kaiser's germany

• Background of germany

  • Germany formed in 1871
  • Prussia most powerful army and state with Berlin its capital
  • Most small states joined by consent, some use of force
• Kaiser Wilhelm II (background)


  • Second Emperor of the Reich
  • complete autocratic power
  • arrogant, violent, tempered
  • militaristic, but withered left-hand, embarrassed
• The kaiser's Weltpolitik


  • world policy, he wanted to build the most impressive empire
  • Obsessed with Navy and Germany's 'place in the sun'
• Kaiser


  complete autocratic power
• Chancellor


  control over day-to-day running of country
• reichstag


  parliament, could debate issues but ignored by Chancellor
• local governments


  25 state governments, mainly ignored by chancellor and kaiser
• voting


  all white men voted for Reichstag
• difficulties of ruling germany (parliamentary government)

  • lots of new parties
  • dominated by right-wing, pro-kaiser
  • by 1912 left-wing third of seats
  • working class against authoritarian rule but middle class supports
• difficulties of ruling germany (industrialisation)

  Successes: Producing 1/3 worlds electricity, big companies (Bosch, Siemens) and was producing twice as much steel as Britain

  Problems: Population growth and poor conditions in factories for workers
• difficulties of ruling germany (social reform and socialism)

  • Poor conditions = sociailst rise
  • 1889 Old Age Pensions and 1911 insurance
  • But reform not enough to satisfy Socialist/Communist demands
• Prussian millitarism

  • Very Pro-kaiser, but too much influence
  • demanded expansionist foreign policy
  • german people supported it
• the navy laws

  • 1898: 7 new battle ships
  • 1900: fleet up to 38
  • more navy laws after 1900 = navy race with Britain and rise in taxes/ debt to pay for them
  • Upset socialists and workers
  • planned to win war in 1914 and have Allies pay!