The Constitution -
ensured political power
remained with the
Prussian elites
The Kaiser
Annotations:
-Prussian Monarch and Sovereign of the Kaiserreich
-Commander-in-Chief of the Army
-In charge of Foreign Policy
-Appointed and dissmissed the Chancellor and Govt. Ministers
-President of the Bundersrat
Developed a system
of autocratic personal
rule - appointed
ministers who would
further his conservative
political agenda and
sought to control the
work of his Chancellors
and government
Prussian Monarch and Sovereign of the Kaiserreich;
Commander-in-Chief of the Army; In charge of Foreign Policy;
Appointed and dismissed the Chancellor and Govt. Ministers;
President of the Bundersrat
The Chancellor and the Ministers
Annotations:
-Responible for presenting legislation to parliament and the implementation of laws
-Was accountable only to the Kaiser
von Bulow 1900-1919
outwardly co-operated with the Kaiser however
sometimes succeeded in sidelining or defeating
him - Tariff Law of 1902
Sammlungspolitik (foreign
policy to 'bring together' the
German people - Hottentot
Election 1906
Tried to appease socialist forces with
a series of reforms.
1903 Sickness Reform
1908 banned Child Labour
Bethmann Hollweg 1909-1916
Illustrates how little
constitutional power the
Reichstag had - Zabern Affair
1913
Responsible for presenting legislation to parliament and
the implementation of laws
Was accountable only to the Kaiser
The Reichstag
Annotations:
-Democratic body of the Consitution
-Could reject, accept or amend legislation
-Could be dissolved by the Kaiser at any stage
Left
Social Democratic Party -
perceived to be revolutionaries but
were moderates who
supported reforms to better
the living and economic
conditions for the working
class.
Centre Party - Represented
German Catholics. Party usually
worked with more with
conservative parties, but at times
sided with the SPD (Hottentot
Budget of 1906). Often held the
balance of power in the
Reichstag
Liberal Progressives - popular in South Germany.
Party advocated federalist structures and demanded
democratic reforms. Believed in liberty
Right
German Conservative Party - Represented Junkers,
wealthy & landowners. Believe in the power of the
monarchy, authority and foreign policy.
Free Conservatives/Germany Reich Party -
Represented more conservative industrialists.
Shared the views of Bismarck and believed in
protectionism
National Liberals - Represented educated, wealthy
Protestant middle classes. Supported Kulturkampf. Strong
nationalists, wanted a strong navy
The Bundesrat
Annotations:
-Contained representatives appointed by regional state assemblies
-Upper house in Parliament
-Prussian veto - 14 members of the house could veto a law - Prussia held the largest percentage of seats in the house. Ensured that the majority of politcial power remained with the Junkers and Prussian elites
Contained representatives
appointed by regional state
assemblies; upper house in
Parliament
Prussian veto - 14 members of the house could veto
a law - Prussia held the largest percentage of seats
in the house (17 Prussian representatives). Ensured
that the majority of politcial power remained with the
Junkers and Prussian elites
The Army
Annotations:
-A state within a state - could declare martial law
-Only accountable to the Kaiser
A state within a state - could declare
martial law. Only accountable to the Kaiser
Examples of Tensions in the Political System
1906 Budget Crisis
Bulow proposed an increase in indirect taxes
and an inheritance tax to decrease treasury
deficit due to Weltpolitk. Centre & SPD voted
down indirect taxes and Conservatives and
allies weakened inheritance tax
Reichstag had signficant power as they
were able to vote again the proposed
reforms
1907 Hottentot Election
Fought on the issue of nationalism - the
Reichstag was dissolved due to the Centre
and SPD voting down government plans
for a new railway in South Africa. von
Bulow, supported by nationalist groups
(Pan German League) threatened that if
they lost the election, the Centre and SPD
would form an alliance. 1907 election -
Bulow Bloc formed. Gave Bulow a
conservative majority in the Reichstag
Kaiser had power to dissolve the Reichstag
Support from the German public for a brutal imperialist agenda
Pressure groups had
significant influence
1908 Daily Telegraph Affair
Kaiser made various unguarded comments which were
published in the Daily Telegraph. Was perceived to have
exceeded his authority in talking to foreign press this way.
The affair led to wider criticism of the Kaiser in the
Reichstag and the press. Kaiser eventually agreed to
guarantee to the Reichstag that he would not make similar
pronouncements in future. The Kaiser pressurised von
Bulow, whom he felt had been too supportive of the
Reichstag, to resign.
Reichstag and the German press were
prepared to criticise the Kaiser
Reichstag could gain concessions
from the Kaiser
Kaiser could not always act in an autocratic
manner
The role of Chancellor depended
on the regard held with the Kaiser
1913 Zabern Affair
A German soldier based in Zabern made derogatory comments
about the Alsacian locals. Soldier was acquitted by a military
count of injuring a man who jeered at him. Reichstag criticised the
conduct of the army and a vote of no-confidence was held in
which Bethmann-Hollweg lost. However he refused to resign.
