How six politicians saved Germany in 1918–19: Early Weimar crises decision-making lesson

A fully resourced, interactive GCSE lesson on how six unsure politicians managed to hold Germany together during the chaotic early months of 1918–19. Students investigate how Germany avoided full-scale revolution after the Kaiser’s abdication by stepping into the shoes of the leaders forced to make rapid, high-stakes decisions as the country teetered on collapse.

The lesson includes:
• A visual register starter using a hidden-headline mystery to reveal the scale of unrest after the Kaiser fled
• A decision-making scenario placing students inside the Reichstag as Berlin erupts outside
• A follow-up evaluation slide where students judge the politicians’ first public message
• A second dilemma in which students choose who should lead Germany temporarily
• A short judgement activity analysing what this choice suggests about the politicians’ priorities
• A military crisis scenario exploring how the new government handled senior army leaders
• A reflection slide prompting students to evaluate whether their deal with the army was wise
• A big-business dilemma revealing the politicians’ strategy to prevent a communist-inspired takeover
• A workers’ dilemma where students explore how promises of reform helped stabilise the situation
• A final decision about where Germany’s new parliament should meet, revealing why Weimar was chosen
• A structured consolidation task ranking all six decisions by stability and danger
• A headline-selection plenary where students choose the most accurate summary of 1918–19

All worksheets, scenario slides and detailed teacher notes are included.
Designed for Edexcel GCSE History (Weimar & Nazi Germany) but easily adaptable for other exam boards.

Ideal for developing inference, judgement, and decision-making skills while helping students understand how close Germany came to revolution — and how six moderate politicians kept the country from total collapse in 1918–19.