Describe how Germany changed from being a semi-absolutist monarchy in 1918 to a parliamentary republic in 1919.

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Claire Fletcher Block A

A) Describe how Germany changed from being a semi-absolutist monarchy in 1918 to a parliamentary republic in 1919

Between 1918 and 1919, there were many dramatic changes in Germany. This led to Germany turning from being a semi-absolutist monarchy, into a

Parliamentary republic. A chain of events starting with the defeat of war triggered two revolutions.

In spring 1918 there was one last chance of winning the war before the Americans joined the Allies. This was known as the Ludendorff offensive, it was carried out on the Western Front.  Unfortunately it failed, due to the new system of elastic behaviour; where the Allies armies would retreat allowing the German soldiers to advance, and then the Allies would surprise them with an attack surrounding the Germans. The Americans had also arrived on the Western Front.

By September 1918, the Allies continued counter attacks, leading to the German defence line being breached. This was a humiliating tragedy for the German armies. Much of the Army had disintegrated due to the blockade back in Germany that was starving soldier’s families.  The Germany Army High Command knew that defeat was close; they had to get an armistice.

The High Command, desperately sought after an Armistice after the failure of the Ludendorff Offensive, as they were extremely worried that the deserting troops would turn to a Russian-style communist revolution. Also the fact that Germany still had an undefeated Army would give them better terms in any treaty. The Generals approached the U.S.A., knowing that they suffered the least out of the War, along with Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen points; they felt Germany would suffer the least by approaching the Americans.

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America would not discuss peace terms with Germany unless a democratic government was set up. The Americans were strongly against the Kaiser and his military clique that ran Germany since 1916. The Generals had to go against their ideology of politics and demand a Parliamentary Regime be set up. This would not only allow for the Americans to be please, but to switch the shame and humiliation of surrender and peace terms on to the new civilian government. On the 3rd October 1918,the ‘Revolution from above’ had happened and the liberal, Prince Max of Baden became the Chancellor of Germany.

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