Important Figures

Question 1

Otto Von Bismarck (1815-1898)

Answer 1

• Junker Family
• In 1862 he was appointed by King Wilhelm I of Prussia as Minister-President of the Prussian Diet
• He unified Germany though war and industry
• Spent 20 years as chancellor

Question 2

Kaiser Wilhelm I (1797-1888)

Answer 2

• King of Prussia after his brother death in 1861
• relied on Bismarck and was manipulated by him

Question 3

Rudolf von Bennigsen (1824-1902)

Answer 3

• founder and chairman of the National Liberal Party
• Initially contributed well with Bismarck
• Offered the post of Prussian Minister of the Interior in 1877
• Opposed Bismarck’s policy changes of 1877-78 and the anti-socialist bill
• resigned in 1883

Question 4

Ludwig Windhorst (1812-1891)

Answer 4

• Catholic Leader of the Zentrum Party after 1874.
• Bismarck attacked him frequently during the Kulturkampf
• After 1879 he reconciled with Bismarck and even became friendly towards him.

Question 5

August Bebel (1840-1913)

Answer 5

• German Socialist Politician
• Founded the SDAP in 1869
• SDAP merged with other groups to form the SPD in 1875
• After the anti-socialist laws he become the leading figure in the SPD and was party chairman from 1892-1913

Question 6

Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941)

Answer 6

• Grandson of Wilhelm I
• Loved Prussian Military from his Father
• Liberal ideas from his Mother
• Disliked by Queen Victoria as he bit his own Uncle
• Had a withered left arm which he was sensitive about
• Half-paralyzed and poor hearing
• Forced to ride horses despite his disabilities
• Introverted and Emotionally Disturbed
• Liked to chase elderly people around ships
• Sadistic (crushed people’s hands when shaking them)
• Forced a General to wear a tutu and dance for him, causing him to have a heart attack mid dance and die.
• Probably a repressed homosexual
• Wanted Liberal Reforms and liked the SPD until he suddenly didn’t
• Forced into resignation after WW1
• Died in the Netherlands

Question 7

General Leo Caprivi (1831-1899)