Germany Kaiser Wilhelm II (crowned in 1888) took a much more active role in government affairs than Wilhelm I. As a result, the power of Bismarck’s successor as Chancellor, Leo von Caprivi, was limited. The course of German domestic policy followed a similar path to that taken by Bismarck i.e. conservative. However, foreign policy became much more aggressive. At home, the German government was forced to respond to two significant changes/problems: (a) economic and industrial changes (b) political changes

Industrialisation in Germany By 1914 Germany was second only to the USA in industrial output. As the tables show, coal and steel production increased, as did imports and exports. Only Russia had more rail track Only Britain had a larger navy Germany pioneered the development of new industries e.g. chemicals and electricity A “tertiary sector” also developed, e.g. finance, retail etc. This rapid industrialisation had a significant impact on German society…

Social Impact of Industrialisation Tension between new social classes See documents p. 6 (Layton) & pp Rural aristocracy vs. urban bourgeoisie Lower middle class squeezed out Growing working class Growing inequality Little social mobility due to lack of higher education opportunities Working class vs. upper class Skilled vs. unskilled workers Urbanisation Cultural differences – urban vs. rural Cities = poverty, crime, corruption & radical ideas Countryside = anti-modern, traditional, conservative Workers in cities worked long hours in poor conditions for low pay → discontent (strikes etc.)

The Rise of the SPD 1890 – 35 seats 1912 – 110 seats A mass party, representing the growing working class and strengthened by years of persecution. Despite radical rhetoric, the SPD pursued moderate social and political change. Nevertheless, the German government regarded them as a dangerous threat and treated them with disdain. There was no chance that the Kaiser would allow them to govern, despite their majority in the Reichstag. (see p.8) However, the SPD could make life difficult for the government e.g. by voting against military spending and tax rises for workers. Therefore repression of socialism continued – see p.17 (Retallack) Internally, they were divided between those promoting radicalism and those who favoured moderate reform.

Political Division As the SPD grew, the right-wing parties in the Reichstag on whom the Kaiser’s government relied were losing support. It therefore became increasingly difficult for the government to pass legislation. The Reichstag became divided between those who wanted to maintain the existing order and those who wanted greater democracy. Meanwhile, outside parliament, several pressure groups emerged e.g. farmers union, German Industrialists, Pan-German League… Reichstag Army Pressure Groups KaiserMinisters

Solutions to Germany’s “problems”? How did the government try and heal the divisions which existed within German society? Sammlungspolitik (see docs p.11) Central to this was the construction of a new naval fleet. Aimed to encourage patriotism, opposition to socialism, and support for an ambitious foreign policy (Weltpolitik). Aimed to ‘rally together’ Germany’s social elites – landowners, new industrialists, and the army. Was Weltpolitik, as H.U. Wehler argued, ‘social imperialism’? An attempt to bolster the position of the elites by diverting attention away from social reform and towards popular support for the Kaiser, the army, and the imperial government…?

An “Escape Forwards”? Theory that Germany went to war in 1914 to solve its domestic problems. An aggressive foreign policy (Weltpolitik) pursued in order to rally Germany’s powerful elites together and crush the threat of Social Democracy. (see pp.15-16) Was Germany really so ungovernable after the SPD’s election success that the government thought war was the only solution? (The view of Fritz Fischer) “Only a successful foreign policy can help to reconcile, pacify, rally, unite.” Bernhard von Bülow (Foreign Minister, then Chancellor)