January 12 Flashcards
(6 cards)
Explain why Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm II were unable to work together by 1890. (12 marks)
Students might include some of the following factors:
• disagreements over who should rule, Kaiser or Chancellor, intensified by the Kaiser’s desire for personal rule
• disagreements over policy towards socialism which were brought to a head by the Rühr miners’ strike of 1889
• Bismarck’s increasingly weak political position in the Reichstag following the collapse of the 1887 Kartell in the 1890 elections where it lost 85 seats
• Bismarck’s position as Chancellor being entirely dependent upon the Kaiser
• disagreements over foreign policy. Wilhelm and the General Staff accused Bismarck of not informing them in time of Russian troop manoeuvres in the Balkans. Bismarck’s resignation letter maintained that the Kaiser’s anti-Russian policy was one that he could
not approve.
To reach higher levels, students will need to show the inter-relationship of the reasons given, for example they might conclude that ultimately Bismarck and Wilhelm could not work together because of Wilhelm’s ambition and desire for ‘personal rule’.
How successful was Bismarck in developing the unity of the German Reich in the years
1871 to 1879? (24 marks)
Factors suggesting that Bismarck was successful in developing the unity of the Reich might include:
• persecution of the Catholics, whose religious ties to Rome and shared religion with Austria made them a threat to the unity of the Reich. It can be argued that the Falk Laws of 1873 enabled the German State to maintain a closer control of the Catholic Church. 1000 priests were suspended from their posts and by 1876 all but 2 of Prussia’s twelve bishops were in exile or under arrest
• by persecuting the Catholic opposition Bismarck was able to strengthen his alliance with the Liberals, who opposed that Centre Party because of its lack of enthusiasm for national unity
• the Kulturkampf helped to transform the Centre Party largely into a religious, rather than political party, which supported Bismarck on some important measures such as protectionism
• when the Kulturkampf ended Bismarck managed to maintain some state control over the Catholic Church
• Bismarck’s persecution of the socialists through the 1878 anti-socialist law crippled the SPD by banning any group or meeting aimed at spreading socialist principles, outlawing trade unions and closing down 45 newspapers
• Bismarck followed a policy of Germanization in order to control the national minorities living within the German Reich
• creation of a national bank, unified legal procedures (1877), German Appeal Court (1879).
Factors suggesting that Bismarck was not successful in developing the unity of the Reich might include:
• ultimately the Kulturkampf was a failure as it strengthened, rather than weakened Catholicism in Germany. Catholics rallied to the Centre Party. Its vote doubled in 1874 and post 1879 it became a major force in the Reichstag
• the anti-socialist law of 1878 meant that the SPD developed social and cultural activities which bound members together. Persecution by the state helped a ‘fortress mentality’ of the German working class to develop. Post 1879 SPD membership expanded rapidly
• codification of German Civil Law was not introduced until 1900
• the Germanization policy did not work, e.g. the people of Alsace continued to vote for
deputies in favour of separation from the Reich
• the break with the German Liberals in 1878/79 meant that Bismarck’s closest allies in
favour of unification had been seriously alienated.
Good answers are likely to/may show an awareness that Bismarck’s attempts to unify the German population though the use of reichsfeind opponents satisfied his short term political objectives to control the Reichstag, but in the longer term consolidated opposition to conservatism in the Reichstag. Under Bismarck Germany did become more united, strong and powerful through the reichsfeind imagery; however it can be argued that the sense of freedom and democracy was weakened.
Explain why the German economy expanded so rapidly in the years c1890 to 1914. (12 marks)
Students may refer to some of the following long-term factors:
• the economy took full advantage of its Bismarckian foundations of economic protectionism and exploitation of abundant raw materials which enabled the iron and steel industry to continue to prosper beyond the 1890s.
and some of the following short-term/immediate factors:
• the steady growth in the railway system from almost 42000 km in 1890 to almost 60000 km by 1910 allowed for the rapid transportation of coal which was required to provide energy for industry.
• in 1890 the population stood at almost 50 million, in the next two decades the population rose to 65 million. The rapid growth in population provided industry with a greater workforce and more consumers who had larger incomes to spend on consumer products
• the development of the German merchant navy was spectacular in this period and stimulated the growth of the economy in a number of ways. Firstly, raw materials were needed to build the fleet. Secondly, the building of the ships provided vital work for the shipbuilding yards based in ports like Hamburg. Thirdly, it provided employment for men as sailors. Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, the merchant navy exported German manufactured goods and imported raw material from the rest of the world- thus fuelling economic growth
• new ventures such as chemical and electrical industries were invested in by banks, further stimulating economic growth. The chemical industry produced 75% of the world output of chemical dyes by 1914. Agriculture was stimulated by the production of chemical fertilisers. By 1913 half of the world’s electro-technical trade was in Germany
• the German education system, especially technical schools, provided a skilled workforce for the new and traditional industries.
