kaiser_to_fuhrer_1900-18_20230227145112 Flashcards
Von Bulow appointed Chancellor
1900
Herero Uprising
1904| Weltpolitik - Creation of Empire outside Europe
Hottentot Election
1907
Daily Telegraph Affair
1908
Zabern Affair
1913 - Led to vote of no confidence 293:54
Tariff Laws
1902 - High duty on imported agricultural products| Junker support, food more expansive
Army Bill
1913 - Increase Army to 870,000| Weltpolitik - Creation of Empire outside Europe
Sickness Insurance Law
1903
Banning Child Labour
1908
Navy Law
1900 - 38 Battleships over 20 years Flottenpolitik - Creation of a fleet to control coloniesWeltpolitik - Creation of Empire outside Europe
Imperial Insurance Code
1911
Accident Insurance Law
1900
Daily Telegraph Affair
1908 - Von Bulow humiliated Kaiser allowed the interview to be published. Forced resignation, vital to please Kaiser to retain position, regardless of achievements.
Zabern Affair
1913 - Bethmann-Hollwigg mismanaged the Zabern affair,, initiating a vote of no confidence. 293:54, dismissed by Kaiser and allowed to continue.
Rohl Belief’s
That the Kaiser had all the power, everyone who served under him army, chancellors and ambassadors were appointed by him and reliant on his favour.
Policy of Weltpolitik
World Policy - Supreme Army Commander, pass laws which helped him achieve his foreign policy. Foreign policy based on his own beliefs, significantly affected the budget
Army Law
1912 - Saw the increase of the army to 870,000 people, Flottenpolitik.
Navy Law
1900 - Saw the increase of the amount of battleships to 38 over the next 20 years, Flottenpolitik.
Conclusion
The period wasn’t a parliamentary democracy, but of an autocratic monarchy, where policy was based on Kaiser’s beliefs and his influence on elected institutions (Hollwigg).
Powers
- Appoint/dismiss Chancellor- Full power of Foreign policy- Always King of Prussia (favouritism)- Military Oath to Kaiser not people
Sammsungpolitik
Unite the political parties to support Weltpolitik.
Quote Ineffective Democracy
Karl Liebknecht - ‘A fig leaf for absolutism’ portraying how ineffective democracy was and that it was more the personal rule of the Kaiser.
Prussia quote
Chris Clark - ‘Nothing but a vehicle for Prussian domination’
Prussia and the Kaiser
Proposals made in favour of Prussia. Prussian military dwarfed south foreign policy decided by Prussian foreign policy. Complete control of Bundesrat making/changing policy, 17 votes 14 needed .
Parliamentary Democracy
The fact that it exists, conforms to democracy as it is elected and represents the people.
Minimum age of voting
Every man over the age of 25, regardless of any property qualification.
Accident Insurance Law
1900
Sickness Law
1903
Prohibition of Child Labour
1903
Conclusion
The Reichstag was a democratically elected institution which clearly represented the people with the social acts that they passed.
Vetoing
Prussia was given 17 votes, although you only needed 14 to veto a policy.
Herero Uprising
1906 - Von Bulow became unpopular with the centre party unable to pass laws. Leading to the Hottentot Election
Hottentot Election
1907 - Von Bulow was able to dissolve parliament and call for a reelection.
Seats gained/lost
SPD - Lost 38 to 43 overall| Centre Party - Gained 5 to 105 overall
Hottentot Conclusion
Able to alter the composition of the Reichstag to be able to implement his policies.
Elites
Junkers, Industrialists, Army and Bureaucrats
Wehler
Believed thats the elites controlled Germany and used the Kaiser as frontman for them with their vested interests.
Interests
Extremely anti-socialist and anti-democratic wanting to protect their position.
Examples
Expansionary foreign policy, Herero. Army and Navy Laws.
Conclusion
The elites could influence their interests with the Kaiser, to protect themselves. Expansion distracted people fromt he real injustices.
Wanted
They wanted to create a more democratic society, where people had more power.
Mansfeld Strike
1909 - Firm anti-socialist 5 week strike with no outcome showed no voice/influence.
Elections
1912 - 110 deputies largest party
Socialist Laws
Imperial Insurance Code - 1911Banning Child Labour - 1908Sickness Insurance Law - 1903Power of socialism increasingly prominent
Tariff Law
1902 - Rise in SPD support 56 seats in Reichstag to 81
Burgfreide
Political truce at start, unanimously pass laws for necessary loans to finance war. Kept peaceful SD’s happy, as WW1 was perceived as a defensive until 1916. Patriotic support.
Kaiser
Exerted no military/political control. Reduction in control, as Hindenberg and Lundendorff appointed head of Army with massive popularity from East victory, undermining authority.
Bethmann
Bethmann relied on Kaiser support led to reduction in power or chancellor and Reichstag, unable to resist military interference.
Silent Dictatorship
With threat of resignation they wielded huge power over economic, military and political affairs, where power lay for the last 2 years
Siegfreide
A victory peace, where Germany could use their war victory to claim a world power status. Split the Reichstag, as SPD believed it was a defensive war why need to expand.
Impact of Silent Dictatorship (SD)
War aims became apparent, conflicting opinions in the Reichstag, political parties less supportive of the policies. Conflicting interests Reich/Bethmann and Generals.
SPD
The policy of Siegfreide split the party and created the USPD and the voting of war credits, showing the growing polarisation.
Erzberger
Able to pass a peace resolution by 212-126 1917, he formed a majority in the Reichstag on a particular issue. Significant political unity in the silent dictatorship
Overall
Inability to produce a quick victory caused doubts over true war aims ↓ political unity. The Burgfreide united. SD conflicting interests no power from people, ↓ any unity Reich not required for rule.
Total Food shortage deaths
700,000 by end of war
Short Term consequence
World War One
Long Term consequence
Social and Economic discontent
Generals
Defeat certain, Germany not defeated under General’s rule, new government signed armistice. Create the Stab in the back myth, push blame protect themselves.
Result of WW1
Army Generals moved power from Kaiser to Reichstag before end, revolutionise political system protecting Army/reputations, greater negotiating power during armistice talks, conceding political revolution.
Social/Economic Discontent
War financed by printing money/borrowing-inflation, coal/harvests used for army, starved/cold.