Germany-kaiser,ww1

• Germany prior to 1871

  • Divided into 39 states
  • Each with their own leader, rules and customs
• Prussia


  The strongest of the German states
• Prussia


  • Ruled by the Kaiser and the Chancellor
  • Chancellor was Otto Von Bismarck
  • Believed heavily in militarism and unifying all of the German states together to create one country
• Many of the German states agreed that unification was a good thing


  It would get rid of the threat of invasion by the surrounding large countries; Russia and France
• Austria


  Disagreed with unification as they worried that it would impact on their empire and result in them losing power in the area
• Prussia's actions to unify Germany

  1. Involved in a number of wars for territory

  2. Most famous being the Franco-Prussian War against France in 1870-1871

  3. Successful in defeating France

  4. Took land from France (Alsace-Lorraine)

  5. France left embarrassed and furious at Germany (holding a grudge way past WW1)
• After the Franco-Prussian War, Prussia was successful in their mission to unify Germany and the country of Germany was born
• United Germany


  • Prussian Kaiser at its helm
  • Otto Von Bismarck acting as Chancellor
• Kaiser Wilhelm II


  The 29-year-old who became Kaiser of Germany in 1888, grandson of Britain's Queen Victoria and cousin of Britain's future king, George V
• When Wilhelm became Kaiser, Britain was the world's most powerful country with the largest empire and dominated world trade, and had a navy twice the size of its two closest rivals added together
• Wilhelm


  • Dreamed of making Germany as great as Britain
  • Began by building up Germany's industry, a process called industrialisation
  • Supported by rich, powerful German businessmen
  • By 1913, Germany was producing more iron and steel and as much coal as Britain, and German companies dominated Europe in industries such as electrical goods and chemicals
• Wilhelm's personality


  Very energetic with a strong, outgoing personality, could be charming and kind but also impatient and rude
• The Kaiser would often sack ministers if they did not do what he wanted them to, resulting in him sacking the much loved Chancellor, Otto Von Bismarck, in 1890
• Wilhelm


  • Championed militarism as being the key to a successful country
  • Was keen to maintain a strong army and build up a strong Navy which rivaled Britain's
• Wilhelm replaced his father aged 29, after he died suddenly and unexpectedly of cancer
• Weltpolitik (World policy)


  The Kaiser's foreign policy where Germany should have their 'Place in the sun' competing and being recognised with the other world powers
• Kaiser Wilhelm II's foreign policy


  • Aimed to establish and maintain a strong army and Navy
  • Involved with other European powers in the Arms and Naval Race
• Achieving Kaiser's aim


  1. Establish and maintain a strong army

  2. Establish and maintain a strong Navy
• Kaiser introduced Naval Laws


  To build up the size of Germany's Navy
• Britain becoming worried by Germany's Naval advancements


  Continued to strengthen their own Navy, releasing the new battleship the Dreadnought in 1906
• Germany released their own version of the Dreadnought


  Continued to build up their Navy in preparation for war
• The Kaiser introduced compulsory conscription in 1913 to increase the size of Germany's army
• The Kaiser hoped to use his strong army and navy to build up Germany's empire and establish them as a world power
• The growth of Socialism

  • The success of German industry had made many landowners, business and factory owners very rich
  • These people, along with noble army officers, were a powerful force in Germany at this time and had much influence with the Kaiser
  • They were keen to preserve their positions of influence, but things were changing
• Workers in the new factories, mines and workshops

  • Their wages were low
  • Working conditions were poor
  • Food was expensive
• Workers' response to poor conditions

  1. More and more working class people joined trade unions

  2. Organised strikes in the hope that this might force the Kaiser, his advisers and the politicians in the Reichstag to try to improve their conditions
• Socialism


  The idea that power and wealth should be shared equally among the people
• Beliefs of the Social Democratic Party (SPD)

  • Believed in socialism
  • Hoped the Kaiser might share some of his power
  • Hoped the Reichstag would make more social reforms or laws to improve workers' rights and conditions
• Around one in three Germans voted for the Social Democratic Party at this time
• Some socialists


  • Took a more extreme view
  • Wanted to rebel against the Kaiser's rule
  • Start a revolution
  • Take over the country
  • Allow cities and towns to be governed by councils of workers
• The rise in popularity of socialism is one of the major events in Germany at this time - and was potentially a major problem for the government
• Germany and the First World War


  • People in Germany soon started to suffer during the war
  • British used their large navy to stop supply ships getting to Germany
  • Terrible shortages of food, medicines and clothing
  • As the war continued, people grew weary and tired of it
• Protests in Germany during the war

  • In 1915, 500 women gathered in front of the German parliament buildings and said that they wanted their men back from the trenches
  • A year later, 10,000 workers assembled in Berlin to shout,'Down with war, down with the government!'
  • The police quickly moved in to make arrests and calm the situation
• Germany by 1918


  • Close to collapse
  • People were short of food, surviving on turnips and bread
  • Deadly flu epidemic sweeping the country, killing thousands already weak from poor diet
  • Close to defeat on the battlefields
• General Ludendorff


  Leading German army general and war hero
• General Ludendorff told German politicians


  They could never win the war
• General Ludendorff advised the Kaiser


  The British, French and Americans might treat Germany more fairly if the country became more democratic - in other words, the Kaiser must share more of his power with the German parliament
• The Kaiser's actions


  1. Allowed the main political parties to form a new government

  2. Transferred some of his powers to the Reichstag
• The changes came too late to satisfy the German people
• German navy ordered out to sea from Kiel to attack British ships

  28 October 1918