How far was the growth of socialism a threat to political stability in Germany in the years
1878 to 1914? (24 marks)
Factors suggesting that the growth of socialism was a threat to the political stability of Germany in the period 1878 to 1914:
• the anti-socialist law of 1878 did not ban the SPD. The SPD grew in the Reichstag from 12 seats in 1877, to 24 seats in 1884, to 35 seats in 1890
• the anti-socialist law in reality strengthened the socialist cause as a ‘fortress mentality’ of the German working class developed
• the issue of socialism in Germany was ultimately the downfall of Chancellors Bismarck and Caprivi
• the political scene was becoming increasingly polarised as the SPD’s vote increased in the Reichstag. By 1912 the SPD was the largest party in the Reichstag with 110 seats. The SPD resisted indirect taxes and caused problems for Bulow in 1909 and Bethmann- Hollweg in 1913
• the party appealed to the rapidly growing urban working classes who often lived in abject poverty and were increasingly frustrated by the lack of social mobility
• at the Erfurt Congress of 1891 the SPD adopted an uncompromising Marxist programme to overthrow the Wilhelmine class system.
• according to Berghan the perceived threat of socialism forced the ruling elite to look to war as a solution to rising social tensions within Germany.
Factors suggesting that the growth of socialism in the period 1878 to 1914 was not a threat to the political stability of Germany:
• the anti-socialist law of 1878 immediately crippled the SPD. The legislation was enforced rigorously and at first the SPD vote fell from 493 000 in 1877 and 12 seats in the Reichstag to 312000 in 1878 and 9 seats
• State Socialism was designed to wean the working classes from revolutionary socialism by offering them a modest stake in the Empire. In the longer term Bismarck’s policy proved to be successful as State Socialism led to a gradual transformation in the attitude of the SPD to the state, so much so that in 1914 the SPD supported the empire at war
• there existed divisions within the rank and file of the SPD about the methods to achieve its aims. For example the trade unionists believed in a more gradual and evolutionary way to create a socialist society
• whilst in theory the SPD remained committed to a revolutionary programme, in practice the socialist deputies in the Reichstag worked for social and political change through the existing system
• the SPD also supported the financial provisions of the Army Bill in 1913 because of the included property tax.
Other factors which threatened political stability in Germany in the years 1878 to 1914 could include:
• Kaiser Wilhelm and his personal rule
• the growth of rightwing leagues
• the power and influence of the German Army.
Higher level answers will appreciate that the fear of socialism posed more of a threat to the German political system than the reality of the SPD. It can be successfully counter-argued that the greatest threat to political stability in the period came from the Kaiser himself, who created a powerful, but unstable ‘personal rule’ and from the right-wing elites’ determination to maintain political power for themselves.
Explain why the Freikorps were an important influence in Germany in the years 1918 to
1920. (12 marks)
Students might include some of the following factors:
• as anti-communist volunteer groups the ranks of the Freikorps were swelled by ex- servicemen embittered by the armistice and resulting peace treaty. Therefore the Freikorps were significant because of their strength in numbers, in a state which was to have its standing army drastically reduced
• Freikorps were often funded by industrialist fearful of a communist revolution. Thus the Freikorps had supporters with political and economic influence
• the Weimar government used the Freikorps to crush the Spartacist revolt of January 1919 to restore “order” to Germany. They were also used to end strikes and shut down the “republics of Councils”. Thus the Freikorps were important in saving the new Republic from communism
• the Freikorps along with disgruntled army officers attempted the Kapp putsch in the spring of 1920 which exposed the vulnerability of the Weimar Republic to attempted revolution from the right. The Kapp putsch revealed the lack of support for the Republic from within the armed forces as Seeckt declared “Reichswehr does not fire on Reichswehr”.
To reach higher levels, students will need to show the inter-relationship of the reasons given, for example they might understand how the Freikorps were important in helping the Weimar Republic establish itself and survive attacks from the left, yet the Freikorps also threatened the political stability of the new Republic.
How far was President Ebert responsible for the survival of the Weimar Republic in the
years 1919 to 1925? (24 marks)
Factors suggesting that Ebert was personally responsible for the survival of the Weimar Republic might include:
• Ebert negotiated the use of the forces of the right (the Freikorps and the Army) through the Ebert-Groener pact to quash the political extremism of the left
• Ebert’s use of Article 48 and the strength of the Weimar Constitution to suspend citizens’ rights in times of emergency so as to stabilise the political situation
• in the period of intense political instability between 1919 and 1923 where governments fell in quick succession Ebert was the constant figure of authority
• without Ebert’s threat to call new elections in 1924 the Dawes Plan would have been rejected by Nationalists in the Reichstag. Therefore Ebert deserves some of the credit for the economic improvement which followed the Dawes Plan.
Factors suggesting that Ebert was not personally responsible for the survival of the Weimar Republic might include:
• Ebert was one of the “November criminals” who was detested by the extreme right, whilst the extreme left felt betrayed by Ebert’s negotiations with the army and Freikorps
• the Weimar Republic survived primarily because its extremist opposition was divided. The splits and divisions of the extreme left between the USPD and the KPD weakened its attempts to overthrow the Republic, whilst the right wing were unable to launch a co- ordinated attack
• extremist right-wing opposition was halted through a combination of worker resistance (Kapp) and weak leadership (Munich)
• ultimately the Weimar Republic survived the years of crisis through the resolute action of Stresemann and Schacht, which brought financial and subsequently political stability to Germany.
Good answers are likely to show an awareness that whilst Ebert’s leadership enabled the Republic to lurch from crisis to crisis and just about survive, it was not until Stresemann’s period as Chancellor that the Weimar Republic entered a period of relative stability.
