SUNDAY QUIZ: WEIMAR BERLIN 1919 “WHAT WOULD YOU DO?”
Berlin, 1919. The empire has fallen, strikers are on the streets, and a new democracy is being born under fire. In early Weimar Germany… what role would YOU play?
Take our 7-question quiz. Let us know what you would have done in the comments:
How to play:
1. Pick A/B/C/D for each question.
2. Tally which letter you chose most often.
3. Comment with your result and share one choice you’re proud/ashamed of.
Question 1:
The Armistice just ended the war. Parliament is rushing to write a new constitution. You say:
A) “Stability first—get a government working now.”
B) “Democracy first—give power to the workers councils.”
C) “Security first—use the army to restore order.”
D) “Keep calm and count the votes—I’ll organize quietly.”
Question 2:
A general strike erupts in Berlin. Your first move?
A) Negotiate a ceasefire and elections.
B) Declare solidarity with the strikers and publish a fiery leaflet.
C) Use volunteer paramilitaries to crush it.
D) Keep the trams and food supply running.
Question 3:
The Treaty of Versailles lands on your desk, without any input from Germany. It's terms are punitive and unfair.
A) Sign to save the state; hope to renegotiate later.
B) Reject it at once—mass action over humiliation.
C) Refuse to sign, and prepare for a showdown.
D) Accept the legal reality; start rebuilding.
Question 4:
Crisis are coming thick and fast and there are plenty in the media making it worse. Do you bring in censorship or allow a free-for-all press?
A) Temporary limits to stop violence, then free press again.
B) Free press, even for dangerous ideas.
C) Silence the agitators, smash the presses
D) Establish fact-checking and public bulletins. Licence newspapers and sanction them for inaccuracies.
Question 5:
Street fighting breaks out near the newspaper district.
A) Broker a truce and call in loyal police.
B) Barricade the street and rally paramilitary supporters.
C) Clear it with force—no hesitation.
D) Evacuate civilians and set up aid posts.
Question 6:
Women vote nationwide for the first time. What’s your stance?
A) Celebrate—democracy needs everyone.
B) Women leaders should spearhead the movement. Men have had their say, and look where it got us!
C) Doesn’t change the power equation, and it it looks like it might, there's still the army.
D) Register voters, run candidates, mind the details. Leave the philosophy to others.
Question 7:
A coup in Berlin attempt tries to topple the republic (again).
A) Call a general strike against the putschists.
B) Occupy ministries and broadcast resistance.
C) Side with the forces of strength and tradition—order above all.
D) Leave it to play out and in the meantime, keep services alive so the city doesn’t collapse.
Who are you? (majority letter = result)
Mostly A — The Pragmatist (e.g. Franz Ebert - President of the Republic): You’ll bargain, secure elections, and hold the centre when everything’s on fire. You'll find a way through, but it requires making deals with the devil, and making enemies of everyone eventually.
Mostly B — The Firebrand (e.g. Rosa Luxemburg): You push radical democracy and mass action—no half-measures. The people have been oppressed for too long, equality and democracy, in politics and wealth is the goal. Sadly this means everyone with anything to lose - the wealthy, the powerful and the army - hate you!
Mostly C — The Iron Fist (e.g. General von Luttwitz): You prize order and hierarchy above all, even at the republic’s expense. If the army is constrained, build a new one in the shadows and call it something else - like the 'Freikorps'. Prussia has always been a military controlling a state, not the other way around - that's just how it should be!
Mostly D — The Organizer (e.g. Countless nameless Imperial Civil-Servants): You’re the backbone—logistics, ballots, bread, and trams on time, that's what matters. Ideology is for those who can afford it, or those with nothing to lose. Most people just want food, heating, transport, and maybe a drink at the end of the day.
So, who are you?
What was the question you agonized over the most?
Tag a history nerd who’ll argue with you.
Take our 7-question quiz. Let us know what you would have done in the comments:
How to play:
1. Pick A/B/C/D for each question.
2. Tally which letter you chose most often.
3. Comment with your result and share one choice you’re proud/ashamed of.
Question 1:
The Armistice just ended the war. Parliament is rushing to write a new constitution. You say:
A) “Stability first—get a government working now.”
B) “Democracy first—give power to the workers councils.”
C) “Security first—use the army to restore order.”
D) “Keep calm and count the votes—I’ll organize quietly.”
Question 2:
A general strike erupts in Berlin. Your first move?
A) Negotiate a ceasefire and elections.
B) Declare solidarity with the strikers and publish a fiery leaflet.
C) Use volunteer paramilitaries to crush it.
D) Keep the trams and food supply running.
Question 3:
The Treaty of Versailles lands on your desk, without any input from Germany. It's terms are punitive and unfair.
A) Sign to save the state; hope to renegotiate later.
B) Reject it at once—mass action over humiliation.
C) Refuse to sign, and prepare for a showdown.
D) Accept the legal reality; start rebuilding.
Question 4:
Crisis are coming thick and fast and there are plenty in the media making it worse. Do you bring in censorship or allow a free-for-all press?
A) Temporary limits to stop violence, then free press again.
B) Free press, even for dangerous ideas.
C) Silence the agitators, smash the presses
D) Establish fact-checking and public bulletins. Licence newspapers and sanction them for inaccuracies.
Question 5:
Street fighting breaks out near the newspaper district.
A) Broker a truce and call in loyal police.
B) Barricade the street and rally paramilitary supporters.
C) Clear it with force—no hesitation.
D) Evacuate civilians and set up aid posts.
Question 6:
Women vote nationwide for the first time. What’s your stance?
A) Celebrate—democracy needs everyone.
B) Women leaders should spearhead the movement. Men have had their say, and look where it got us!
C) Doesn’t change the power equation, and it it looks like it might, there's still the army.
D) Register voters, run candidates, mind the details. Leave the philosophy to others.
Question 7:
A coup in Berlin attempt tries to topple the republic (again).
A) Call a general strike against the putschists.
B) Occupy ministries and broadcast resistance.
C) Side with the forces of strength and tradition—order above all.
D) Leave it to play out and in the meantime, keep services alive so the city doesn’t collapse.
Who are you? (majority letter = result)
Mostly A — The Pragmatist (e.g. Franz Ebert - President of the Republic): You’ll bargain, secure elections, and hold the centre when everything’s on fire. You'll find a way through, but it requires making deals with the devil, and making enemies of everyone eventually.
Mostly B — The Firebrand (e.g. Rosa Luxemburg): You push radical democracy and mass action—no half-measures. The people have been oppressed for too long, equality and democracy, in politics and wealth is the goal. Sadly this means everyone with anything to lose - the wealthy, the powerful and the army - hate you!
Mostly C — The Iron Fist (e.g. General von Luttwitz): You prize order and hierarchy above all, even at the republic’s expense. If the army is constrained, build a new one in the shadows and call it something else - like the 'Freikorps'. Prussia has always been a military controlling a state, not the other way around - that's just how it should be!
Mostly D — The Organizer (e.g. Countless nameless Imperial Civil-Servants): You’re the backbone—logistics, ballots, bread, and trams on time, that's what matters. Ideology is for those who can afford it, or those with nothing to lose. Most people just want food, heating, transport, and maybe a drink at the end of the day.
So, who are you?
What was the question you agonized over the most?
Tag a history nerd who’ll argue with you.
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