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 was a lot less food, and people began to get sick of fighting. In the winter of 1916-1917 (the Turnip Winter), the potato crop was really bad and everyone had to eat turnips instead and potato-flocken. There was no coal, the electricity was turned off, and the gas was turned down.
2. Give two reasons why the war caused such bad conditions for German civilians.
1. Much of the food was redirected to soldiers
2. The British Blockade
3. After reading Chapter 2, give two reasons why Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated on November 10, 1918.
1. The country was breaking apart: Bavaria and Saxony set up their own socialist republics.
2. His generals refused to suport him
4. Using the information you have read in this chapter, give evidence to support the statement that there was "revolution all over Germany."
There was revolution in Kiel and nearby ports, as well as in Saxony and Bavaria.
5. Study the information about the German Socialists in Chapter 2, page 5. What did the three Socialist groups have in common?
They all wanted to improve workers' conditions, and give everyone the right to vote.
6. In what ways were the Socialist groups different.
The Social Democrats wanted to support the government and make changed throught the parliament. The Independent Socialists opposed the government and wanted to make changes by striking. The Spartacists wanted to overthrow the government, and then have soviets run the country.
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.
-Nov. 10, 1918: Friedrich Ebert tells Germans that they have freedom of speech and religion and people will be fed.
-December 1918: Sparticists held a demonstration, Ebert kills 16 people.
- December 22: A thousand sailors burst into parliment and hold Ebert at gun-point, demanding more pay.
-December 31: The Sparticists rename themselves the German Communist Party and plan a communist revolution.
-6 January, 1919: Te Sparticists begin their revolution
-10 January, 1919: 2000 Freikorps attack the German Communists in Berlin. THere was fierce fighting in the street for the next 3 days.
-15 January: Free Korps capture Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht and kill them.
8. At what time would you say the Communists had their best chance of seizing power? Explain your answer.
Probably on December 22 1918. Maybe if they had helped the sailors and gained their support, they could have killed Ebert and taken over the government.