IGCSE History Revision Site Information

IGCSE History Revision Site: Germany, Development of  Dictatorship The Weimar Republic   The German Revolution Germany went into the Great War in September 1914  1918: Germany’s enemies, the Allies (Britain, France,  Russia, USA) still undefeated March 1918 – Germany’s spring offense on Paris  July 1918 – Allies counter attacked and drove Germans  back  Morale among the troops was very low – defeat was near  War caused hardships and social inequities  Allied navies blocked the German coast – coast – prevented the  imports of basic supplies – linked to food shortages - leads to great suffering and military failure – causes sense of  hopelessness August 1918 – public hardships wit deadly influenza  infection spreading over Europe Russian Revolution (February 1917) caused discontent in  Germany – wanted the same revolution in overthrowing the Kaiser November 1918 – demanding change – the Kaiser abdicates  29 October, German sailors mutiny – spread to base at Kiel  4 November – more soldier mutinies all across Germany –  government breaking down 7 November – worker strikes in Bavaria against the capital  Munich 9 November – Kaiser Wilhelm agrees to abdicate – fled to  Holland Social Democratic Party, Germany’s larges political party in  1918 starts a new government  New government was able to agree an armistice: The  Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles stated that tha t Germany had to  withdraw from all land won in the war, put troops back ba ck into borders, put navy under Allied control Mid – 1919 Weimar Republic set up by the SDP  Armed groups with extreme political views clashed 