1 the problem with wilhelms ii germany problems with democratic development influence of the kaiser...
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The problem with Wilhelms II Germany
• Problems with democratic development
• Influence of the Kaiser
• Economic growth
• Aggressive foreign policy
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The Kaiser
• “Wilhelm probably had greater control over the course of events than any other ruler in Europe.”
• The person of the Kaiser has been much debated – clever but emotional– not a deep thinker– Junker and an supporter of the army
• The army and the nobility (Junkers) dominated politics in Wilhelmine Germany– The army half a million
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Political parties
• Conservatives - Junkers - favoured protectionistic politics
• Liberals turning towards the right
• The catholic Center party - balancing left and right
• The social democratic party of the workers– Became the largest party - opposed to
reformism in theory but not in practice
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Dropping of the pilot
• Wilhelm dismissed Bismarck because of disagreement over two issues
– Wilhelm did not want to renew the reinsurance treaty with Russia
– And he did not want to renew the anti-socialist legislation of Bismarck
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Wilhelmine labor politics
• The problem of the rising worker population the main internal problem
• Wilhelm preferred a more paternalistic view towards the workers than Bismarck
• sundays rest-days • laws against child labour• Commercial treaties reducing tariffs on food
– This policy did little to reduce support of workers to the social democrats
– The Junkers formed the agrarian league to fight for protectionism
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5.2. Economic expansion
• Underlying factors: – Rapid population growth 50-65 million people
1890-1910– Steady growth in heavy industry (surpassing
Britain– Railway expansion 41009 km to 60000 km
1890 to 1910– Merchant fleet growing even faster
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Economic expansion
• Government and banks supportive of new industries– Germans progressive in electrical and chemical
industries.• Fertilisers and sugar beets
• Half of world electrotechnical trade in German hands 1913 – AEG Siemens
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Effect of economic boom
• Effect on working conditions– Better wages– Slum clearance programs– increased demands of workers– the workers party SPD had limited say in
politics even if it was the largest party 1914
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5.3 Caprivi chancellor
• Caprivi rejected the Bismarckian idea of enemies of the state:– Anti-socialist laws allowed to lapse– Better working conditions– Less restrictions agains minorities– Some limits on Prussias independence– Agricultural tariffs reduced
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Caprivis fall
• Caprivi ran into trouble with liberals and junkers –
• Wilhelm disappointed with the socialism of workers.
• Even if Caprivi did not renew the reinsurance treaty he had no “welt” interest
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5.4 Wilhelms chancellors
• Hohenlohe 1894-1900– A lull before the storm
• Von Bulow1900-1909– More aggressive in foreign adventures– Daily Telegraph affair
• –Bulow sacked • Wilhelm discredited
• Bethmann-Hollweg 1909-1917– Ignorant of foreign affairs– Not the best choice for july 1914
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The Reichstag
• Could never put pressure on government
• Why was it so weak– Chancellor not responsible to reichstag– Uneven constituencies– Parties unable to form coalition
• Bismarck split them
• Not used to practical politics
• Social democrats – marxist rhetoric
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The predominance of the army
• The army is growing as the most powerful instituion of government– Weak Chancellors
– Unreliable monarch
– Divided reichstag
– Germans couldn’t forget the glories of Sedan and Sadowa
• Zabern affair - the army is predominant in society• Schlieffen plan military thinking
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Fritz Fischers view
• “German foreign policy after 1897 must be understood as a response to the internal threat of Socialism and democracy”.
• Samlungspolitik:– New tariffs on grain and the naval buildup program and
an ambitious foreign policy were attempts to capture public support by government in serious difficulties.
– A new union of rye and steel– The growth of the Social democratic party was
alarming – election victory 1912
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Foreign policy before Wilhelm II
• Bismarks policy: – Isolation of France, – keeping good relations with Russia
• Reinsurance treaty
• The new leaders thought this treaty incompatible with promises to Austria
• The dismissal of Bismarck ended russo-german relations.
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Russian and British reaction
• 1891-1894 The Franco-Russian alliance formed.– Now the Germans possibly face war on two fronts and
in 1891 the Schlieffen plan is drawn in response.
• Britain was the only power outside alliances to 1904
• Germans wanted to frighten the British into alliance.
• Naval building was supposed to do this but had opposite effect
– From 1904 Austria and Germany are isolated.
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Weltpolitik
• Personal ambiton of the kaiser• Appointed the hawks to office
– Tirpitz navalministry, Bulow foreign office
• Growing industry and economy needs outlet• Unification only the first step to world power• Weltpolitik united the people behind agressive
state nationalism – Used to distract the workers and the middle classes
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Weltpolitik
• Great states want influence– Had colonial ambitions - esp. after 1890– But what they got was before 1890
• except two Samoan islands
– Kruger telegram– Influnce in China
• Berlin-Baghdad railway through Ottoman empire– supposed to open economic oppertunities– but Germans had to share it with Britain and France– limited economic and political advantage
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Wilhelm and navy expansion
• The isolation from Russia called for the Schlieffen plan which called for increase in the army.
• Bulow and Tirpitz started the naval expansion by the naval laws (1897)– Tirpitz convinced the reichstag and the public
of the necessity of this if Germany wanted to be a world power.
– Naval arms race with Britain
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Morocco
• Colonial policy: want a sphere of influence, trading rights etc.
• European policy: want to frustrate and tackle the French in a save area.
• The all over gain was limited, Germany gave Morocco up and got instead small regions in Africa and a reassurance of France and British entente.
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European foreign policy
• Navy, colonies, middle east affair all alianate the british.
• 1905 a rather desperate attempt by Tsar Nicholas and Wilhelm to reach agreement– Bjork treaty not ratified
• With only the friendship of Austria and halfhearted Italy, Germans start to complain about encirclement
• whatever comes from Vienna is my command (Wilhelm in 1912)
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Historical debate
• Wilhelmine Germany 1890-1914– What was the mainstream of historical thinking about
Wilhelmine Germany before Fischer.
– Why did Fritz Fischers claim that Germany was primarly responsible for the outbreak of the war call for a new evaluation of Wilhelmine society and politics.
– If you look at Wehlers portrayal of Wilhelmine politics, are they different from Bismarcks politics?
– What are the main points of criticism aimed at Wehlers ideas by recent historians.
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The political situation
• Germany is hardly a democracy• The democraticly elected reichstag has
legislative powers, limited control over budget and no say in appointment of ministers
• The ministers are responsible to the kaiser, he appoints the and dismisses them
• The kaiser had also the power to dissolve the reichstag