GERMANY HISTORY GCSE AQA

• This book covers over 50 years of Germany's history. It is an extraordinary time in which Germany went through revolution, humiliation, economic chaos, and, of course, two world wars. This period also saw the emergence and rule of one of history's most infamous dictators - Adolf Hitler. This book aims to examine why these events happened and how the lives of ordinary Germans were affected.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II becomes Emperor of Germany

  1888
• Naval race: Germany begins to expand its navy to compete with Britain's navy


  1898
• First World War begins

  1914
• November - Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates; the First World War ends

  1918
• • June - Treaty of Versailles is signed
  • August - Weimar Constitution is established


  1919
• • January - French and Belgian troops invade German industrial area of the Ruhr
  • Hyperinflation makes money worthless
  • November - Munich Putsch


  1923
• August - Dawes Plan: US loans money to Germany


  1924
• February - Hindenburg becomes President


  1925
• January - Germany joins League of Nations


  1926
• • February - Young Plan is proposed
  • October - Wall Street Crash, leading to the Great Depression


  1929
• Hitler is named Chancellor; after Hindenburg's death in 1934, Hitler becomes Germany's dictator


  1933
• • August - Summer Olympics held in Berlin
  • Membership of the League of German Girls becomes compulsory


  1936
• Volkswagen car company is formed

  1937
• November - Kristallnacht: Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues attacked


  1938
• September - Germany invades Poland: the Second World War begins


  1939
• June - Night of the Long Knives; Rohm is arrested and later shot


  1934
• • January - Wannsee Conference: plan created for extermination of Europe's Jews
  • Death camps are set up in German-occupied areas


  1942
• • April - Hitler commits suicide
  • May - Surrender of Germany to Allies in the Second World War


  1945
• Before 1870, there was no such country as Germany. Instead, there was a collection of small states that were loosely linked together by a similar culture and language.
• The King of Prussia became the new German Emperor (or Kaiser).
• Militarism


  The belief that a country should have strong armed forces
• Second Reich


  The new country of Germany, created in 1871, was known as the Second Reich. Reich is the German word for 'empire'.
• Kaiser


  The ruler of Germany, supported by advisers or ministers, and the chief minister was called Chancellor - rather like a Prime Minister.
• Reichstag


  The parliament, which was elected by all men over age 25. The Reichstag discussed and voted on the laws that the Kaiser and his ministers drew up.
• Bundesrat


  The representatives from each state in Germany who consulted with the Kaiser over new laws.
• The Kaiser could choose to ignore the advice of the Reichstag and Bundesrat and make all the decisions he wanted to on his own.
• The Kaiser also made all decisions that related to the army, navy and other foreign countries.
• By 1913, Germany was producing more iron and steel and as much coal as Britain. In industries such as electrical goods and chemicals, German companies dominated Europe.
• Many workers in the new factories, mines and workshops were unhappy because their wages were low, working conditions were poor, and food was expensive.
• Social Democratic Party (SPD)

  A new political party that many ordinary workers voted for, as they believed in socialism - the idea that power and wealth should be shared equally among the people.
• Around one in three Germans voted for the Social Democratic Party at this time.
• Weltpolitik


  The idea that Germany should have an empire abroad too, and transform into a global power with control over countries in different parts of the world.
• In the late 1800s, Germany began to take over other nations, most notably in Africa.
• Prince Bernhard von Bulow: 'In one word: we wish to throw no-one into the shade, but we demand our place in the sun.'
• The Kaiser wanted a large navy of powerful battleships to help Germany take over more countries and protect the countries already in the German Empire.
• A series of Naval Laws, introduced between 1898 and 1912, saw the German navy rapidly increase in size, and huge sums of money were spent to achieve this.
• The Kaiser expanded the size of the German army too. Taxes were raised and money was borrowed to pay for this and Germany would remain in debt for a very long time.
• In August 1914, the First World War began when Germans and Austrians went to war against the French, British, Russians, Belgians and Serbs.
• When war first broke out, it had been very popular in Germany. Young, patriotic Germans thought the war would end quickly.