain, France, and Spain were all part of the West.

2. Explain the differences in the economic ideology between the West and the USSR.

The economic ideologies of the West and the USSR were in stark contrast. In the West, there was an incentive of individual gain rather the community responsibility encouraged by USSR communists. The USSR believed that West’s emphasis on private ownership of businesses created a division between the rich factory owners and the poor working classes. The USSR communists wanted all factories, businesses, and land to be taken over by the government on behalf of the people. This policy of nationalization enabled the goods generated by the economy to be distributed fairly according to need. Business, factory, and land owners in the capitalistic West considered nationalization to be a threat to their wealth, status, and power.

3. Explain the differences in the political ideology between the West and the USSR.

In addition to economic differences, the West and USSR had differing political systems. Western democratic governments defended unalienable rights such as the right to vote, the right to a fair trial, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. In contrast, the freedoms enjoyed by many Western countries were under threat in the USSR. Furthermore, in a communist state, where a classless society was being created, there was no need for different political parties. A communist system was a one-party state, with the Communist Party ruling on behalf of the people, while Western democracy gave people a choice of government. An additional part of the communist ideology was the belief that conflict between capitalism and communism was inevitable because they represented completely opposed systems.

4. What was the Comintern (Communist International), and why did it concern the West?

The Comintern (Communist International) was an organization created in 1919 to further the cause of communism and aid the collapse of capitalism. The organization’s role was to coordinate communist groups throughout the world and support their attempts to undermine capitalism in any possible way. The West was concerned that the West was being used to further the communist efforts to destroy capitalism, and they feared the spread of communist revolution.

5. What occurred during the Russian Civil War (1918-21) that solidified the opposition between the West and the Communists? (Be specific and use key details.)

The West’s intervention against the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War solidified the opposition between the West and the Communists. The West sided with the Whites, who wished to prevent the establishment of the Bolshevik rule. Western support of the Whites eventually faded, and Lenin’s Bolshevik regime won the Civil War in 1921. Nevertheless, the West’s intervention emphasized the West’s hostility towards communism and the fact that the West would consider employing military action against communism whenever possible.