Govt and opposition 1888-1914

• Personality of Kaiser Wilhelm II

  • Ruled 1888-1918
  • Period of personal rule - 1890-1914
  • Had deformity w/ left arm - historians argued this affected his behaviour
  • Irresolute, restless
  • Militaristic, wavering policies, regularly appointed/dismissed Chancellors shows indecision
  • Often interfered with Reichstag
• Chancellors in order

  • Leo von Caprivi 1890-1894
  • Prince Schillingsfurst 1894-1900
  • Bernhard von Bulow 1900-1909
  • Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg 1909-1917
• Caprivi relationship with Kaiser + Reichstag

  Relationship w/ Kaiser = personally selected by Kaiser, Caprivi found Kaiser difficult work w/, Kaiser interfered when Cap wanted Prots/Cath Churches to have more control over education

  Relationship w/ reichstag = 1893 - reichstag allowed to discuss military budget every 5 years, bill increase army by 84,000 men
• Caprivi - challenges faced + policies

  Challenges = opposed by conservative Prussian landowners + circle of aristocrats called Camarillo

  Policies = ended Anti-Socialist Law, reduction in tariffs, allowed Reichstag more control over majority of Germany's budget - 80% went to military spending, reforms were liked by working class, socialists, industrialists
• Schillingsfurst relationship w/ Kaiser + Reichstag

  • Selected as he posed no political threat to the Kaiser
  • Figurehead Chancellor - called a 'straw doll'
  • Kaiser ignored him
  • Reichstag did not approve two bills he put forward to curb Socialism
• Schillingsfurst - challenges and policies

  Challenges - Wilhelm favoured Bismarck's alliance of steel/rye and development of Sammlungspolitik, rise of right-wing pressure groups, nationalist sympathies opposed socialism created more chaos

  Policies - law against use of pulpit as political platform, supported expulsion of Jesuit order, 1894 Subversion Bill and 1899 Anti-Union Bill both rejected by Reichstag
• Bulow - relationship with Kaiser + Reichstag

  • Prepared for office by Kaiser's inner circle
  • Flattered Kaiser by visiting every morning - earnt nickname 'the eel'
  • Kaiser trusted him but relationship later dwindled
  • Failed to control the Reichstag + failed to get approval needed for Kaiser's increased military spending
• Bulow - challenges and policies

  Challenges = Socialists received credit for Bulow's new social reforms, SPD increased its votes, food prices rose due to tariffs, tried to force increased taxes - opposed by SPD and Zentrum

  Policies = 1902 - new tariff law restored duties on agricultural products, repressive action against Poles, extended accident/health insurance, payment for deputies in Reichstag in 1906 - lower working class men w/ low income could get paid by becoming deputies
• Bethmann-Hollweg - relationship w/ Kaiser and reichstag

  • Less harmonious relationship w Kaiser
  • He allowed Kaiser to take personal control over military/foreign affairs
  • In 1913 he received vote of no confidence from Reichstag, so he stopped trying to work through the Reichstag + issued imperial decrees w/o consultation
• Bethmann-Hollweg - challenges + policies

  Challenges = budget deficit w/ demands of increased military spending, increased demands from left-wing, he was inexperienced in foreign/military affairs

  Policies = large increase in size of army funded by special defence tax
• Right-wing pressure groups

  Pan-German League - est 1891 - aimed to unite Germans, acquire colonies - by 1914 = 25,000 members

  Navy League - est 1898 - aimed to promote naval expansion - 500,000 members

  Agrarian League - est 1893 - aimed to protect agricultural interests, tariffs help farmers - by 1913 = 333,000 members
• More right-wing pressure groups

  Army League - est 1912 - promote army expansion - 1914 = 300,000 members

  Imperial League against Social Democracy - est 1904 - curb socialism w/ propaganda - 200,000 members

  Industrialists’ League - Est 1895 - protect manufacturing interests, promote exports - support from manufacturing and export industries
• What did Wilhelm II believe about his power?

  He believed he had the final say
• What was a significant action taken by Wilhelm II regarding Chancellors?

  He regularly appointed and dismissed them
• What did Wilhelm II do during his personal rule 1897-1908?

  Made all legislation and diplomatic moves
• When did the Daily Telegraph Affair occur?

  28 October 1908
• What did Kaiser Wilhelm II claim in the Daily Telegraph interview?

  He was the only anglophile German
• When did the Zabern Affair occur?

  December 1913
• What caused unrest in Saverne?

  A German army officer insulted locals
• What did the German parliament do on 4 December during the Zabern Affair?

  Accepted a vote of no confidence BUT Wil ignored this - he only needed Chancellor's support
• What was the status of the SPD in Europe by 1914?

  Largest Socialist party in Europe
• What was the public reaction to the military's behavior in Saverne?

  Outcry against totalitarianism
• What counterbalanced the support for the SPD?

  Support for extreme nationalist and anti-Semitic groups
• What percentage of the national vote did the SPD receive by 1912?

  More than one third
• What strengthened the SPD's membership during the 1890s?

  Failure of Anti-Socialist Laws and Caprivi's policies
• What did the 'Erfurt Programme' demand?

  Abolition of class rule and equal rights
• Who was Bebel and what theory did August Bebel develop?

  One of the founders of the SPD + theory of Gradual socialism which will bring about constitutional change
• What was the status of the SPD from 1878 to 1890?

  Officially outlawed - enemies of state i.e. against Sammlungspolitik
• What was the effect of Sammlungspolitik on German society?

  Split society into two opposing extremes
• What encouraged the growth of trade unions?

  Industrialization and urbanization
• Who founded the General Federation of Trade Unions?

  Carl Legien
• How many members did free trade unions have by 1913?

  Over 2.5 million members
• What united the Zentrum party?

  Desire to protect Church interests
• Who did the German Conservatives represent?

  Prussian Junkers and military officers
• What did Free Conservatives represent?

  Non-Prussian landowners and industrial elites
• What did right-wing groups call for?

  Expansionist foreign policy and military spending
• What is Sammlungspolitik?

  Policy of uniting against perceived enemies