? starter activity

1
? starter activity
Germans gathering at a travelling soup kitchen
after WWI. How did ordinary Germans feel about
the War? ?Would the situation have been different
in Britain?
2
What effect did WWI have on Germany?
? LOs

• To identify the difficulties facing ordinary
  Germans
• To understand how the Kaiser was forced to
  abdicate
• To assess the political threats the new
  government faced

3
? Your task

• Read the information on p.4-5 (Wilkes) and list
  the problems facing ordinary Germans
• ?How did health problems make the situation worse?

4
Problems

• Food shortages 1000 calories per day, turnips
  became staple diet hence turnip winter, ¾ m
  died of hunger disease
• Fuel shortages limited coal supplies, power
  cuts, public buildings closed to save energy
• Civil unrest 1916, 10,000 workers called Down
  with war, down with government
• Military unrest mutinies in army

5
? Your task

• Read p.6-7 (Wilkes) and identify as many reasons
  as you can why the Kaiser, Wilhem II was forced
  to abdicate
• ? What does Source F reveal about the leadership
  style of Kaiser Wilhelm

Kaiser Wilhelm II
6
Kaiser Wilhelms abdication

• Criticism from military commanders - General
  Ludendorf thought War unwinnable
• Mutiny sailors refused to break British naval
  blockade
• Civil unrest workers councils set up across
  Germany, e..g. Hamburg and Munich
• No allies Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria Turkey
  had surrendered

7
? Extension

• Investigate what happened to Kaiser Wilhelm after
  he abdicated in November 1918

Members of the Kaisers retinue leave the
Imperial Palace their services no longer needed
One of last photos of Kaiser before his death in
1941
8
? Your task

• Using this picture and your own knowledge,
  explain why Germany faced so many problems in 1918

A photograph taken during the revolution in
Berlin, showing soldiers and sailors with guns
driving through the Brandenburg Gates
9
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Describes the picture source only Explains a single cause, either based on the picture or own knowledge OR Provides a range of reasons only partially explained Explains a range of causes of unrest based on the image and own knowledge, for example military civil unrest, unpopularity of Kaiser, hardships caused by War, Germanys international isolation
10
? Homework

• Read about the life of Rosa Luxemburg. Produce an
  A4 factoid on her life giving details on
• Her family background
• Her relationship with other activists
• Her political ideas
• Key events in her life
• Choose an image and label it

11
? Extension

• Read p.7-8 (SHP) and write down 5 adjectives to
  describe the Kaisers personality.
• Compare sources 2 10 and explain why they might
  differ in their interpretation of the Kaiser
• Study the categories at the bottom of the page
  and rate the Kaiser (1-5) against each of them.
  Explain your choices

12
? Plenary

• 3 problems facing Germany in 1918
• 3 reasons why Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated
• Tips on answering source-based questions
• ?Why was there a revolution in Germany but not in
  Britain?