Germany under William II, 1890-1918

• Constitutional position of the Kaiser• Importance of his character• The pressures within the ‘Kaiserreich’

Bismarck’s Successors

• Caprivi (1890-94) - introduced ‘New Course’ – planned to win support from w/classes away from SPD

• Commercial treaties signed which boosted German economy

• 1892 Army Bill – began build up of Army that was main characteristic of William’s reign

• 1894 Caprivi forced to resign

• Hohenloe (1894-1900)

• New policy of ‘concentration’ – attacked Socialists & removed progressive ministers – policy only widened gap between monarchy & the people

• Key policy of ‘Weltpolitik’ designed to please William & to unite the people

• Pressure from groups like the Pan-German League

• Navy greatly expanded

• Assessment of Weltpolitik

Bismarck’s Successors

• Von Bulow (1900-1909)

• Return to the days of State Socialism – many of Bismarck’s old policies extended but workers not convinced

• Tariffs reintroduced – saw rise in Socialist vote

• Bethmann-Hollweg (1909-)

• Proposed constitutional reform to strengthen w/class vote -defeated

• SPD polled 30% popular vote in 1912

• Zabern Incident (1913) amply demonstrated power of the Army & Kaiser over the Reichstag

• Army Bill (1913)

Weltpolitik= World Power Status

• Historians agree that 1897 was key year

• Different reasons given for this policy

Led to

• creation of colonial empire

• Creation of economic spheres of influence

• Expansion of German Navy

Why did Weltpolitik become government policy?

• Economic demand

• Social Darwinism

• Economic changes led to new political forces eg SDP & populist right wing groups

• These nationalists formed new pressure groups like the Pan-German League. These were important in a) popularising Weltpolitik b) pressuring govt to pursue policy to the full

Supporters of Weltpolitik

• Expansion of Navy key to Welpolitik

• Tirpitz established Navy League (1898) – backed by industry – membership of over 1 million

• Weltpolitik successful because of broad political appeal

• Played on patriotic feelings

What were the main divisions in the Kaiserreich?

• Religion – strong support for the Centre Party

• Minorities eg Poles, Danes, French

• Class lines – Junkers, middle class, the Mittelstand, working classes

• Agriculture in decline

• Industry boomed but conditions remained poor for the workers

• Economic progress added to the existing social problems

How well did the German economy develop at this time?

• By 1914 Germany was Europe’s industrial superpower

• Importance of new industries

• Population increased by 25 million 1871-1910

• Close to GB in coal production, ahead in steel

• Share of world trade by 1914 rivalled Britain & her Empire

Question : What effect might this have German foreign policy/national feeling?

1914-1918

• Germany went to war in 1914 in support of Austria-Hungary

• War was culmination of near misses & crises

• Perhaps was seen as tactic by the imperial government

• War was supported by the Reichstag

• By 1916 Germany effectively ruled by the military

• By 1918 Germany faced defeat

• By 1919 serious territorial & political divisions