Studied by 12 peopleTags & Description
When was the unification of Germany and what did it follow?
1871 after victory against France in 1870
Who was the Chancellor in the 1870s and 80s?
Otto von Bismarck
Bismarck's attitude towards ethnic minorities?
He attempted to assimilate ethnic minority groups within the new empire, such as the Poles
When did Kaiser Wilhelm II become Kaiser?
1888 at the age of 31
What had Kaiser Wilhelm II seen the European powers do?
Seize colonies in Africa (Scramble for Africa)
What did Germans think of the Kaiser's Weltpolitik?
Many Germans agreed with him
By 1914, which party gained power and why?
The left-wing Social Democrat Party because it appealed to Germany's growing number of industrial workers
What did the middle class think of the government by 1914?
They were happy with the right-wing government because they were afraid of the growing political strength of industrial workers
1880 to 1914 steel production comparison
1880- half the amount of steel as Britain 1914- twice the amount as Britain
By 1914, what was Germany producing 1/3 of?
The World's electrical goods
Population of Germany 1871 to 1914
40 million to 68 million
How were food imports affected by 1914?
Only 1/3 of the labour force worked in agriculture so food imports rose quickly reaching about 1/5 of Germany's needs by 1914
Who accepted the authoritarian nature of German rule? (Pre-WW1)
Both right-wing and central political parties because of the developing wealth and power the middle class gained
How did governments try to pacify socialist demands pre-WW1?
Social reforms such as the introduction of old age pensions in 1889 (20 years before Britain) and sickness and accident insurance schemes which covered nearly 14 million Germans by 1911
How many seats did the SPD gain in 1912?
Nearly 1/3
Importance of Prussia
2/3 of population Over 1/2 of the territory
How did the military influence foreign policy under the Kaiser?
The influence of military chiefs often determined the policies, which were concerned with expansion
Who argues that Germany needed large battleships?
Admiral von Tripitz who became State Secretary of the Navy in 1897
How many ships did the Navy have in 1896?
6
What was the First Navy Law?
Passed in 1898, the law allowed for the addition of 7 battleships (Germany already had 12). Didn't match British or French but marked turning point in German foreign policy
What was the Second Navy Law?
1900 (during the Boer War). Doubled the size of the fleet to 38 battleships
What was the main objective of the German Navy?
To compete against the British
What did the Germans respond to in 1906 and how?
The Royal Navy launch of the Dreadnought in May with a 3rd Navy Law, adding 6 cruiser-type ships to the building programme
How many Navy Laws were passed in total before WW1?
5
Number of German Dreadnoughts from 1907 to 1914
0-19
What developed in 1902?
The Anglo-German naval arms race
What was the effect of WW1 on Germany? (6 points)
Opposition to the Kaiser developed
Anarchy
500 women protested against war in 1915 and in 1916 10000 workers turned against the Kaiser
Produced less food (1/2 of milk and 3/5 of butter and meat)
Spanish influenza spread
Made Germans feel angry
25th October 1918
Sailors mutinied at Kiel
26th October- 5th November 1918
Strikes and demonstrations across Germany
6th November 1918
Soldiers and workers took control of cities like Munich and Hamburg
7th November 1918
Social Democrats led by Ebert demanded the abdication of the Kaiser
9th November 1918
General Strike in Berlin. Kaiser abdicates. Ebert takes over as Chancellor
Who were the Spartacists?
A group of radical socialists who wanted a revolution like the Russians.
Who led the Spartacists?
Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebnecht
5th January 1919
Spartacist Uprising
Why did the Spartacist Uprising fail?
It was poorly organised, lacked support of other left-wing groups, the government had 2000 Freikorps, Spartacist leaders were killed so lacked leadership
15th January 1919
End of the Spartacist Uprising
How did the Weimar government come out of the Spartacist uprising?
A success was that they had managed to stop the first major uprising under their power. However, they had given too much power to the right-wing Freikorps
Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles
War Guilt Clause -- placed complete blame for the war on Germany
£6.6 billion
Reparations payment
10% of Germany's industry and 15% of agricultural land taken
Treaty of Versailles
Who got Germany's colonies?
The League of Nations gave them to Britain and France to run
How was the German military restricted by the Treaty of Versailles?
No air force 100,000 men 6 battleships No submarines Rhineland occupied the Rhineland for 15 years and no German troops allowed in this area
Other than colonies, what land did Germany lose in the Treaty of Versailles?
