German History mock exam

How did Caprivi have authority between 1890-94?

• Gained support from Centre and SPD over allowing Polish to be spoken in schools, strategic as it was not costly and still didnt vilify Conservatives and NL to badly

• Realpolitik - called 1893 election over army bill, and successfully played of the left (decreasing conscription from 3 to 2 years) and right (increased size of army by 84,000) causing the conservative opposition to loose 2 seats

• Range of authority - social, economic, and military reforms

What challenges and limitations did Wilhelm II face?

• Ability to make objective decisions clouded by personal prejudice

• Inconsistent with ideas making stability and consistency harder (losts of Chancellor switches) - “Like a balloon…you`ll never know were he`ll be off to” Bismark

• Eulenburg scandal (rumours of homosexuality with advisor) showed he could be critised

• Growing left opposition

• No checks and balances after the death of Victoria

For what reasons did Bulow have more independence as a Chancellor than Caprivi or Hohenlohe?

• He had an improved relationship with the Kaiser and so was the first Chancellor he trusted

• He had experience (Foreign Minister from 1897-1900) and so could be more assertive

In what way did Caprivi not have authority between 1890-94?

• Vilified his political base: served in Schleswig (1864), Austrian (1866) and Franco-Prussian (1870-71) wars, yet still made the Junkers and NLs so angry over 1892 Education Bill (allowing Catholic influnce back into education) lost Prussian Prime Ministership

• Did this further with Conservatives over 1893 Tariff Reforms (returned in 1902)

• Over invested in Centre party who only had 107 seats in 1890 compared to 128 for Conservatives and NL

How did Hohenlohe have authority between 1894-1900?

• Amazing Weltpolitik - 3rd largest empire on 4 continents leading to exports equaling that of Britain, 3 new battleships every year of tenure, 7th to 2nd largest navy (however DKP vote fell in every election of the 1890s so maybe not actually selling Weltpolitik), Navy Law 1898 7 new battleships

• Sammlungspolitik not terrible, SPD gained only 12 votes in 1898 election compared to 25 in 1903 (however influence by tariff reforms, lost 1m votes in 1907)

• He was a Catholic who was hated by the Zentrum (for supporting the Kulturkampf) therefore hated from all sides and so the fact he did anything was impressive

How did Hohenlohe not have authority between 1894-1900?

• Completely illegitimate the role of Chancellor and thus undermining its authority - sacking of SPD HQ, led to completed deadlock by 1897

• Passed no social or economic reform to name of in 6 years

• He was a self proclaimed straw doll

How did Bulow have authority? (1900-1909)

• Was able to command vast influence over public opinion - his demonisation of the SPD in the Hottentot election (1907) led to their loss of 1m votes - quelling the rise of socialism, first electoral retraction since 1887

• First Chancellor to be trusted by Wilhelm 2

• Established a cross party alliance ranging from Left Liberals to the DKP - showing his authority stretching across the Political spectrum, again not seen since Bismark

• Therefore has authority among the Public, Reichstag and Kaiser

How did Bulow not have authority? (1900-1909)

• Influence over public opinion a straw man arguement. He failed to show authority over Catholic vilifiation they gained a seat in Tottentot election

• His authority came from the work of previous chancellors - weltpolitik started by Hohelohe, Tirpitz (1897-16) and Kaiser, social reforms merley exention of Caprivi, tariffs were Bismarcks (1879) taxes were his only thing and they failed (1905)

How did Bethmann-Hollweg have authority? (1909-1917)

• 1909 passed inheritance tax with help of SPD selling its as normalising direct taxation, strong manoverve

• Survived the Zabern Affair (1913) despite 293 votes against, vast swaiths of political capital to spear with the Kaiser

• Got every single Reichstag deputy to vote for war credits in 1914

• His authority remained through, and extended from economic to political (reform of Alsace constitution 1911 giving it its own upper and lower house) to foreign policy (second moroccan crisis 1911)

How did Bethmann-Hollweg not have authority? (1909-1917)

• Rise of SPD - 110 votes

• Survived the Zabern Affair (1913) despite 293 votes against, vast swaiths of political capital to spear with the Kaiser

• Allowed the passing of a Peace without victory resolution despite control over all newspapers

What were the economic impacts of ww1 on Germany?

