germany

• Prior to 1871, Germany was divided into 39 states, each with their own leader, rules, and customs
• The strongest state in Germany prior to unification was Prussia
• Prussia was ruled by the Kaiser and the Chancellor, Otto Von Bismarck, who believed in militarism and unifying all German states
• Many German states agreed that unification was beneficial to eliminate the threat of invasion by Russia and France
• Austria disagreed with unification fearing it would impact their empire and result in a loss of power
• Prussia engaged in wars for territory, notably the Franco-Prussian War against France in 1870-1871
• Prussia defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War, acquiring land (Alsace-Lorraine) and leading to French resentment
• After the Franco-Prussian War, Prussia successfully unified Germany
• Germany became a united country with the Prussian Kaiser and Otto Von Bismarck as Chancellor
• In 1888, Wilhelm became Kaiser of Germany at 29 years old
• Wilhelm aimed to make Germany as great as Britain through industrialisation and building up Germany's industry
• Germany, under Wilhelm, became a major producer of iron, steel, coal, electrical goods, and chemicals in Europe by 1913
• Wilhelm was energetic with a strong personality, sometimes charming but also impatient and rude
• Wilhelm dismissed Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck in 1890
• Wilhelm championed militarism and focused on maintaining a strong army and navy
• Wilhelm succeeded his father as Kaiser at 29 years old after his father's sudden death from cancer
• The Kaiser followed a Foreign Policy of Weltpolitik (World policy) and aimed for Germany to have a 'Place in the sun' among world powers
• The Kaiser believed in establishing and maintaining a strong army and navy to achieve his foreign policy goals
• The Kaiser introduced Naval Laws in 1898, 1900, 1906, 1908, and 1912 to build up Germany's Navy
• Germany's naval advancements led to Britain strengthening its navy, including the release of the battleship Dreadnought in 1906
• The Kaiser introduced compulsory conscription in 1913 to increase the size of Germany's army
• The Kaiser aimed to use the strong army and navy to build up Germany's empire and establish it as a world power
• Germany built up their Navy in preparation for war and introduced compulsory conscription in 1913
• The Kaiser aimed to use Germany's strong army and navy to build up the empire and establish them as a world power
• The success of German industry led to the rise of socialism due to poor working conditions and low wages
• Many workers joined trade unions and organised strikes to improve their conditions
• Many ordinary workers supported the Social Democratic Party [SPD] which believed in socialism
• Some socialists wanted to rebel against the Kaiser's rule and start a revolution to govern cities and towns with councils of workers
• The popularity of socialism posed a major problem for the government in Germany
• During the First World War, Germany suffered from shortages of food, medicines, and clothing due to naval blockades
• In 1915, 500 women protested in front of the German parliament for the return of men from the trenches
• In 1916, 10,000 workers in Berlin protested against the war and the government
• By 1918, Germany was close to collapse due to food shortages and a deadly flu epidemic
• General Ludendorff advised the Kaiser to share more power with the German parliament to be treated more fairly by the British, French, and Americans
• The Kaiser reluctantly transferred some of his powers to the Reichstag, but it was too late to satisfy the German people
• More demonstrations were held against the war, with some calling for the Kaiser to give up his throne
• In October 1918, the German navy mutinied in Kiel, northern Germany, refusing to follow orders to attack British ships
• The mutiny spread to other sailors, workers, and soldiers, leading to the formation of special councils to run towns
• The Kaiser abdicated and secretly left Germany, never to return


  9 November 1918
• On 11 November 1918, Germany surrendered: the First World War was over