The Second Reich Revision sheet.
1. The Constitution – Position of Chancellor independent to Reichstag. Power structure
unclear and confused.
2. Economy – G. Europe’s industrial superpower, built on existing industries and new ones.
(new – electrics, chemicals, cars, precision equipment)
3. Labor force – Population growing also change of jobs from agriculture to tertiary sectors.
Also G. Best education system for scholors and technical skills.
4. Changing spirit of the age: new ideas –
 Socialism (growth of SPD – 110 seats in 1912)
 Nationalism - Pan German League: anti-socialist, racist, anti-Semitic and strong
supporters of any policy that advanced G power and influence.
 Anti-Semitism
 Social Darwinism
5. German society – Junkers (determined to keep control) Industrial bourgeoisie, Middle
classes (becoming more numerous) mittlestand (Lower m/c – supported r-wing
movements) w/c (Mixture of fortunes)
6. Power – Kaiser ‘personal rule’ based authority on the divine right of kings. Boasted
never read the constitution. Yet he was not unintelligent. Had a good memory and the
political power to direct things. Yet his mood was volatile and not charismatic. – Daily
Telegraph affair! Failed to appreciate the changes that were happening in the economy –
during the war he played a subordinate role to Hindenburg and Lundendorff.
7. Power – Chancellors. Bulow – Managed Reichstag for a decade. He was a manipulator
who wanted to further himself. With the Daily telegraph affair lost support of the Kaiser.
Bethmann – Hard working but lacked experience.
Chancellors very different but they were the product of the constitution!
Reichstag – Was divided in to those that wanted change and those that did not. Yet
decline in conservative force combined with growth of SPD meant further division was
caused.
The Army – Centre of political and social life. Signed an oath of loyalty, conscription
meant military values throughout country, virtually independent of Reichstag and no constrained
power. Drew up Schlieffen plan. Modeled themselves on the upper classes therefore still a
conservative right-wing force.
Domestic Politics in Wilhelmine Germany.
1. Advent of Welpolitik – Expansion of German navy Naval bills passed 1898 and 1900.
Bulow hoped to reduce the conflicting interests on the domestic front by rallying support
behind this policy.
2. Bulow – Social Reform – Extension of accident insurance 1900, and an extension of the
probation of child labour.
Budget – Welpolitik problems with not enough money. Tried to increase inheritance tax but
failed in 1905 – as conservatives and SPD against it. Buget problems began to grow!
Hottentot election – Reichstag attacking him for policy in German South Wes Africa. He
proposed compensating white settlers and of sending extra money to crush the rebels against
them. Yet Reichstag voted against him! Reichstag dissolved. Bulow bloc created yet coalition
very fragile! (Government seemed at the mercy of events not in control of them!)
Daily Telegraph Affair – Bulow sacked. Showed power of Kaiser. Reichstag allowed
monarch to control things!
Bethmann – The Reichstag. Collapse of Bulow Bloc. Election of 1912 shift to the left. Fear
of socialism for conservatives confirmed.
Military spending – In the wake of second Moroccan crisis army and navy needed more
money. Inheritance Tax now passed.
Zabern affair - Kaiserreich power as Bethamann still in power after defeat in Reichstag.
Who actually ran Germany?
1. Kaiser ‘personal rule.’ – Rohl. G. constitution granted him extensive powers. Right to
appoint and dismiss Chancellor. Zabern Affair. YET – His grasp on politics was limited,
he was lazy, no routine, out of Berlin for long periods of time. Had to work within a
constitution. Reichstag could not be ignored as it had power to endorse or reject
legislation (Inheritance Tax 1905) Turn out to elections increased from50% 1871 – 85%
1912 – G. People saw Reichstag as important!
He claimed “There is only one Ruler in the Reich and I am he’
2. The elites – Structuralists (Wehler)Kaiser did not have ability or strength to rule. Other
forces took advantage of politics. Junkers, army, and judiciary. They exerted the real
power. Their desire to maintain their power! They sought to bring together themselves
with the new emerging industrialists. (Sammlungspolitik) Bulow tended to seek policies
to protect their interests. YET – this argument exaggerates unity of elites, not emphases
fears of middle classes
3. Mass politics movements – History from below (Blackbourn) Kaissereich was a state of
many regions. Growth of political activity.
Overall conclusion:
Balance of power still rested with force of conservatism, although their right to govern was
under threat from forces of change. By 1914 G was not ungovernable it had reached a
situation of stalemate. This made for weak and confused government in the hands of an
entrenched authoritian regime.
The Impact of the War on Germany: Social, Economic and Political Effects
1. Burgfriede – lasted for 2 yrs.
2. Total War – Sale of War bonds – Food (effects of blockades)
3. Political change – As war progressed military leaders became increasingly involved
in politics. Kaiser no power. Not even a serious propaganda image was created.
Impacted power of Chancellor. Without Kaiser Bethmann’s power declined. Silent
dictatorship – Hindenburg and Lundendorff. (Held power of Supreme Army
Command)They forced Bethmann out of office and promoted own ministers.
4. Human experience – War dead 1.8 million. By 1918 popular joke – ‘What family is
going to survive the war with all six sons alive?’ (The Kaiser had six sons!) Yet
despite signs of resentment only when war was lost did discontent within army row!
5. The Home Front – In 1914 vast majority of Germans supported War. Yet by 1916
decline in living standards discontent grew. (Flu epidemic)
6. War aims – central to political and economic changes in Wartime Germany. – Some
wanted a victory peace yet opposition form a lot of groups. Yet power of Supreme
Command could not be ignored.
7. Polarisation of politics. Right – Fatherland Party backed by Hindenburg and
Lundendorff. By 1918 it boasted 1.2 million. Left – Spartacus League. (SPD)
8. Defeat in 1918 – Lundendorf and Hindenburg sought a peace with Allies. – Stabbed
Germany in the back!
Possible questions:

How far was Wilhelmine Germany an entrenched authoritian state?

WW1 accentuated rather than narrowed Germany’s political divisions.’ How far do you agree?

Without the First World War Wilhelmine Germany would have evolved in to a well Established constitutional
monarchy.’ How far do you agree?

How far did the impact of the War heighten social and political tensions?