germany

• When was the unification of Germany and what did it follow?

  1871 after victory against France in 1870
• Who was the Chancellor in the 1870s and 80s?

  Otto von Bismarck
• Bismarck's attitude towards ethnic minorities?

  He attempted to assimilate ethnic minority groups within the new empire, such as the Poles
• When did Kaiser Wilhelm II become Kaiser?

  1888 at the age of 31
• What had Kaiser Wilhelm II seen the European powers do?

  Seize colonies in Africa (Scramble for Africa)
• What did Germans think of the Kaiser's Weltpolitik?

  Many Germans agreed with him
• By 1914, which party gained power and why?


  The left-wing Social Democrat Party because it appealed to Germany's growing number of industrial workers
• What did the middle class think of the government by 1914?

  They were happy with the right-wing government because they were afraid of the growing political strength of industrial workers
• 1880 to 1914 steel production comparison

  1880- half the amount of steel as Britain

  1914- twice the amount as Britain
• By 1914, what was Germany producing 1/3 of?

  The World's electrical goods
• Population of Germany 1871 to 1914

  40 million to 68 million
• How were food imports affected by 1914?

  Only 1/3 of the labour force worked in agriculture so food imports rose quickly reaching about 1/5 of Germany's needs by 1914
• Who accepted the authoritarian nature of German rule? (Pre-WW1)


  Both right-wing and central political parties because of the developing wealth and power the middle class gained
• How did governments try to pacify socialist demands pre-WW1?

  Social reforms such as the introduction of old age pensions in 1889 (20 years before Britain) and sickness and accident insurance schemes which covered nearly 14 million Germans by 1911
• How many seats did the SPD gain in 1912?

  Nearly 1/3
• Importance of Prussia

  2/3 of population

  Over 1/2 of the territory
• How did the military influence foreign policy under the Kaiser?

  The influence of military chiefs often determined the policies, which were concerned with expansion
• Who argues that Germany needed large battleships?

  Admiral von Tripitz who became State Secretary of the Navy in 1897
• How many ships did the Navy have in 1896?

  6
• What was the First Navy Law?

  Passed in 1898, the law allowed for the addition of 7 battleships (Germany already had 12). Didn't match British or French but marked turning point in German foreign policy
• What was the Second Navy Law?

  1900 (during the Boer War). Doubled the size of the fleet to 38 battleships
• What was the main objective of the German Navy?

  To compete against the British
• What did the Germans respond to in 1906 and how?

  The Royal Navy launch of the Dreadnought in May with a 3rd Navy Law, adding 6 cruiser-type ships to the building programme
• How many Navy Laws were passed in total before WW1?

  5
• Number of German Dreadnoughts from 1907 to 1914

  0-19
• What developed in 1902?

  The Anglo-German naval arms race
• What was the effect of WW1 on Germany? (6 points)

  1. Opposition to the Kaiser developed

  2. Anarchy

  3. 500 women protested against war in 1915 and in 1916 10000 workers turned against the Kaiser

  4. Produced less food (1/2 of milk and 3/5 of butter and meat)

  5. Spanish influenza spread

  6. Made Germans feel angry
• 25th October 1918


  Sailors mutinied at Kiel
• 26th October- 5th November 1918


  Strikes and demonstrations across Germany
• 6th November 1918


  Soldiers and workers took control of cities like Munich and Hamburg
• 7th November 1918

  Social Democrats led by Ebert demanded the abdication of the Kaiser
• 9th November 1918

  General Strike in Berlin. Kaiser abdicates. Ebert takes over as Chancellor
• Who were the Spartacists?

  A group of radical socialists who wanted a revolution like the Russians.
• Who led the Spartacists?

  Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebnecht
• 5th January 1919

  Spartacist Uprising
• Why did the Spartacist Uprising fail?

  It was poorly organised, lacked support of other left-wing groups, the government had 2000 Freikorps, Spartacist leaders were killed so lacked leadership
• 15th January 1919

  End of the Spartacist Uprising
• How did the Weimar government come out of the Spartacist uprising?

  A success was that they had managed to stop the first major uprising under their power. However, they had given too much power to the right-wing Freikorps
• Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles

  War Guilt Clause -- placed complete blame for the war on Germany
• £6.6 billion


  Reparations payment