Why did the Kaiser abdicate Germany 1918 39

Why did the Kaiser abdicate? Germany 1918 -39

Today we will… • Describe the events of Kaiser’s abdication • Identify the reasons behind the abdication and its consequences

I can… • Complete two homework questions on the events of the Kaiser’s abdication

• Kaiser Wilhelm II • German Emperor 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918 • Queen Victoria’s grandson • Aggressive, authoritarian

Events • On 9 November 1918 the Kaiser abdicated (gave up the throne) • On 11 November the armistice was signed by the new politicians who had little experience of running Germany • Germany had become a very violent place at the end of WWI – people were fighting over how the country should be run

• Friedrich Ebert was the leader of the new government after the Kaiser abdicated • He would be very unpopular due to surrendering ‘too soon’ and signing the Treaty of Versailles • They were the ‘November criminals’

If you won’t abdicate, the best thing for you to do is shoot yourself! General Groener

• The Kaiser became an exile in the neutral Netherlands • David Lloyd George had proposed to ‘hang the Kaiser!’ • The Kaiser hoped the Nazis might reinstate him when they were becoming more powerful • He died in 1941 from a blocked artery

Why did he abdicate? • Britain, France and America would not negotiate a peace with the hated Kaiser. He would have to go. • The German Navy mutinied (went on strike) at Kiel Naval Base • This started revolutionary activity, where workers and sailors took control of other naval bases • Many German people blamed the Kaiser for Germany’s military defeats in WWI • Many people had died of starvation (750, 000) due to shortages and they blamed him

Mutiny at Wilmshaven Naval base

What did it mean for Germany? • It meant lots of violence and unrest as Germany as different groups tried to take power • It left Germany without a leader so elections had to be called and a new government elected • German people had never had elections and politicians before – they were very confused by democracy • Some German people were loyal to the Kaiser - whoever replaced him would probably be unpopular

Homework – The Kaiser’s Abdication 1. Why did the Kaiser abdicate in 1918? 4 marks 2. What problems did that create for Germany? 4 marks