History Germany

• The German Empire was unified in 1871 and was controlled by an emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II who was previously emperor of the largest and most militant state of Germany, Prussia.
• The German Parliament consisted of the Reichstag which lacked major control as the Kaiser and his ministers held firm control. The Kaiser could do things without asking Parliament.
• The Kaiser was grandson of British Queen Victoria and cousin of future King George V.
• The Kaiser's main aims:

  1 - Make Germany better and more powerful than Britain.

  2- Take over the world and build an empire.

  3- Build a strong army.
• Most important thing to Kaiser = war and his job so he neglected the German people.
• Prussia held high military importance regarding strength
• Weltpolitik - world policy

  The aim of Weltpolitik was to transform Germany into a global power through aggressive diplomacy, the acquisition of overseas colonies, and the development of a large navy.
• Army swears an oath to the Kaiser and he can do as he wishes as the German people love the military

  Kaiser loved and supported the military due to his upbringing in Prussia
• Rise of Socialism:

  Kaiser wanted to boost empire and industry but this was bad for normal workers due to low wages and poor working conditions.

  These workers joined unions, went on strike and started voting for the SPD.

  This was bad for the Kaiser as no money was being made and he was losing support.
• SPD - Social Democratic Party

  They claimed they were for the people which appealed to workers.

  Promised to make life better for them.

  They believed in Socialism (the idea that power and wealth should be shared equally amongst the people)
• The Naval Laws

  Introduces by the Kaiser in an attempt to boost the Navy to be more like Britain (introduced between 1898-1912)

  Money was needed to fund these goals so taxes were raised and money was borrowed from other countries (this would put Germany in debt for a long time)
• Social impacts of WWI on Germany:

  • Many suffered from war weariness and people dies leaving a profound psychological impact and anger for the families (believing all their family and friends died for not reason)
  • People blamed the Kaiser
  • Rumours blaming the Jews begin to arise (can't accept military fault)
  • Caused a conflict and divide between population
  • Blamed the politicians who signed armistice (November criminals)
• Political impacts of WWI on Germany:

  • Blamed Kaiser for the loss and death of loved ones
  • Kaiser abdicated the throne
  • Government no longer trusted (signed armistice)
  • many new leaders were Jewish = blamed
• The Treaty of Versailles

  After WWI, winning countries met at Palace of Versailles in France to decide how to punish losing countries

  Germany was not invited to these talks, getting no say in what happened making the TOV feel like a 'diktat'
• The Big Three:

  • Great Britain - David Lloyd George
  • USA - Woodrow Wilson
  • France - Georges Clemenceau
• Main TOV terms:

  • Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war (article 231 War guilt Clause)
  • Germany lost all overseas colonies
  • union with Austria was banned
  • army limited to 100000 men
  • conscription was banned
  • Reparations - £6.6 billion
• The Weimar Government consisted of a President as the head of state, elected every seven years, who controlled the military and stayed out of the everyday running of the country, but in a crisis, could rule without the support of the Reichstag.
• The Chancellor, chosen by the President, was responsible for the everyday running of the country, such as schooling and healthcare, and must have the support of over half the Reichstag to introduce new laws.
• The Reichstag was responsible for discussing and introducing new laws, with MPs selected every 4 years using a proportional representation voting system, where the percentage of votes received determines the number of seats.
• All men and women over 20 could vote in Germany, electing the President and politicians, and had guaranteed basic freedoms in the country.
• Coalition government - ruled by all parties
• Friedrich Ebert

  • Took over after Kaiser abdicated in WWI, becoming temporary leader.
  • Ordered for improvements in working conditions, help for the unemployed, improved housing, more food supply and democracy.
  • Promised - freedom of speech, religion and arranged elections for parliament
  • Declared Germany a democracy
• 9 November 1918 - Ebert announced creation of Weimar Republic
• Issues of coalition government - different ideas/beliefs, struggled to gain control of people:

  Left-wing - aimed to help working class (e.g. Communism)

  Right-wing - wanted to look after businessmen and middle to upper-class people (e.g. Fascism - everyone should look after themselves)
• 5 January 1919 - Sparticist rebellion (Communist Uprising)

  • Led by Rosa Luxemborg and Karl Liebknecht with 50000 supporters
  • Aimed to take control of Germany and seized many government headquarters
  • Defeated by a band of ex-soldiers (Freikorps)
  • Leaders imprisoned and killed on 15 January by Freikorps
• 13 March 1920 - Kapp Putsch (Right-wing uprising)

  • Was able to take over Berlin and aimed to take over Germany
  • Workers at Berlin went on strike and refused to cooperate with him and the regular army refused to attack the freikorps
  • Defeated as the workers refused to cooperate
• 1923 - Invasion of the Ruhr

  • Ruhr - rich industrial land in Germany
  • Germany defaulted on the first payment of reparations due to past debt.
  • Fr + Be don't believe Germany can't pay so they invade the Ruhr to take things for themselves
• 1923 - Passive resistance

  • Due to Ruhr invasions, gov orders passive resistance (workers stop working but still gets paid) which stops the production of goods for Fr and Be to take
• 1923 - Hyperinflation

  • This was the rapid increase in prices
  • Bread in Jan 1923 = 250 marks, bread in Nov 1923 = 200000 million marks.
  • Money became virtually worthless ( by Autumn 1923 printing a note was more expensive than the note)
  • Print more money = pay worker more money = prices rise (constant cycle)
  • In 1923 many workers had to be paid twice a day due to rapid price increases
• The SA was a paramilitary organisation that was set up by Hitler in 1921 (private army)

  • Duties - providing security as body guards for Nazi leaders and broke up opposing groups.
  • Would recruit the unemployed and students due to limited jobs
  • Leader = Ernst Rohm
• 1918 - The Kiel Mutiny

  On 3 November at the main German naval base in Kiel, frustrated German sailors mutinied instead of following orders to attack the British Royal Navy. The sailors’ mutiny sparked rebellions all over Germany and in a matter of days led to the collapse of the German government which forced the ruling monarch, Kaiser Wilhelm II, to abdicate on 9 November. Friedrich Ebert, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) became Chancellor (the equivalent of Prime Minister in Britain) and took power over Germany.
• 1923 - Munich Putsch

  Hitler tried to take over using force

  • Nov 8 1923 - Hitler crashed a Beer Hall meeting and declares revolution, believing he will be supported but he was not. (him and 600 SA members)
  • Kahr and Lossow were at the meeting had Hitler believing the supported him
  • Nov 9 1923 - Hitler and SA marched into Munich and attempted to take power thinking they would succeed (they did not).
  • Kahr called police and army
  • Hitler fled and arrested 2 days later, didn't get death penalty for treason, wrote a book in prison, gained support
• Hitler fled the scene of the Putsch and was arrested two days later, didn't receive the death penalty, wrote a book in prison and gained support.