The Kaiser’s Fault?
1. Wilhelm’s mistakes led to disaster:
• Ending the Treaty w. Russia → Russia mobilised vs Germany (July 1914).
• Weltpolitik → united stronger Entente vs Germany; weak allies (A-H & Turkey).
• SCHLIEFFEN Plan → brought Belgium/Britain into war, failed to defeat France → long war of ATTRITION Germany couldn’t win.
• Army atrocities → called ‘the Hun’ (from Wilhelm’s 1900 speech).
• Wilhelm’s choice of FALKENHAYN as Army Chief → VERDUN disaster (1916).
• Until 1916, Wilhelm only heard good news re war.
2. Military/naval failures:
• High Seas Fleet failed at JUTLAND (1916) → blockade continued; KIEL sailors mutinied (Nov 1918).
• U-Boat warfare failed to block Britain & provoked US entry into war.
• Western Front: millions killed; by autumn 1918, army exhausted, mass surrender.
Problems in Germany
1. Military rule (1916-18):
• Military govt controlled civilians: propaganda, censorship, moral policing, Dec 1916 PATRIOTIC Auxiliary Service Law → worker conscription.
• A General Strike (Berlin, Jan 1918) → martial law, 50k strikers sent to front.
2. Politics:
• Initial unity behind war → BURGFRIEDEN (political ‘ceasefire’, 1914); collapsed by 1918.
• Conservatives wanted war, moderate Socialists wanted peace, Independents wanted revolution.
3. Hunger:
• ‘TURNIP Winter’ (1916); by 1918, people lived on K-BROT, potatoes, berries.
• Hunger riots (autumn 1915, summer 1916, Sept 1918).
4. Inflation:
• Prices > doubled, but wages stayed low.
5. Disease:
• ¾ m deaths from hunger/disease (British BLOCKADE). Scurvy, TB, dysentery widespread.
6. Economy:
• Trade collapsed, economy ↓ by 25%, govt bankrupt. Worker shortages in industry & agriculture.
November Revolution (1918):
1. Peaceful revolution:
• 7 Nov: 60k marched in Munich (to commemorate the Russian Revolution) as Kiel naval mutiny spread.
• Town revolts ousted imperial leaders, freed prisoners, & set up Workers/Peasants Councils.
• 9 Nov: Kaiser ABDICATED; Republic declared.
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