Weltpolitik Flashcards
(45 cards)
What does Weltpolitik directly mean?
World politics
What is Weltpolitik?
Used to describe Wilhelm II foreign policy
- Aim to make Germany a world power through colonisation and expansion of military influence
- Contrasts with pragmatic ‘realpolitik’ approach of Bismarck
What are the years of Weltpolitik?
1897-1914
How did Wilhelm II aim to achieve Weltpolitik?
Through German Naval Expansion
- Passionate belief that Germany’s future is on the high seas
- Dissatisfied the German fleet only ranked 7th in size in the world, but German foreign trade is almost as equal to Britain
What task did Wilhelm II give Tirpitz to help expand the navy?
given the task of building the naval army- making German navy a direct challenge to British navy, to force Britain to respect Germany
How did Britain feel about Germany aiming to rival their naval powers?
- Britain felt threatened, not prepared to be intimidated + Britain wouldn’t allow Germany to be equal
What was Britain’s use for its navy?
- Britain’s navy and colonies were basis of its commercial power + security
What did Wilhelm/Tirpitz fail to consider when going against Britain in a Naval race?
○ Germany might need British support against threat from Russia or France
○ Britain look for support elsewhere
Who was Alfred Krupp?
great iron and steel industrialist
Who’s support did Tirpitz rely on for Naval Expansion to occur?
- Tirpitz (anti parliamentarian) needed Reichstag to provide money to build his ships
- Key in creation of 1898 Navy League to gain support
Who’s support helped bring numbers into support and help pressure the Reichstag?
Supported by key industrialists’ financial backing, like Alfred Krupp, it attracted all other nationalist groups- membership of 300,000+, the league increased support for naval expansion, pressuring the Reichstag
What is the 1898 Naval Bill?
proposed building 16 naval ships, carried through 212 votes to 139
Why did the right oppose the 1898 Naval Bill?
Right, money would be best spent on the army.
Why did the left oppose the 1898 Naval Bill?
Left, opposed any increase in military spending
What was the 1900 Naval Bill?
Proposed building 3 battleships a year for 6 years, passed with a larger majority than the first.
What happened in 1894?
Hohenlohe becomes Chancellor
What happened in 1897?
Tirpitz becomes Naval secretary and Bulow becomes foreign secretary
Germany begins to pursue Weltpolitik
What happened in 1898?
Germany began naval expansion with passing of major Naval Bill
What happened in 1900?
2nd Naval Bill increased Germany Battleship building programme
Why was Bulow called a Sycophant?
Because as Chancellor he aimed to please the Kaiser
What Bill did Wilhelm II try to pass in 1898?
Hard Labour Bill: Wilhelm insisted that anyone on strike or prevented someone else from working had to be imprisoned with penal servitude
How did the Reichstag react to the Hard Labour Bill?
(introduced to the Reichstag by Wilhelm + largely drafted by him) rejected by huge majority
What does Wilhelm want to change in the Reichstag to ‘improve matters’ ?
Wants to drag the Social Democrats leaders out of the Reichstag
What strikes happened in 1900, and how did Wilhelm II react?
Berlin tram workers went on strike, Wilhelm telegraphed saying he expected ‘at least 500 people to be shot’ (Didn’t happen)