1) War Credits (loans from German population) added to economic crisis later (as pop has less disposable income to develop the post war economy) (long term)

2) Pre-war deficit (5bn marks)

3) Destabilised productivity both politically and socially (politically 400,000 workers struck in Jan 1918) (socially meat consumption 20% of prewar level so less healthy and therefore less productive workforce)

4) Devastated agriculture due to the blockade preventing the import of pesticides and fertilisers (agricultural production fell by 40-60%)

5)750,00 died of starvation or hypothermia

What were the political impacts of ww1 on Germany?

• Growth of far-left (parts of USPD+RSS+SL = KPD)

• Growth of far-right (Fatherland Party 400,000 members by 1918)

• Collapse of centre (SPD, V, DkP supported Bergfriedenspolitik - Castle peace, don`t critise government)

• Silent Dictatorship restricted media, allowing development of Stab in the Back myth

• Fracture of relationship between left and centre (Freikorp
  20,000, 1,000 in Berlin alone)

What were the strengths of the Weimar Constitution? (July 1919)

1) Truely represent (PR, universal sufferage over 20) (3)
2) Division of power to uphold democracy (Reichstat, Reichstag, President, state Landtags - eg Reichstat didn't allow one sate to have more 2/5 of the seats to prevent Prussian domination)
3) Break from the past (adopted flag of 1848 revolution, was a republic)

What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution? (July 1919)

1) Unequal division of power (no checks & balances on the President for 7 years, could trigger article 48 whenever they wanted)
2) Continuation of structural inequalities (made no attempt to create a more equal society eg land reforms for peasants which allowed polarisation & growth of right, this that led to instability not PR)

What were the causes of the Kapp Putsh? (3)

1) Weakness of the government, the government had been altered to possible attacks from the right as early as July 1919 yet completely failed to act with Noske voicing his trust in the army the same day as the Putsh
2) The fear of the Bourgeoisie with workers power growing so rapidly (eg from unions illegal to Bavarian soviet)
3) Leading Generals not actively rejecting the Coup when offered to join it made it a practical possibility

What were the events of the Kapp Putsh? (5)

1) 5,000 Freikorp & soldiers marched on Berlin led by Dr. Wolfgang Kapp
2) Ebert & government flee to Stuttgart
3) Army says 'Reichswehr do not fire on Reichswehr'
4) General strike begins same day as Putsh & armed rebellion against supporters of the Putsh takes place in the Ruhr, Thuringia & Saxony
5) Kapp flees 4 days after the Putsh

What were the consequences of the Kapp Putsh? (3)

1) Shows strength of Weimar (people striking & fighting for the Republic)
2) The government failed to act disisively against the far right allowing it to grow - long term)
3) Shows weakeness of Weimar (the government had no mass base with which it could rely - W/C striking despite Ebert not wanting it, much of the establishment rebelling)

What triggered unrest in the Ruhr?

Response to the Kapp Putsh, with grew to more political demands about workers representation, establishing democratically elected workers councils
It was also not in isolation with similar unrest taking place in Thuringia & to a lesser extent Saxony

When was the unrest in the Ruhr?

March 1920

How many people joined the Red Army in the Ruhr in March 1920 to fight against the Kappist?

50,000

What were the consequences of unrest in the Ruhr?

1,000 workers murdered
Sobering effect on the Labour movement, no more general strikes in the whole of the Weimar Period (stunting grow of left, allowed material conditions to get bad enough for growth of far right)

In what way was the governments response to left and right unequal justice?

1) General amnesty for Freikorp soldiers who had taken party in Kapp Putsch
2) 1000 workers murdered in the Ruhr for demanding political reform

How many political assassinations were carried out by the left between 1919-1922?

22

How many political assassinations were carried out by the right between 1919-1922?

354

What caused the 1923 Munich Putsch?

• Hyperinflation

• 1922 March on Rome

• A need to give the SA something to prevent loosing control

Outline the event of the Munich Putsch 1923

• Kahr (Bavarian minster President) backed out of plans for the Putsch (October)

• Hitler and Ludendorff had 3,000 troops hyped up ready to go, so had to continue (shows Hitlers early stupidity?)

