Macroeconomy Revision Notes

One of the important political changes during World War One was in 1916 when Field Marshall Paul Van Hindenburg was appointed as commander in chief and Erich Ludendorff as his first quartermaster general. This had a massive political effect as they took control of the whole country and began to revive the war till 1917 when Ludendorff demanded an immediate peace with the allies when he fell out with Hindenburg. His appointment made people realise that Germany was not going to win the war and in 1917 strikes and labour unrest continued as the socialists split again as the Independent Socialists withdrew their support for the war. Such animosity between the German civilian populations resulted in extremist views such as communism. The food shortages across Germany led to a radicalisation of people's views with the result of Germany's shock surrender. One of the short changes that were attempted was the formation of a government responsible to the Reichstag by the Liberal Prince Max of Baden which did not satisfy the workers and socialists. This eventually led to the abdication of the Kaiser and Germany becoming a Republic. Even till 1919 there was continued political unrest creating several left wing uprisings such as the Spartacist's attempting a revolution in Berlin and a short lived Soviet Republic was formed in Bavaria.…