Army operated independently of civil
authority in Germany and were
accountable to the Kaiser
Reichstag were not able to hold the Chancellor to
account - he only required the support of the Kaiser
Reichstag could be ignored by both the
Kaiser and Army
Tensions existed between different parts of the
German system, especially between the army and the
Reichstag
Economic and Social Developments
Economic
Economic
Growth
between 1890 -1914 growth economy expanded by 4.5% per year
Germany's share of world trade was equal to that of Britain
New Industries
By 1913, Germany produced
approx. 50% of the world's
electrical goods
Industrial Economy
economic developments resulted in a
growing proportion of the population
working in the industrial and service
sectors of the economy - around 33% to
42%
Decline in agricultural production
Competition from Canada and
the US squeezed peasantry
and farmers
Social
Urbanisation
Population boom and new jobs in industry
stimulated migration from country to cities - by
1910 60% of the population lived in urban
areas
Resulted in poor living standards - supply of
houses did meet demand
Resulted in discontent - trade union
membership increased to over 3mil.
members by 1913
Increase in Social Tensions
Industrial working class
were sometimes in conflict
with the owners of industry
over pay and conditions
Junker elites were keen
to conserve their
dominant positions in
society - mittelstand seen
as a threat
Rise in Socialism
SPD banned until 1898
Impact of World War One
Political
Initial Unity
Burgfriede - a political truce - occurred
where the Reichstag gave up all their political
power to the Bundesrat under the belief that it
was defensive war
Growing disunity
By 1917, 42 SPD deputies had broken away to
form the anti-war and radical socialist USPD.
Mounting concern about the war led to a
Reichstag vote, the 'peace resolution', which
urged the government to try to negotiate a peace
settlement. The left and the centre won the vote
by 212 to 126
War saw the formation of the communist Spartacist League who
agitated for social revolution and an end to the war. Discontent
among German workers rose from 1916, as workers were
prevented from freely changing jobs under the terms of the Auxilary
Service Law of Dec 1916
By 1918, widespread discontent.
Strikes occurred, such as one in Berlin which lasted
5 days and involved half a mil. workers
Political polarisation had been greater than
ever before
The 'silent dictatorship'
Government became increasing authoritarian and militaristic - Kaiser
was sidelined and effectively replaced by the Supreme Commander of
the Army (OHL), Ludendorff and Hindenburg on 29 Aug 1916. They held a
'silent dictatorship'
Able to exert powerful influence over political, economic
and military events - auxiliary law was introduced. This in
turn undermined the constitution
Bethmann forced out of office due to his isolation and was
replaced by General Michaelis and von Hertiling - puppets to the OHL
Military government exacerbated social tension
The German Revolution
Revolution from Below
Popular discontent suggests 'revolution from above'
failed to impress
2 Nov 1918 Kiel Mutiny - soliders mutiny
against an order to put to sea. Mutiny
spreads to other ports and other parts of
Germany. 8th Nov numerous workers and
soldiers soviets set up in major cities.
Bavaria declares itself an independent
soviet republic.
9 Nov 1918: Prince Max resigned and Ebert became
Chancellor of govt. made up of SPD & USPD members.
Abdication of the Tsar announced. Scheidemann declares
Germany to be a Federal Republic whilst Karl Liebknecht
(leader of the KPD) declares Germany to be a Free Socialist
Republic.
Revolution from Above
8 Aug 1918 Failed Ludendorff Offensive. 29 Sep.
Ludendorff sanctioned the transformation of
Germany into a parliamentary monarchy. 3 Oct.
Prince Max of Baden became new Chancellor of
a govt. containing liberal and socialist members
Three class franchise in Prussia; Reichstag was
put in control of the Army and Navy; Chancellor was
made accountable to the Reichstag.
Reasons for the Revolution from Above
Avoid Social Revolution: new govt. could reform the system to placate the
possibility of extremism - placate the growing threat of communism
Negotiations with the Allies: may be more favourable with a democratic system
in place. Additionally US President Wilson would only negotiate with a
democratic Germany
Stab in the Back: Avoidance of the military being linked with
the defeat in the war. It would saddle politicians with the
stigma of defeat and allow for the new democratic Reichstag
to be scapegoats for defeat
Armistice 11/11/1918: The new
government signed an armistice
agreement with the Allies
Revolution Contained
Ebert was determined to prevent a communist revolution and civil
war therefore, he signed the Ebert-Groner Pact and called for early
democratic elections
Elections had universal suffrage
Ensured the army could remain unreformed and
therefore were in a position to undermine the
Republic
Economic
16% of the £8.4mil. cost of
the war was met by taxation
War bonds were also used
Money was printed - led to inflation.
Mark declined in value by 75%
between 1913-1918
The KRA, War Raw Materials
Department, had some success in
supplying the German army, but
German agriculture was not mobilised
effectively and there were food
shortages
Social
2 mil. soldiers were killed
and 6.3mil were injured.
Inflation and tight controls on wages led to a
fall in living standards by 20-30%
British blockade of German ports led to the
'Turnip winter' of 1917. Food and turnips were the
main food available
Food and fuel shortages caused misery and
starvation exacerbated the impact of the
Spanish flue pandemic in 1918