TYPED OUT NOTES - GERMANY/AS Level Flashcards
Prussia + new constitution
Prussia: Controlled 2/3 of territory, contained 3/5 of pop, had its own 3 class system
New constitution:
•Kaiser: Could call/dissolve Reichstag, commanded army directly, controlled foreign policy
•Reichstag: Elections every 3 years, gave consent to all laws
•Bundesrat: 58 reps from 25 state govs, had to approve new laws
Kulterkampf
Catholics were a minority within new German empire - 37% of pop
Reasons for KK: Catholic Church was financially independent, possessed its own school, Zentrum (centre) - became 2nd largest by 1871
KK: (1871) Zentrum portrayed as ‘home’ of Bismarck’s enemies
•Catholic section of religion + education abolished
•May 72’ diplomatic relations with Vatican broken off
May Laws (73’): Catholic education under supervision, existing priests required to retrain and prove loyalty, Prussian catholics deprived of rights
End of KK: Catholic Church thrived, Zentrum won 91 seats in 74’, B favoured closer alliance with Austria
Struggle against Socialism
1875: First Socialist party created
Anti Socialist Law (Oct 78’): Socialist orgs such as TU banned, Socialist meetings banned, Socialist books banned
Results: Hit SPD hard, 15,000 Socialist activists imprisoned, SPD broadened appeal as non-revolutionary party, SPD vote x2 (78-90’)
Bismarck chancellorship summary
One one hand:
•B was successful in meeting the challenges presented after 71’
•Especially those posed by Catholic Church, Socialism and minority groups
On other hand:
•By 1880s found it difficult to maintain the political system he had forged in 1871
•B had intensified divs within Germany, especially against Catholic + Socialists
The chancellors 1890-1900 (Caprivi & Hohenlohe)
Caprivi 1890-94’
•’New course’ for German politics
•An end to Anti-Socialist Law
•More influence over policy making for ministers
•Reduction in tariffs
•Social reforms, including recognition of trade unions, reduced working hours, progressive income tax
•Opposed by wealthy Prussian Landowners
Hohenlohe 1894-1900:
•75 yrs old
•Introduced 1894 Subversion bill + 1899 Anti-Union bill, both were thrown out by R
•Kaiser ignored chancellor over domestic affairs - more interested in Weltpoltik - disagreement over colonial policy led to resignation
The chancellors
Bulow 1900-1909 and Bethmann-Hollweg 1909-1917
Bulow 1900-1909:
•Groomed for office by Wilhelm’s inner circle
•First chancellor Wilhelm really trusted
•He ignored anti Socialist aspect, but still tried to win support by appealing to patriotism
•1902: new tariff laws restored duties on agric products
•Introduced series of social reforms
•1905, relations no longer as good
•Bulow has failed to control Reichstag+ win approval for increased military spending
B-H 1909-1917:
•Conservative In outlook+lack of experience in foreign + military affairs, presided over July crisis which led to war
•Wilhelm pleased to have chancellor who was happy to allow him to take personal control over military affairs
•B-H faced with task of reconciling budget defect with demands for incr military spending
•1912 election, B-H failed to push patriotism and 1/3 votes SPD- no longer a majority
Left wing after 1890
SPD grew a lot due to lapsing on anti-Socialist laws + Caprivi’s ‘new course’
•Failed to exploit telegraph affair and Zaburn
•Gov attempts to combat socialists by portraying them as enemies of the state, helped only to split German society into two opposing extremes
Right wing after 1890
Represented anti-Socialist and anti-democratic
•Supported Kaiser’s policies
•Supported by right wing pressure groups: like Pan German League
•These called for expansionist foreign policy and increased military spending
Economic development 1890-1914
GNP-with industry representing 30-35% by 1914
•Between 90-14’, industrial production x3
Reasons: Huge growth in pop, availability of raw materials, geographical advantages, and highly developed education system
Wealth: By 1913, was one of major trading + exporters in the world, I+E vol had increased x4 (1880-1913)
Social developments: 1890-1914
Elitism and militarism culture:
•Zaburn (1913) showed how military could override civilian authority
•German army was 4m by 1914
•Expenditure reaches £60m in 13-14’
Working people: Real wages incr 25% 1895-1913
•State socialism began in 1880s (Medical insurance, accident, pension)
Caprivi policies: Recognition of TU, changes to employment law, reduces women’s hours, progressive income tax , by 1914-over 15m Germans covered by sickness insurance, 28m against accidents
Political condition by 1914
German Empire in 1871 brought new constitution which was forward looking
•1890-1914, period of fear of socialism
•As industrialisation incr, R-wing lobbied for protective policies
•Scant regard for democratic rule in Daily Telegraph and Zaburn
•1912 election, SPD=largest party, constitution broken down
Political change and breakdown by 1918
It was a result of:
•Increased popular disturbances, strikes for peace
•Calls for reform of German constitution
•Escalated after turnip winter of 16/17’
•Split in Social Democratic Party (April 17’) - breakaway minority formed USPD with commitment to end the war
After Oct revolution of 1918:
- Ebert-Groener Pact, agreed to suppress revolutionary activity in return the gov would maintain authority of army and existing officers
- He agreed armistice on 11th Nov, Allies insisted Germany withdrew from occupied territories and colonies
Attempted coups: From the left wing
JANUARY: Before R elections (Jan 19’), Spartacists attempted a coup
•L and L gave speeches encouraging rebellion + to overthrow SPD gov
•Ebert turned to Noske-who used Friekorps, 10-12th June, 100+ workers dead
MARCH: 1919,Spartacist rising in Berlin
APRIL/MAY 19’: Wave of strikes in Halle and Ruhr valley, demanded workers control over industry - Friekorps killed around 1200 workers
MARCH 20’: General strike in Berlin helped defeat Kapp Putsch-army of 50,000 seized control of Ruhr
Attempted coups from the right wing
FEB: Kapp Putsch: Noske ordered 2 Friekorps units
MARCH: Kapp marches troops to Berlin, and proclaimed himself chancellor
•Ebert ordered army to crush rising, but they refused
•Gov was saved by workers, who called strike & Berlin brought to standstill
RESULTS: Army were not to be trusted+W/our army support the gov was weak
BEER HALL PUTSCH(Munich):By 23’, NSDAP had 55,000 members, H tried to get Lossow&Kahr on side-However they used police to crush the rising
RESULTS: Nazi party banned + H imprisoned
