Detailed Grade 9 notes for AQA GCSE HISTORY: GERMANY
Concise typed notes based directly off the AQA Specification and past GCSE Exam Questions.
Colour coded notes with images and mnemonics to aid your revision.
Kaiser Wilhelm ruled 1888-1919 (aged 29). He was authoritarian and militaristic.
Wilhelm industrialised Germany and by 1913 Germany was producing more iron, steel and coal than
Britain.
Impact of industrialisation on Germany
Positives Negatives
Wealth from iron and steel industry Workers weren’t happy with working
conditions
More job opportunities Overcrowding and poor living conditions
New tramways and trolley buses were 30% of population worked on land=
built decrease of food
Many voted for a new political party called the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
They believed in socialism and hoped that Wilhelm would share his power and improve working
conditions.
Working class people joined trade unions and organised strikes hoping that it would force Wilhelm to
improve working conditions. By 1914, over 3 million workers joined.
Weltpolitik= world policy. Germany colonized other countries; particularly in Africa
5 Naval Laws were introduced between 1898 – 1912 by Admiral Von Tirpitz.
Purpose was to increase size of the army + navy.
Lots of money was spent= taxes increased= money borrowed= Germany in debt.
,CHAPTER 2
On the 9th November 1918 Wilhelm abdicated and left Germany.
General Ludendorff has advised him that Germany could not win the war. The mutiny in Kiel also proved
that he had lost all control and his army generals refused to support him.
Friedrich Ebert took Kaiser’s place. On 11th November 1918 war ended.
Friedrich Ebert promised to:
1. Hold elections to make the country a democratic society
2. Improve working conditions
3. Help unemployed
4. Improve housing
Impact of War by 1918
Social Economic Policitally
Food shortages= rationing as Germany was bankrupt Politically unstable
British Navy stopped ships
going to Germany
Influenza broke out Lent money to allies Mutiny and revolution
600,000 war widows and Factories exhausted as no Politicians were referred to as
2,000,000 children without money was being made ‘ November Criminals ‘
fathers
Society was divided as some Borrowed money which
made a fortune whilst others needed paying back
struggled to survive
Women worked in factories War pensions would be
which damaged traditional expensive for the government
family values
Spartacist Uprising
On the 6th January 1919 the Spartacists tried to take over Berlin.
They wanted Germany to be run by small councils of soldiers + workers.
The revolution failed as Ebert sent the Free Corps to stop them.
The leaders were arrested and murdered, and the government regained control.
The SPD party won the election in January 1919 and Ebert became the new German president.
The politicians met in Weimar to discuss how to run Germany.
The Weimar Government was formed on the 11th February 1919.
Free Corps = Ex-German soldiers
Spartacists = German communists (led by Rosa Luxemburg &Karl Liebknecht)
, Weimar Constitution
Strengths Weaknesses
All Germans had equal rights, including the Article 48= this gave the president power to
right to vote act alone in an emergency. Often power
was abused
Reichstag had more power than before; Proportional representation= a political
they made laws and appointed party had to win over 50% of votes in order
government. to pass laws. This rarely happened.
President had less power and wasn’t
involved in day to day duties.
Treaty of Versailles
Land= Germany had to hand over its colonies, lost 13% of its land. Anschluss forbidden.
Army= 100,000 soldiers. No submarines/tanks/airforce. Demilitarise the Rhineland.
Money= £6.6 billion in reparations.
Blame= Germany had to take full responsibility for starting the war. War Guilt clause 23.
Germany hated the treaty because they felt that it was too harsh; they were angry and humiliated. They
hated that it was a diktat and felt betrayed by the politicians.
Hyperinflation Crisis
Germany had failed to pay the reparations so French and Belgian troops invaded the Ruhr in January 1923.
The government ordered for workers to go on strike and not fight back (passive resistance). They promised
to continue to pay them.
However, Germany was short of money as the Ruhr wasn’t producing iron, coal or steel to trade. Lots of
money was printed to pay striking workers and reparations.
Shop prices increased, and more money was printed = hyperinflation.
o Money and savings were worthless.
o Fixed pensions left the elderly struggling to survive.
o Small businesses collapsed as trade was impossible due to constant change in prices.
o Easy to pay off debts.
o The government was to blame as it was their decision to call a strike and to print money.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller isabella14. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $8.87. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
