Germany - Whole Course

• German Empire


  Federal country consisting of smaller states, with Prussia as the most powerful state
• Prussia


  • Had a mighty army equipped with the most advanced weaponry
  • Prussian generals, army officers and tactics formed the powerful united German army
• Kaiser


  Supreme commander who ruled over all states and made decisions
• Bundesrat


  Representatives of a state that belonged to the German Empire, who the Kaiser would discuss new laws with
• Reichstag


  Parliament that could only be elected by men over 25, discussed and voted on laws drawn up by the minister and Kaiser
• The problem with the rule of Germany was that the Kaiser could do anything he wanted and could ignore his advisers which could lead to conflict
• Wilhelm II


  Kaiser from 1888-1918, moody and unstable with violent rages, keen to maintain a powerful army and navy
• Industrialization in Germany


  1. Shift from agricultural to industrial society

  2. Richest men bought businesses instead of land

  3. Working class moved to cities to work in factories
• By 1914 Germany led the world in chemicals and steel industry, producing twice the amount of steel as Britain and 1/3 of the world's electrical goods
• Weltpolitik (world policy)


  Kaiser's policy of building up Germany's reputation, empire and strength to match Britain
• When Wilhelm II became Kaiser


  Britain was the most powerful country with the largest empire and navy
• The Kaiser looked to expand his empire to match the size of Britain's and France's
• Naval Race


  Britain and Germany had an arms race to build the most battleships, funded through raised taxes and Naval Laws in Germany
• Many workers in new factories, mines and workshops were unhappy due to low wages, bad working conditions and expensive food
• More working class joined trade unions and organised strikes to force the Kaiser and government to improve working conditions
• Many ordinary workers voted for the left-wing SPD party as they wanted reform, leading to the SPD having 30% of Reichstag seats in 1912
• SPD (Social Democratic Party)


  Believed in socialism and hoped the Kaiser would share power so the Reichstag could make social reforms to improve workers' rights and conditions
• The army in Prussia swore obedience to the Kaiser, who wanted to expand the German navy to match Britain's
• Germany remained in debt for a long time as taxes were raised to build up the army
• Living standards were low in Germany during World War 1 due to shortages of food, clothing, medicine and fuel
• In 1915 a group of women made a stand in front of the German Parliament buildings demanding their men back from the trenches
• In 1916 10,000 workers assembled in Berlin shouting "down with the war, down with the government"
• Germany was virtually bankrupt because factories only made weapons and not goods to sell abroad and make money
• In October 1918 General Ludendorff told German politicians that they would never win the war and suggested Germany become more democratic
• On 28th October 1918, the German navy ordered to attack the British ships but the sailors refused as they did not want to fight
• Soldiers and sailors joined the workers and took over towns and set up councils to run them, leading to the abdication of the Kaiser
• Germany borrowed money from abroad, especially the USA, to pay for the war damage, though it would all need to be paid back
• Many people thought that they were betrayed by the politicians who signed the Treaty of Versailles, known as the "November Criminals"
• The Kaiser left Germany on 9th November 1918 and abdicated his throne
• Friedrich Ebert


  Temporarily became the leader of Germany, signed the Armistice, ordered improvements to working conditions, unemployment, housing and food supplies, and declared Germany would be a Democratic Republic
• Spartacus League


  Political group that believed in communism and wanted Germany to be ruled by a small council of soldiers and workers, not parliament
• Spartacist Uprising


  1. Spartacists tried to take over Berlin in January 1919

  2. Ebert responded by sending 2000 ex-soldiers (Free Corps) to attack the Spartacists

  3. After 3 days of fighting the Free Corps recaptured the buildings and killed the Spartacist leaders
• The Weimar Republic was one of the most democratic countries in the World, with all Germans having equal rights and the right to vote, including women over 20
• Proportional representation


  Weakness in the Weimar government system as it meant lots of different political parties could get seats in the Reichstag, making law-making difficult
• Political parties in the Weimar Republic


  • Communist Party (KPD)
  • Social Democratic Party (SPD)
  • German Democratic Party (DDP)
  • Centre Party (Zentrum)
  • People's Party (DVP)
  • National People's Party (DNVP)
  • National Socialists German Workers' Party (Nazis)
• Weimar Constitution


  • Drawn up in 1919, allowed all Germans equal rights and the right to vote, including women over 20
• Many people didn't like the new democratic system of the Weimar government, including older army generals, judges, upper-class families, rich factory owners and professors, who wanted the Kaiser to rule Germany
• In 1922 Germany admitted it could not pay the next reparations payment, so in 1923 Belgium and France sent 60,000 soldiers to occupy the Ruhr, Germany's industrial heartland
• The occupation of the Ruhr led to passive resistance by German workers and hyperinflation, as Germany was running short of money with the Ruhr not producing coal, iron and steel to sell
• German soldiers thought Germany could have still kept fighting