The problem with Wilhelms II Germany

1. The problem with Wilhelms II Germany • Problems with democratic development • Influence of the Kaiser • Economic growth • Aggressive foreign policy

2. The Kaiser • “Wilhelm probably had greater control over the course of events than any other ruler in Europe.” • The person of the Kaiser has been much debated • clever but emotional • not a deep thinker • Junker and an supporter of the army • The army and the nobility (Junkers) dominated politics in Wilhelmine Germany • The army half a million

3. Political parties • Conservatives - Junkers - favoured protectionistic politics • Liberals turning towards the right • The catholic Center party - balancing left and right • The social democratic party of the workers • Became the largest party - opposed to reformism in theory but not in practice

4. Dropping of the pilot • Wilhelm dismissed Bismarck because of disagreement over two issues • Wilhelm did not want to renew the reinsurance treaty with Russia • And he did not want to renew the anti-socialist legislation of Bismarck

5. Wilhelmine labor politics • The problem of the rising worker population the main internal problem • Wilhelm preferred a more paternalistic view towards the workers than Bismarck • sundays rest-days • laws against child labour • Commercial treaties reducing tariffs on food • This policy did little to reduce support of workers to the social democrats • The Junkers formed the agrarian league to fight for protectionism

6. 4.2. Economic expansion • Underlying factors: • Rapid population growth 50-65 million people 1890-1910 • Steady growth in heavy industry (surpassing Britain • Railway expansion 41009 km to 60000 km 1890 to 1910 • Merchant fleet growing even faster

7. Economic expansion • Government and banks supportive of new industries • Germans progressive in electrical and chemical industries. • Fertilisers and sugar beets • Half of world electrotechnical trade in German hands 1913 – AEG Siemens

8. Effect of economic boom • Effect on working conditions • Better wages • Slum clearance programs • increased demands of workers • the workers party SPD had limited say in politics even if it was the largest party 1914

9. 5.3 Caprivi chancellor • Caprivi rejected the Bismarckian idea of enemies of the state: • Anti-socialist laws allowed to lapse • Better working conditions • Less restrictions agains minorities • Some limits on Prussias independence • Agricultural tariffs reduced

10. Caprivis fall • Caprivi ran into trouble with liberals and junkers – • Wilhelm disappointed with the socialism of workers. • Even if Caprivi did not renew the reinsurance treaty he had no “welt” interest

11. 5.4 Wilhelms chancellors • Hohenlohe 1894-1900 • A lull before the storm • Von Bulow1900-1909 • More aggressive in foreign adventures • Daily Telegraph affair • –Bulow sacked • Wilhelm discredited • Bethmann-Hollweg 1909-1917 • Ignorant of foreign affairs • Not the best choice for july 1914

12. The Reichstag • Could never put pressure on government • Why was it so weak • Chancellor not responsible to reichstag • Uneven constituencies • Parties unable to form coalition • Bismarck split them • Not used to practical politics • Social democrats – marxist rhetoric

13. The predominance of the army • The army is growing as the most powerful instituion of government • Weak Chancellors • Unreliable monarch • Divided reichstag • Germans couldn’t forget the glories of Sedan and Sadowa • Zabern affair - the army is predominant in society • Schlieffen plan military thinking

14. Fritz Fischers view • “German foreign policy after 1897 must be understood as a response to the internal threat of Socialism and democracy”. • Samlungspolitik: • New tariffs on grain and the naval buildup program and an ambitious foreign policy were attempts to capture public support by government in serious difficulties. • A new union of rye and steel • The growth of the Social democratic party was alarming – election victory 1912

15. Foreign policy before Wilhelm II • Bismarks policy: • Isolation of France, • keeping good relations with Russia • Reinsurance treaty • The new leaders thought this treaty incompatible with promises to Austria • The dismissal of Bismarck ended russo-german relations.

16. Russian and British reaction • 1891-1894 The Franco-Russian alliance formed. • Now the Germans possibly face war on two fronts and in 1891 the Schlieffen plan is drawn in response. • Britain was the only power outside alliances to 1904 • Germans wanted to frighten the British into alliance. • Naval building was supposed to do this but had opposite effect • From 1904 Austria and Germany are isolated.

17. Weltpolitik • Personal ambiton of the kaiser • Appointed the hawks to office • Tirpitz navalministry, Bulow foreign office • Growing industry and economy needs outlet • Unification only the first step to world power • Weltpolitik united the people behind agressive state nationalism • Used to distract the workers and the middle classes

18. Weltpolitik • Great states want influence • Had colonial ambitions - esp. after 1890 • But what they got was before 1890 • except two Samoan islands • Kruger telegram • Influnce in China • Berlin-Baghdad railway through Ottoman empire • supposed to open economic oppertunities • but Germans had to share it with Britain and France • limited economic and political advantage

20. Wilhelm and navy expansion • The isolation from Russia called for the Schlieffen plan which called for increase in the army. • Bulow and Tirpitz started the naval expansion by the naval laws (1897) • Tirpitz convinced the reichstag and the public of the necessity of this if Germany wanted to be a world power. • Naval arms race with Britain

21. Morocco • Colonial policy: want a sphere of influence, trading rights etc. • European policy: want to frustrate and tackle the French in a save area. • The all over gain was limited, Germany gave Morocco up and got instead small regions in Africa and a reassurance of France and British entente.

22. European foreign policy • Navy, colonies, middle east affair all alianate the british. • 1905 a rather desperate attempt by Tsar Nicholas and Wilhelm to reach agreement • Bjork treaty not ratified • With only the friendship of Austria and halfhearted Italy, Germans start to complain about encirclement • whatever comes from Vienna is my command (Wilhelm in 1912)

23. Historical debate • Wilhelmine Germany 1890-1914 • What was the mainstream of historical thinking about Wilhelmine Germany before Fischer. • Why did Fritz Fischers claim that Germany was primarly responsible for the outbreak of the war call for a new evaluation of Wilhelmine society and politics. • If you look at Wehlers portrayal of Wilhelmine politics, are they different from Bismarcks politics? • What are the main points of criticism aimed at Wehlers ideas by recent historians.

24. The political situation • Germany is hardly a democracy • The democraticly elected reichstag has legislative powers, limited control over budget and no say in appointment of ministers • The ministers are responsible to the kaiser, he appoints the and dismisses them • The kaiser had also the power to dissolve the reichstag