The Impact of the First World War on Germany By November 1918 Germany was facing certain defeat, there

were strikes, riots and food shortages in German cities and the allies were pushing the army back. On November 8 the Kaiser fled to Holland and a new Provisional Government took over. They had no choice but to seek peace. An armistice was agreed and the Germans were promised fair treatment. Many Germans thought that the new government had betrayed them and that all the sacrifices of the war had been for nothing. Extreme nationalists claimed that the German army could have fought on. (The Stab in the Back myth ) By agreeing to the armistice and by signing the Treaty of Versailles the new government was associated with defeat and humiliation.

y The Kaiser fled in November 1918. He was responsible for the war but the new government had to make peace. They were blamed for Versailles. The allies did not invade Germany. This made it easier to spread the lie that the army and the country had been betrayed rather than defeated. The Allied blockade was still causing shortages, riots and strikes. Communists were setting up councils of soldiers and workers. All over Germany there was chaos. Germany is now a democratic REPUBLIC. In January 1919 Freidrich Ebert is elected president. However there are many problems. Germany lost the war, the German people didnt believe this. The Kaiser and the army never told bad news to the people. Many believed that Germany could still win the war. The people needed to be convinced that they could not restart the war and win. Germanys ECONOMY was a disaster. Germany has debts of 150 billion marks because of the war. The government cant even afford to pay war pensions for the 600,000 families whose fathers and sons have been killed in the war. People were starving. Food is scarce and expensive. Possibly 300,000 Germans have suffered the effects of malnutrition. Germany was more divided than ever. Some wealthy INDUSTRIALISTS got rich from the war while poor families had to sell their possessions to buy food. Most Germans didnt know how democracy works. Germany had never been a democracy before. In the past the Kaiser made decisions with his top ministers. So no-one knew what it was like to ask ordinary Germans how they wanted their country to be run.

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Berlin was dangerous some Germans didnt want democracy. Armed gangs of former soldiers were fighting in the streets with police, troops and each other. Many of these gangs were totally opposed to democracy. Berlin was so dangerous that the new government had to meet in the small town of Berlin instead.

Task 1:

Key issue Why did the German war effort collapse in November 1918?

What I have learned

Why was a Provisional Government set up Germany in 1918?

What were the terms of the armistice agreed by Germany in November 1918?

What social problems did Germany face after the war?

What economic problems did Germany face after the war?

What political problems did Germany face after the war?

Task 2: What was the biggest problem the new government had to deal with?

Write each factor in the triangle placing the biggest problem at the top. Draw lines between any factors which are linked.

Place these problems in the triangle in order of importance: y y y y y The new government is blamed for losing the war The economy is a disaster People are starving Germany is more divided than ever Berlin is dangerous some Germans dont want a democracy

Task 3: Do you think the new government can survive? Explain your answer.