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 PanGerman 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