Germany’s defeat in World War One

Hindenburg and Ludendorff

• During the war, although the Kaiser was still the ruler of Germany, effective control of the war shifted to the military High Command. Two men formed a virtual military dictatorship.

Hindenburg and Ludendorff

• Worksheet , Republic to Reich, p.7

The October reforms

• Ludendorff tried to implement political reform in October 1918. He wanted to turn Germany into a constitutional monarchy, i.e. the Reichstag to run the country and the Kaiser to stay on the throne but without political power.

Why? What were Ludendorff’s aims?

1. To get the best possible peace terms from the Allies.

2. To prevent revolution in Germany.3. To shift the responsibility for defeat away from

the military and onto civilian politicians.• The military had failed to win the war, and now

the civilian politicians would be forced to make the peace. The most important consideration for Ludendorff was to preserve the honour and standing of the German army.

• On 3rd October, the army handed political power to a new civilian government, formed from several left-wing and centrist political parties.

• The new government immediately contacted President Wilson to ask for an armistice.