Journey to Democracy

• Germany was unified as one country in 1871, and up until 1918 Germany was ruled by the Kaiser, from 1888 onwards by Kaiser Wilhelm II. When he came to power Britain was the world most powerful country with the largest empire, navy and trade network.

  Wilhelm wanted Germany to rival this and industrialised Germany, whilst expanding the army, embarking upon a number of actions that changed Germany and would lead to WW1.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II

  When: Reigned 1888-1918. Abdicated in 1918 to be replaced by Ebert.

  Who: The grandson of Britain’s Queen Victoria and cousin of Britain’s future king George V.

  Character: Very energetic and outgoing personality. Could be charming and kind, but also impatient and rude.

  Career: Spent most of his youth in the army. Replaced his father as Kaiser after he suddenly died of cancer.

  Plans: Wanted to expand and lead the German army and navy to make Germany a powerful militaristic nation
• A Divided Society

  •The success of German industry had made businessmen, landowners and factory owners very wealthy.

  •These people, along with the military had a lot of influence over the Kaiser and wanted to preserve their positions.

  •In contrast the workers in factories, mines and workshops were unhappy because their wages were low, working conditions were poor and food was expensive.

  •More and more joined trade unions and there were strikes against the Kaiser to try to gain change in Germany.
• Growth of Socialism

  •Due to these divisions within society, many ordinary workers started to vote for a new political party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

  •They believed in socialism, the ideas that power and wealth should be shared equally among the people.

  •The Social Democrats hoped that the Kaiser would share some of his power and allow the Reichstag to make some improvements to workers’ rights and conditions.

  •Some took a more extreme view and wanted to rebel against the Kaiser, and this growth in socialism was one of the new developments of this time.
• Impact of WW1 on Germany - Economic (Money)

  •Germany had borrowed money to pay for the war, which would need to be paid back to the USA.

  •Germany had lent money to its allies, which was not likely to be returned.

  •German factories were exhausted by the war and did not produce goods to sell overseas for profit. There were problems there and then to deal with.

  •War pensions for war widows would cost the government a fortune in the future.
• Impact of WW1 on Germany - Social (everyday life)

  •There were terrible shortages of food, medicine and clothing.••By 1918, a deadly flu epidemic was sweeping the country, killing thousands who were weakened by poverty.

  •Women worked in the factories, which altered traditional family values.

  •Divisions in society deepened. Some factory owners made fortunes during the war, whilst the ordinary people had restrictions placed on their wages.
• Impact of WW1 on Germany - Political (power & government)

  •From 1915 on there were protests against the war effort.

  •By 1918, Germany was close to collapse and faced mutiny and revolution.

  •The Kaiser was persuaded to share some of his power with the Reichstag and make Germany more democratic, but this was too little too late.

  •In October 1918 German sailors mutinied. On  9th November 1918, the Kaiser abdicated, replaced by Ebert.
• Germany before WW1


  Unified as one country in 1871, previously a collection of different states with Prussia as the largest and most powerful
• Ruler of Germany


  The Kaiser, from 1888 Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was the supreme commander and head of every state
• German government


  • Chancellor acted like a Prime Minister
  • Representatives of every state in the Bundesrat consulted with the Kaiser over new laws
  • Reichstag was the German parliament, elected by all men over 25 and discussed and voted on laws made by the Kaiser
  • Kaiser had the power to ignore all advice from the Reichstag and Bundesrat and make all decisions on his own
• Germany before WW1


  • Highly militaristic country with a strong belief that it should have a strong army and navy
  • Kaiser wanted Germany to have a far greater army to match that of Britain and France, wanting its 'place in the sun'
  • 'Weltpolitik' (world policy) saw Germany want to turn itself into a global power with control over countries across the world
  • Rapidly expanded the navy with a series of Naval Laws between 1898 and 1912
  • Expanding the navy was very costly, needing lots of taxes to be paid and leaving the country with a vast debt
• Weimar Republic

  Following the abdication of the Kaiser in 1918, Germany was left facing a new form of government. Ebert, leader of the SPD (the largest party), became leader of Germany and the new democratic Weimar Republic was set up. This gave people a say in their politics, whilst he promised to improve conditions following WW1, signing the armistice.

  In January 1919, Ebert was elected as President and the following month the Weimar Republic was born. It would face a number of challenges, endure failures and enjoy successes over the next decade.
• Weimar Culture


  The 'Golden Age'
• Weimar Culture in the 1920s


  • Culturally, many people have described it as a 'golden age' in Germany's history
  • Artists, poets, authors and writers all had much more freedom to express themselves, and new ideas flourished
  • Following the horrors of WW1, many people decided to experiment with new ideas and try new things
• Some people embraced the changes

  Others hated them and sought to celebrate the older traditional views of Germany
• The new nightclubs and artwork


  Were seen as leading Germany into moral decline
• Women were particularly against the new changes
• The Nazi's openly criticised the Weimar Culture and ended it when in power
• Spartacist Revolt in Berlin. Put down by Free Corps.


  Jan 1919
• Ebert elected as first President of Weimar Republic.


  Jan-Feb 1919
• Treaty of Versailles is signed. Highly unpopular in Germany.


  June 1919
• New Weimar constitution is adopted.


  August 1919
• Nazi party is founded in Munich, Bavaria.


  Feb 1920
• Kapp Putsch, right-wing uprising led by Wolfgang Kapp.

  March 1920
• Red Rising in the Ruhr (Communist uprising)

  March 1920
• Germany fail to make next reparations payment.


  1922
• Ruhr Crisis. French and Belgian troops invade the Ruhr.


  Jan 1923
• Hyperinflation Crisis


  1923
• Gustav Stresemann becomes foreign minister.


  August 1923
• Munich Putsch launched by Hitler. Fails and he is arrested.


  Nov 1923
• Dawes Plan: USA loans money to Germany.


  August 1924
• Hindenburg elected as President of Weimar Republic.


  Feb 1925
• Germany joins the League of Nations.


  Jan 1926
• Young Plan is proposed.

  Feb 1929
• Death of Gustav Stresemann


  Oct 1929
• Wall Street Crash, leading to Great Depression in Germany.


  Oct 1929
• Weimar Recovery


  The recovery of the Weimar Republic in the second half of the 1920s
• Gustav Stresemann


  • Foreign minister from 1923 to 1929
  • Led the recovery of the Weimar Republic
• Stresemann's actions


  1. Tackled hyperinflation by stopping printing new money

  2. Introduced a new currency, the Reichsmark

  3. Signed the Dawes Plan with the USA, lowering the reparations figure and gaining financial support

  4. Signed the Locarno Treaty and joined the League of Nations, giving a chance to improve status
• German factories, housing and public services also slowly recovered and ordinary Germans were better off