Political authority: political impact of First World War on Germany; political change and breakdown by 1918; the 1918 revolution; establishment of democratic government in Weimar constitution
The First World War destroyed Germany's imperial government. Military defeat in 1918 triggered a revolution that swept away the Kaiser and replaced his autocratic rule with a new democratic system called the Weimar Republic.
Real World
When sailors mutinied at Kiel in October 1918 rather than sail on a suicide mission, it triggered a chain of workers' and soldiers' councils spreading across Germany — almost identical in structure to the 1917 Russian Revolution.
Exam Focus
Always link the 1918 revolution to the 'stab-in-the-back' myth; examiners reward candidates who trace how its origins shaped later Nazi propaganda.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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