1900-1918 Flashcards
When was the miners strike
Jan 1900
When was the army bill
1913
When was the tariff reform
1902
When was the medical insurance act
1914
How did population change between 1800 and 1914
50 million to 67 million
What were the issues with cartels in the German economy
Cartels generate addition societal hosts through increased market share for inefficient producers
What was German steel output in 1914
17.6 million tons
What were the key points of weltpolitik
To build the Germany of the Kaisers vision
Win colonies
Have German power respected abroad
Increase size of navy
Why did Weltpolitik cause issues
Concerns from socialists in the Reichstag about who was paying for weltpolitik
How did the Eulenberg affair show the kaiserreich was only semi- absolutist
Eulenbergs dismissal showed that the Kaiser was beholden to others
What was the Daily Telegraph affair
Kaisers interview with the Daily Telegraph suggested that he wanted closer alliance with England
Bulow allowed interview to be published
What were the affects of the Daily Telegraph affair
Reichstag complained as not notified before the announcement
Kaiser felt betrayed by Bulow
Led to Bulow resignation following year
When was the daily telegraph affair
1908
What was the result of the 1912 Reichstag election
SPD became largest party with 110 deputies
Why did the SPD majority struggle to pass legislation
Only the progressive liberals would work with them
Why did the SPD support the army bill
Didn’t want to repeat mistakes after Herero uprising
Being unpatriotic cost them votes before
Thought it might give a precedent for more progressive taxation
What was the impact of the army bill
Reich debt reached 5 billion marks by 1914
Helped lead to financial crisis post WWI
What was the Zabern affair
A German officer insulted the local Alsatians leading to a crowd gathering outside the army barracks
Crowd were imprisoned by soldiers, leading to protests
Kaiser didn’t intervene as he considered it a military affair
Impact of the Zabern affair
Vote of no confidence in the Chancellor but Bethmann remained as only Kaiser could dismiss chancellor
Shows kaisers blind loyalty to the ant
Chancellor could ignore Reichstag if he held support of Kaiser
Reichstag was impotent in direct conflict
When was the Zabern affair
November 1913
What was burgfreide
Political truce between all the major parties
When did bread rationing begin
January 1915
What was ersatz
Alternative foods
Give two examples of ersatz food
Coffee from tree bark
Turnips rather than potatoes
Give an example of the destabilisation in Germany
Growth in black market due to food shortages
1/5 to 1/3rd of food could be obtained through illegal channels
What was the winter of 1916-17 known as
Turnip winter
How many children died or hunger in 1916
80,000
How did the youth crime rate change in Germany during WWI
Doubled
Female mortality rate in 1917
30%
What affected the production of German industry
Raw material shortages
How much of the industrial workforce was female at the end of WW1
1/3
How did working conditions change during the war
Working hours increased
People fighting on the front lines led to a decrease in working population
When was the Auxillary Service law
December 1916
What did the Auxiliary Service law do
Made it law for German males 17-60 to work for the war effort if required
Why was the auxiliary service law implemented
To deal with industrial labour shortages
Less effective as there were not that many men not already in employment of army
What concessions were given to trade unions during WW1
Right to collective bargaining
Union official allowed to sit on factory boards
When was the Imperial Grain Corporation founded
January 1915
How did Germany regulate food shortages
Over 40 different bodies set up by the Bundestag to administer the rationing and distribution of food
Why did Germanys method of food control fall short
These corporations competed with federal, state and regional governments to administer food
When was the War Nutrition office founded
1916
What prior failures led to the war nutrition office
To counter the grain crisis, 9 million pigs slaughtered as they consumed grain and feed
Led to pork and fertiliser shortage
How did Germany finance the war
Printed more money
Encouraged people to buy War bonds- seen as secure and money would be returned when Germany won the wat
Why did Germany not raise taxes to fund the war
Putting the financial burden of the war on the rich was seen as politically risky
When did the British naval blockade of Germany start
February 1915
How did the British blockade affect Germany
Severely limited ability to import raw materials and food
How did the Germany economy change over the war years
Shrunk by 1/3rd
What happened to German industrial production over the war
Dropped to 40% of pre war levels
What was the affect of burgfriede
Laws for necessary loans passed unanimously
Lulled German people into false sense of security
Why did the SPD support burgfriede
Thought it would give them political recognition
Thought it would increase long term odds of German democracy
When did burgfriede start to falter
After the deaths at Verdun and Somme in 1916
What was the Reichstag Peace Resoltion
Centre party deputy calls for negotiated peace without territorial gain
Reichstag passed resolution
What was the impact of the Reichstag Peace Resolution
Illustrated increasing polarisation between groups which supported peace without victory and those in favour of siegfriede
Led to resignation of Bethamnn-Hollweg
What shortages hit Germany in the war
Food, fuel and clothing
How many children died of hypothermia in 1916
121, 000
Mortality between 1 and 5 during the war
Increased by 50%
How much trade was done on the black market in WW1 Germany
35% of all trade
How many died in WW1
1.8 million
Why did total war fail in WW1
Lack of increase in munitions production
Lack of support from key interest groups
Difficulty in mobilising civilians
Large peacetime debt prevented extent total war could occur
How did landowners do during WW1
Property rights left mainly untouched
Why did the German war economy collapse
Struggles in the home front
Reduced workforce led to reduced industrial productivity and reduced agriculture
British blockade led to food shortages
How did real wages change during WW1
Fell 20-30%
How did industry fair during WW1
Industry made vast profits, and began to be resented by ordinary Germans
How did the value of the mark change between 1913 and 1918
Dropped 75%
What was the cost of war to Germany
$38 billion
When did Wilhelm resign
November 1918
What was the stab in the back myth
The belief from some soldiers that Germany did not lose the war, but was betrayed by the countries elites
What was the Kiel mutiny
Where the German navy were given suicidal orders to attack the British navy, but refused to attack
Resulted in a naval mutiny and the end of the war
Spread to towns and military bases
When was the Kiel mutiny
October 1918
Who announced the Kaisers abdication
Prince Max
Why did Wilhelm resign
Dwindling support on the streets and in his inner circle
Met with Groener and von Hindenburg who told him army could no longer offer support
Who was appointed chancellor in November 1918
Ebert
Why was Ebert appointed
He was leader of the SPD, Germanys largest political party
Member of Badens cabinet
Appointment of moderate SPD figure was intended to keep all parties happy
What was the two republics
Philip Scheidemann called for a new workers German republic
What systems did the Kiel mutiny create
Led to the formation of workers and soldiers councils
