The Influence of the End of WWI on Germany

Friedrich Ebert

“The situation continued to deteriorate, and both social and political conflict grew sharper.” (Schluze 195). This statement by Hagen Schluze epitomizes the sentiment and situation in Germany after World War 1. This war had a horrendous impact of Germany, especially due to the fact that the people of the country had been led to believe that they were succeeding in this conflict much more than they thought.  During the war, Germany was blockaded by the British Navy, depriving the people of basic goods. As Schluze explains, “But the reality of life in Germany was far removed from such flights of fancy (enthusiasm for the war). Food shortages occurred everywhere despite ever stricter rationing and attempts to place production of at least basic commodities under government control” (Schluze 193). The lack of food itself was not the only problem, farmers were short of workers due to their participation in the military, drastically decreasing the work force available to deal with these shortages. By understanding the dire conditions and the reorganization surrounding attempts to resolve these problems before World War I came to a close, one can better understand why Germany changed as it did is a result of this conflict and why they were so shattered after the Treaty of Versailles..
In the fall of 1918, the German lines were annihilated by an Allied attack and after a few weeks, the German army was defeated (Schulze 192-193). As the war ended, much of the blame was put on the political realm for the defeat, rather than on the military, that was in fact drained from this war. To better understand this, let us analyze some of the events of November 1918, when many councils began to take over the cities, paralleling actions in Russia during the communist revolution.  The leading party at in Parliament at this time was the Social Democrat party, led by Friedrich Ebert. This party feared anarchy and aimed to push Germany toward the republic model of government. As Schluze explains, this model did work, as a majority of those elected were under the Social Democratic party or the German Democratic Party. He states, “The first democratically elected national government thus had a broad basis of support…the government faced…urgent tasks…it had to consolidate the power of the new republic against opposition from the left…it succeeded in the first aim with the help of the old regular army and the new volunteer units known as the Freikorps” (Schulze 202). Though this was a successful shift based on the first election, the shock of defeat Ebert’s men a difficult political climate in which to function. 

freikorps

Ebert was not able to control Berlin, with various revolts and violence breaking out between political factions, especially between German Communists and the Freikorps. Germany then moved its capital to the city of Weimar, leading to the naming of Germany of 1919-1933, the Weimar Republic. This shift caused many to doubt the strengths of this government, fleeing when there are problems is not an effective method of maintaining control. Along with the problem of remedying these conflicts, there was a definite loss of men in this war. In a struggle to rebuild an economy, this work force loss affected the industrial base, furthering the plight of this country after the war. As the war approached its end, economic faltering, a prolific loss of men, and a government struggling for control each had profound effects on the country.  As the treaty of Versailles would come to shake up the country more, these issues would typically grow in severity, causing Germans to struggle during this time, trying to regain their strength after a difficult war.

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Essential Elements of Nationhood: Germany's Efforts Surrounding the Revolution of 1848

Freedom is a concept that we as Americans often take for granted; however, in the German nation in 1848, the national assembly finally “convened…to draft and adopt a constitution that would guarantee basic freedoms and…elect a national government” (Schulze, 124). Though this would not be successful due to political turmoil, it points us to an understanding of what is necessary in order to foster the successful formation of a nation. In order to facilitate the growth of the German state, both social and economic liberties needed to be cultivated, and the commencement of this liberal revolution of sorts and the timely “economic boom” allowed this escalation to occur and a basic challenge of the foundation of the German state to be overcome (Schulze, 131).

German National Assembly during the March Government responding to the March Demands

“In state parliaments both the moderate liberals and the radical democrats demanded freedom of the press and of assembly, and the rights to form political parties and bear arms” (Schulze, 123). With these “March demands” in place along with the “March governments” assembling to establish a constitution for the new “liberal and intellectual Germany,” nationalism began to flourish. However, this idealistic view would not instantaneously become a reality. It would be dampened by conflicts regarding what regions would be part of this “new Germany” (Schulze, 120). The delaying of the formation of this “constitutional nation state” created a tenuous situation between the government and the “forces of the liberal bourgeoisie” (Schulze, 127).  Fearing a true revolution, compromise was eventually attained with “written constitutions” becoming a reality and “lawmaking powers” being delegated between leaders and parliaments (Schulze, 129). Over time a constitution would be derived, though not actually put into place. It was a document “informed by the spirit of popular sovereignty and human rights” that would inspire the potential freedoms of a people and encourage their spirit of nationalism and thereby perpetuate growth (Schulze, 128).  Foundations of liberty were put into place during this era, which were essential to the foundations of the German state and the yearnings of the people, for these freedoms are a testament to their identify shift, inspiring individuals to strive for more for themselves and for their country.
In terms of economic growth, as the need “to fear political upheavals. . . in the aftermath of the revolution” subsided, “much group work had been laid for industrial development (Schulze, 130). The people of the German nation began to expand and take advantage of “a golden era for entrepreneurship” (Schulze, 130). Facilitated by the social freedoms demanded and generally established, new banks and factories were opened. One essential task that the banks provided capital for was the creation of railroads, inspired by economist Friedrich List (Schulze, 130). This transportation network was essential to unify “this new and relatively large economic bloc” that the German nation was entering into (Schulze, 130).  “Labor was cheap,” which also spurred this growth, elevating the status of the “preindustrial masses” (Schulze, 131). As Schulze profoundly states, “Industrialization (encouraged by renewed social and literal mobility) transformed German society. The old world disappeared not as a result of a political revolution but through a revolution in the economy and the world of labor” (Schulze, 132). 
However, as social mobility and freedom had the potential to uplift the liberal bourgeoisie, this dramatic shift in industry instilled a feeling of “uprootedness” (Schulze, 134).  As Schulze further describes, “Family ties were broken, traditional loyalties abandoned, religious attachments weakened” (Schulze, 134). This fundamental shaking of society’s orientation caused an “identity crisis,” though growth, philosophy, and liberalism great through adherence secular ideologies, contributing to the rise of the German state (Schulze, 134-135). Starting as a backward country seeking nationhood, Germany needed to promote social and economic growth, especially when considering the thought of Friedrich List, an economist referred to briefly in the text. List believed personal factors, the work of the people, led to growth and that individuals, empowered with freedom, can spur industry. Through their attempts at constitutional reform, including profound suggestions toward liberty, and their industrial successes, albeit leading to identity crisis, were not completely successful, the German nation moved towards unification, surpassing challenges of growth during this tumultuous era.  

First Railroad station in Germany (clearly updated) The Growth of railroads furthered the growth of industry during this time