• Hitler and 600 SA storm a Beer house with Kahr inside and force him, at gunpoint, to join the rebellion

• Kahr is released and warns Berlin of the rebellion

• Next day 3,000 SA march of Munich, met by Police waiting who kill 16 members of the SA, injuring Goring

What are the consequences of the Munich Putsch?

• Short term failure: Hitler not allowed to make public speakers until 1927 (slowed growth of party)

• Long term success: The fact he only served 8 months proved the establishment already had sympathies for Nazi ideas

• Wrote Mein Kampf in prision to provide an ideological backbone to the party

• Used the trial as a public stage to grow the Nazis

Who was the theorist, and wrote almost in its entirety, the 25 point plan?

Deitrich Eckart

In what way did political instability increased from 1924-29?

In the 1928 election, 50% of the vote went to Pro-Weimar parties, whist Nazis got just 2.6%

In what way did political instability not increased from 1924-28?

• Elite continued to resent the lost of power brought by Weimar democracy (Junker due to Reich Settlement Law redistributed some of the Junkers land in 1919, Industialists due to workers rights, eg 8 hour day 1918, legalisation of Trade Unions in all parts of Germany - previously illegal in Bavaria)

What were the impacts of reparations of the post-war German economy?

• Treaty of Versailles (June 1919) stipulated Germany to pay 132bn Goldmarks

• Directly led to the occupation of the Ruhr (Jan 23-Aug 25, 60,000 troops) Passive resistance so still payed wages but received no product

• Hyperinflation (bread 250marks jan `23 to 210bnmarks Nov `23

• Positive impact - limited arms spending (under 100k in army, no airforce) so more money for development

What actions by Gustav Stresemann improved Germany`s economic situation? (1924-25)

• Rentenmark - inroduced Nov 1924, 1 rentenmark = 1bn mark, tied to value of land so could be printed on mass. Prevented hyperinflation and restored faith in economy (more FDI)

• The Dawes Plan (1924), Germany to pay 1bn Reichsmarks for 5 years (then rising to 2.5bn annually), and given a 800million Reichsmarks loan from US to stabilise economy

• Called an end the Passive resistance (Sep 23)

What were the impacts of the Young plan on the German economic? (1929)

• Reduced reparations by 20%

• Reduced annual payment to 2bn Reichsmarks

What was the impact of the Great Depression on the German economy?

• Unemployment - rose from 600k (1928) to 6m (1933), industrial areas such as Thuringia hit hardest. This led to the collapse of agricultural prices (falling by 60%) due to land of demand (due to poverty)

• Bankruptcy - 50,000 businesses went bust

• Recalled loans - especially in Sep 1930 due to extremist parties doing well in election

In what ways did the German economy deteriorate between 1914-23?

The effect of War and the subsequent treat of Versailles (28th June 1919)

• Devastated agriculture - blockade preventing import of pesticides and fertilisers (agricultural production fell by 40-60%)

• People - cost of bread increased 250 marks in Jan 1923 to 210bn marks by November (due to the occupation of the Ruhr by 60,000 French&Belgium troops). IDisproportionately affected the elderly and those in wage labour, compared to the rich with their money stored in assets)

• Industry Destabilised productivity both politically and socially (politically 400,000 workers struck in Jan 1918) (socially meat consumption 20% of prewar level so less healthy and therefore less productive workforce). Industry as also damaged by loss of natural resources such as coal in the Saarland (13% of territory lost)

In what way did the German economy improve between 1914-23?

• Agriculture - Reich Settlement Law (1919) promised to redistribute a 1/3 of land held by estates larger than 100 hectares (Baltic Third). However most Junker refused and only ¼ of this promised land was expropriated with only 57k new farmers gaining land

• Industry - New currency Rentenmark introduced in Nov 1923 (Stresemann), was tied to the value of land and so couldn`t be printed on mass, more trust from foreign markets and investment increased (1trillion marks = 1 rentenmark)

  Value of loans plumitted, helping borrowers, which some enterepeneurs used to by out competators (Hugo Stinnes owned 20% of German industry by 1924)

• People - the welfare state of Weimar was larger, 8 hr working day introduced 1918

In what way did the economy of Germany recover between 1923-1929?

