Pre-war Germany 1

Question 1

German empire

Answer 1

• Founded in 1871
• Union of 25 states
  (i) Four Kingdoms (inc. Prussia)
  (ii) Six Grand Dutchies
  (iii) Five Dutchies
  (iv) Seven Principlaities
  (v) Three Grand Cities
• Prussia dominated

Question 2

Prussiafication

Answer 2

• Most powerful German State
• Prussia forced unification of states into Prussia led empire
• Prussia accounted for 2/3 of German population
• Berlin (Prussian captial) became Germany’s capital
• Prussian Kings became German Kaisers
• Prussia’s aristocracy (junkers) became Germany’s most powerful social groups

Question 3

How democratic was pre-war Germany?

Answer 3

DEMOCRATIC 
-All men 25+ had vote
-Secret ballot
-Reichstag could accept/reject budget and bills 
NOT DEMOCRATIC
-Kaiser controlled army
-Kaiser controlled foreign relations 
-Kaiser could appoint ministers without reichstag/dissolve it

Question 4

Economic change

Answer 4

• 1871-1914 Fastest growing economy in Europe
• Up-to-date industry in chemical/electrical engineering
• Scientific capital, Haber process (key to fertiliser industry)
• rapid industrialisation
• 1871-1914 increase of population by 25 000 000,

Question 5

Social change

Answer 5

• Rapid industrialisation lead to growth of the working class
• Poor living conditions. Cheap labour meant back-to-back housing
• 22% of population in towns of more than 100 000 by 1914
• low wages
• accumulates to rise of socialism
• Socialist Worker’s party of Germany formed 1875, SPD by 1890. Had majority of reichstag seats (powerful)

Question 6

Hostility to socialism

Answer 6

• Socialism hated by junkers, industrial tycoons, Protestant leaders (German rulers)
• Socialist hostility to capitalism threatened wealth and status of these groups
• Socialist cooperation with foreign Socialist parties seen as threat to the empire/unpatriotic
• SPD umbrella term for party, trade unions, newspapers, sports clubs (v. influential)
• Kaiser: “To me, every Social Democrat is an enemy of the realm and the fatherland”

Question 7

Religion

Answer 7

• Prussia dominated by Protestants
• Other states i.e. Bavaria were Catholic
• Prussian ruling class suspicious of Catholics due to their obedience to the Pope
• 1870s “Kulturkampf” - cultural struggle Catholics vs Protestants. Catholic influence undermined, Catholic “Centre party” formed in defence
• Catholics were not in ruling class, small number were at university
• Segregated from Middle Class as Middle Class were mostly atheist

Question 8

Middle Class

Answer 8

• Some conflict with Kaiser’s supremacy
• Limited political role/influence
• Most accepted Kaiser’s supremacy
• Diverse class, businessmen, self-employed, intellectuals…