Alsace-Lorraine (France) West Prussia and Polen- Polish Corridor (to Poland) Saarland (LoN)
Article 48 of Weimar constitution
Used in the state of emergency to push through legislation (dictatorial)
13th March 1920
Kapp Putsch
Who was the leader of the Kapp Putsch?
Wolfgang Kapp led the Freikorps with General Luddwitz and Ludendorff
Where did the government flee to during the Kapp Putsch?
Dresden
How did the Weimar Government respond to the Kapp Putsch?
They called a general strike which left the city with no transport, water or power.
What did the Kapp Putsch Show the government?
The Freikorps couldn't be relied on and that not everyone supported the Weimar government
January 1923
Invasion of the Ruhr
What did the French and Belgian troops do to the workers in the Ruhr?
Killed 100 150,000 thrown out of their homes
How did the Germans respond to the Invasion of the Ruhr?
Passive resistance, supported by the government, meant that the workers refused to work. However, this made Germany poorer as they produced nothing from the Ruhr
Impact of the Invasion of the Ruhr?
Hyperinflation
Causes of hyperinflation
More banknotes were printed to cover reparations and cost of wages from passive resistance
Effects of hyperinflation
Money lost all value Many small businesses collapsed Savings and pensions became worthless Debts were easily payed off
8th-9th November 1923
Munich Putsch
What was the cause of the Munich Putsch?
Nazis were angry at Stresemann for calling off the passive resistance thinking it meant giving in to the French
What was the Munich Putsch?
Hitler and 600 SA burst into a speech by von Kahr, the leader of Bavaria, and forced him to support them
How was the Munich Putsch stopped?
Army found out what was happening and they had allowed von Kahr to leave
How were Ludendorff and Hitler punished after the Munich Putsch?
Ludendorff was freed and Hitler given a lenient sentence because the judges were chosen by a Nazi sympathiser
August- November 1923
Gustav Stresemann made Chancellor
August 1923
Stresemann called off passive resistance
Effect of end of passive resistance
Economy began to recover and armies withdrew in 1925
October 1923
Government destroys old currency
January 1924
Introduction of temporary new currency 'Rentenmark' and later introduces a new currency 'Reichsmark'
1924 Economic Plan
Dawes Plan- US gave 800 million to Germany and longer to pay back reparations
What did Gillette and Ford do to help Germany?
They invested in Germany which led to more jobs being available
1929 Economic Plan
Young plan- Reduced the amount of reparations by 60% from 132 to 37 million
What was industrial production like in 1929?
It was higher than it had been before the war
1926
Germany join the League of Nations
How did Stresemann improve the situation in Germany?
More jobs and wages More stable government Decline in support for extremist parties
Nazi sears in 1928
12 seats- 2% of vote
1925
Hindenburg elected as President (opponent of Republic)
October 1929
Stresemann dies meaning they lost an influential leader
29th October 1929
Wall Street Crash
How long did Germany have to pay back the Americans?
90 days
Industrial production 1929-1932
40% of 1929
1931- German economy
Number of German and Austrian banks go out of business
Unemployment levels Oct 1929- Feb 1932
1.6 million- 6.12 million 1/3 of the workforce was unemployed
Unemployment of 16-30 year olds 1933
1/2
How did Heinrich Brüning (Chancellor) try to deal with the Great Depression?
Government spending was cut to control inflation and keep exports competitive. Increased taxes, reduced salaries and reduced unemployment assistance
What did Brüning rely on for control?
Article 48 and the emergency powers of the president
Parliament in 1932
Was largely ignored and people thought this was undemocratic
Communist and Nazi seats in 1930
77 Communist 107 Nazi
How long was Hitler in prison for?
9 months of a 5 year sentence
When was the ban on the NSDAP lifted?
Two weeks after Hitler's release
27th February 1925
Nazi party relaunched
Who did the Nazis appeal to?
Middle classes and farmers
Membership of NSDAP 1925-1929
50,000-150,000
June 1932
Von Papen becomes Chancellor of Germany
Nazi seats in July 1932
230 seats- 37%- becoming the biggest party
Communist seats 1932
89 seats
17th November 1932
Von Papen resigns and replaced by von Schleicher
28th January 1933
Von Schleicher resigns
30th January 1933
Hitler becomes Chancellor
27th February 1933
Reichstag Fire
1st March 1933
Hindenburg passes Protection Law which enables Hitler to shut down the communists
Nazi seats in 1933, March
288, 43%
23rd March 1933
Enabling Act passed
Note
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