Control/ authority of Wilhelm II 1888-1918

Question 1

Order and Names of the Chancellor’s under Wilhelm II

Answer 1

1890 - Caprivi
1894 - Hohenlohe
1900 - Bülow
1909 - Bethmann-Hollweg

Question 2

The Chancellor’s successes and failures in the view of the Kaiser

Answer 2

CAPRIVI
Successes of Kaisers policys:
• Under Caprivi, the Reichstag increased the size of the army by 84,00
• Reduced military service requirements from 3 to 2 years and allowed more debate about military spending

Failures:
inclusion of sone socialist policies won more votes for socialists

BULOW
Successes:
• Kaiser reached “personal rule” with Bulow, commanding foreign policy and legislature
• economic tariffs helped generate revenue for naval spending

Failures:
•Socialists took credit for socialist style reforms like health insurance passed by Bulow’s government

HOHENLOHE
Successes:
• Kaiser appointed chancellors like him and Bulow so he could control then

Failures:
•Reichstag rejected his bill that would allow strikers to be arrested
• Reichstag defeated his anti-union bill

Question 3

What were the 4 scandals that Wilhelm II was connected with?

Answer 3

1892 Kotze Affair - ‘special party’ which led to duells, Kotze murdered someone and Kaiser let him off

1908 Daily Telegraph - Kaiser said some controversial things and had bad rep in Germany after this

1908 Eulenburg Affair - Kaiser’s inner circle accused for homosexuality

1913 Zabern Affair - Kaiser support of excessive military action in Zabern against citizens

Question 4

Agree VS Disagree of Wilhelm II successfully maintaining his authority

Answer 4

AGREE
• stayed Kaiser
• could appoint + dismiss Chancellor and Reichstag (constitutional authority remained)
• commander in chief of military

DISAGREE
• scandals
• SPD gained a lot of support
• Defeat Hohenlohe’s anti-Socialist bills
• Reichstag started to challenge Kaiser more
- vote of no confidence for B-H
• loss of military influence