• People - Terms of Versailles reduced to 1bn marks a year (rising to 2.5bn after 5 years, 2.5% of annual GDP) prevented large army (under 100k, no airforce) and so more spending on the needs of the general population, eg over 200,000 new homes built by 1926, 1927 Unemployment insurance act protects 16m from sickness or loss of work. Real wages grew every year from 1924-29

• Agriculture - Stresemann negotiated Franco-German deal of Potash (a fertilizers) to help agriculture, subsidies for German farmers

• Industry - recovered due to foreign investment (800m marks from US in 1934 Dawes Plan, IG Farben largest chemical producer in the world by 1926

In what way did the economy of Germany not recover between 1923-29?

• Industry - Allies still control railways, Reichsbank and custom duties preventing Germany from developing its industry

• Agriculture - farmers still carried disproportionate load, Landvolk movement over taxation 1928-33 (agricultural output had fallen by over 25% from 1913-1929)

• People employers succeeded in getting rid of the 8 hour day, damaging productivity and increasing the wealth gap

In what way did the economy of Germany recover between 1929-33?

• People - reparations payments suspended at the Lausanne Conference in 1932 (which left more money for welfare)

• Lausanne Conference (1932) reduced reparations by 90%

In what way did the economy of Germany not recover between 1929-33?

• Industry - global trade decreased by 60% destroying Germanys export market, 50,000 companies went bankrupt between 1930-32

• People - unemployment increased from 600k 1928 to 6m 1933, cut in welfare - war victims (widows and veterans) pensions cut by 1/3 between 1928-33

• Agriculture - crop prices fell by 60% due to less disposable income decreasing demand, 18k farmers went bankrupt by 1932

In what way did the economy of Germany recover from 1933-34?

In what way did the economy of Germany not recover from 1933-34?

• People - increase in food costs meant that a rise in wages was not felt

What were the two methods that the Nazis used to try and stimulate the economy?

Indirect stimulus: policies such as tax cuts and government grants were designed to boost spending and, in doing so, lead to greater employment (Businesses to allow them to repay their debts, buy new machinery or employ more workers,Newly married couples to spend on furniture - industry and people)

Direct stimulus: the government set up schemes that employed people to work on government projects (
Name the Direct measures used for economic recovery

The Reinhardt Programme, established in June 1933, committed RM1,000 million to public works schemes, such as road building, bridge repairs and the construction and improvement of Germany's waterways. These projects included improvements to the railway network and the creation of jobs in the postal service, which allowed for the employment of unskilled and semi-skilled workers)

In what way did left-wing politics develop in Germany between 1914-23?

• Provided with political momentum by the Russian Revolution of 1917, combined with the coming together of the Revolutionary Shop Stewards, Spartacist League and parts of the USPD to form the KPD in Jan 1919

In what way did centrist politics develop in Germany between 1914-23?

In what way did right-wing politics develop in Germany between 1914-23?

In what way did left-wing politics develop in Germany between 1924-29?

In what way did centrist politics develop in Germany between 1924-29?

In what way did right-wing politics develop in Germany between 1924-29?

In what way did left-wing politics develop in Germany between 1929-34?

In what way did centrist politics develop in Germany between 1929-34?

In what way did right-wing politics develop in Germany between 1929-34?

Explain the role of the military as a opposition to Nazism between 1933-39

In what way did the military not act as a form of opposition to Nazism between 1933-39?

Explain the role of the Church as a opposition to Nazism between 1933-39

In what way did the Church not act as a form of opposition to Nazism between 1933-39?

Explain the role of the left as a opposition to Nazism between 1933-39

In what way did the left not act as a form of opposition to Nazism between 1933-39?

Explain the role of the military as a opposition to Nazism between 1939-45

In what way did the military not act as a form of opposition to Nazism between 1939-45?

Explain the role of the Church as a opposition to Nazism between 1939-45

In what way did the Church not act as a form of opposition to Nazism between 1939-45?

Explain the role of the left as a opposition to Nazism between 1939-45

In what way did the left not act as a form of opposition to Nazism between 1939-45?