Bulow and Bethmann Hollweg

Question 1

What were Bulow’s main achievements as Chancellor?

Answer 1

Successful middle path over issues of tariffs- 1902 law: restoring tariffs to pre 1892 levels, huge majority backing by Reichstag
1907 election, short term weakens SPD-> then built Bulow Bloc
Chancellor for most of 10 years

- Closely associated with German colonial expansion and seemed to share the Kaiser’s enthusiasm for a ‘world role’
- adopted a successful middle path over the issue of tariffs
- The 1902 law, which restored tariffs to the pre-1892 level, was backed by a huge majority in the Reichstag.
- Hottentot election was successful, at least in the short term, in bringing the Centre party and SPD to heel
- Not only had the Socialist representation in the Reichstag been reduced from 81 seats to 43
- Bulow had created a ‘bloc’ of support in the chamber consisting of Radicals, Conservatives and National Liberals.
-  mildly liberal measures, such as the payment of Reichstag deputies,  kept the bloc together for two years

Question 2

What were Bulow’s main failures as Chancellor?

Answer 2

Took blame for Daily telegraph issue, was Kaisers fault
Proposed inheritance tax, lost lots of support as many members were Conservative
Indulges the Kaiser too much

- resignation in June 1909, due to defeat in the Reichstag of his project for a tax on inherited wealth + loss of the monarch’s confidence.
- allowing the publication of an interview given by Wilhelm to the British newspaper ‘The Daily Telegraph’

Question 3

What were Bethmann Hollweg’s main achievements at Chancellor?

Answer 3

Able administrator
Tried to improve relations with Alsace Lorraine, giving them a constitution

- 1911 the Imperial Insurance Code was introduced which consolidated all previous workers’ insurance laws and amended and extended their provisions.
-  he introduced a constitution for Alsace-Lorraine in a bid to normalise relations with the province and to integrate it more with the rest of Germany.
- process of seizing estates in the east that belonged to Poles, with the purpose of redistributing land to the German peasantry
- July 1913, the Reichstag was persuaded to agree to a large increase in the size of the army but there was much argument over the raising of an additional 435mReichsmarks-> solution of ‘defence tax’

Question 4

What were Bethmann Hollweg’s main failures as Chancellor?

Answer 4

Lacked any real power- no Bulow bloc, had to rely on imperial decrees
Difficulty with SPD being largest party in Reichstag
Lack of experience in military and foreign affairs

-  he lacked knowledge and experience of foreign and military affairs.
- 1910 he proposed a moderate reform bill aimed at strengthening the position of the middle class in the electoral system. However, his plans had to be dropped due to Conservative opposition 
-  SPD becoming the largest party in the Reichstag. In reality, the election created a virtual deadlock for Bethmann’s government.
- problems he faced over imperial finance and in particular the growing demands for military expansion.
- support of the SPD and some Liberals, a move to increase inheritance tax was defeated->  national debt continued to grow.
-  December 1913 Bethmann had to defend Wilhelm’s behaviour over the Zabern Affair, in which it seemed as though Wilhelm was prepared to allow the military to do as they pleased with no respect for the rule of law.
- defeat in a Reichstag vote of no confidence