History GCSE Germany. For AQA students only. This helped me achieve a grade 9 at GCSE History during the 2023 exams. Super helpful as complete chronological summary of all the course as well as facts that can be easily used in your essays. Last page contains the way to answer all the questions in t...
History Revision Germany
Kaiser Wilhelm II’s problems up to 1914: reigned from 1888-1918 grandchild of Queen
Victoria
- Had to cooperate with the Reichstag to get his navy laws (1889-1912 build a larger
navy to rival the British) passed. Reichstag started to gain more power than him.
- Industrialisation & the growth of socialism (Social Democrats in the Reichstag largest
party 1912) meant that people thought the monarchy was old fashioned and did not
like their increased taxes for the navy laws or the Kaiser’s recklessness.
- Wanted to rule Germany alone without
German Empire had many different states. Prussia was the dominating one - Prussian
Junkers owned most of land, aristocracy/nobility and insistent on keeping in power. Legal
system, civil service & diplomatic corps also majoritively Prussian Junkers.
Chancellor = “head of government” but appointed personally by Kaiser & responsible solely
to Kaiser. Very limited democracy.
Prior to 1880, Germany was fairly agricultural. Economy grad undergoes industrialisation
after 1880 = greater urbanisation. Prominent industries: coal, steel, chemicals, electronics.
This led to an increase in demand for socialism (idea that ordinary people & workers should
have more rights, power & welfare) but power in Germany was down to the Catholic Church,
Junkers, Kaiser, military & conservative elite so opposed this change.
Navy Laws Advantages (supported by Grand Admiral von Tirpitz): Provision of jobs,
challenging British naval dominance, consolidating German military power.
Disadvantages: Expensive, risk of provoking Britain, danger of other countries doing the
same.
- The Navy Laws were a consolidation of Kaiser Wilhem’s power as he forced the
laws through without the explicit approval of the Reichstag
1918 allies occupied the Rhineland - one of Germany’s main industrial areas
4 Demands from the Treaty of Versailles for Germany (June 28, 1919):
❖ Loss of land - 10% of land which contained 13% of population & overseas colonies
lost. German troops not allowed in certain areas, decrease of German empire.
❖ Armed forces restricted - not allowed tanks, submarines or air force, only 6
battleships in Navy, army reduced to 100,000 men (many lost jobs), conscription
banned.
❖ “War guilt clause” - Germany forced to sign it & fully blamed for starting WWI.
❖ Money to be paid in reparations to France & Belgium: fixed amount (1921) of
£6.6 billion to be broken into annual payments & had to be paid back in gold.
Effects of Treaty of Versailles:
➢ Military: Germany left w a shattered, angry, disillusioned military unloyal to Weimar
gov
➢ Economic: Massive reparations need to be paid & large chunks of industry
transferred to other countries
, ➢ Social: Many feel angry/betrayed. Many also killed in WWI & others widowed &
grieving
➢ Political: Weimar Republic is shaky, not stable or accepted by everyone
A major weakness of the Weimar constitution was the use of proportional representation to
vote for members of Reichstag as it gave more extreme parties e.g. Nazis a say in German
affairs. Also created a weak coalition gov. Another weakness was President’s powers called
Article 48 (emergency decree laws). In an “emergency” president could pass any laws they
wished, whether or not they were in country’s best interests. If it fell into wrong hands =
dictatorship.
The Spartacists Uprising 1919 (Left-Wing):
● Did not trust new gov, thought that President Ebert would not improve the lives of
working people (Frederich Ebert → Social Democrats leader 1919) & wanted a
full-scale Communist revolution like in Russia.
● Jan 1919, workers were protesting throughout Germany & Spartscists tried to turn
this into a revolution. Berlin - took over gov’s newspaper & telegraph headquarters
hoping other protesters would join them in taking over other buildings but this did not
happen. Gov ordered army to stop uprising w/ help of Freikorps unit (ex-soldiers
anti-communist). 100+ workers killed & leaders Rosa Luxemborg & Karl Liebknetch
killed.
The Freikorps - Kapp Putsch 1920 (Right-Wing):
● Weimar Gov made it clear it would reduce size of army & disband Freikors as
left-wing parties had been crushed. Leader of Berlin Freikors refused to disband &
planned to seize control of Berlin to form new right-wing gov, led by Wolfgang Kapp.
● 12,000 Freikorps marched to Berlin & Army asked to stop putsch but
commander-in-chief refused to give order to fire on former soldiers. Gov had to flee.
Freikorps put forward Kapp as new leader of Germany.
● Leaders of Weimar Gov & Trades Unions called on German people to not support the
Putsch and go on strike. Impossible for Kapp to rule as failed to win popular support.
After 4 days, Kapp fled Berlin & Ebert’s Weimar gov returned.
Munich Putsch 1923:
Adolf Hitler (leader of Nazi Party) & General Ludendorff attempted Munich Putsch. Otto
von Lossow & Gustav von Kahr speaking at meeting & Hitler & 600 of his SA burst in stating
they want to overthrow German gov. Hitler forces Kahr & Lossow into side room with gun &
makes them say they will support a march on Berlin to overthrow gov & Ludendorff will take
over as German leader. After they agree, they are allowed to leave. German gov responds
by Ebert declaring state of emergency & Lossow & army ordered to crush revolt. 9th nov,
Kahr & Lossow decide to not join saying they are against it. Still continue with march - 2000
armed Nazis march to military base in Munich & stopped by armed police & German
soldiers. Shot fired (by Nazi) & police fire back. 14 Nazis killed, Ludendorff arrested but Hitler
flees. Hitler arrested 2 days later and Nazi party banned & both H & L put on trial for treason
(death penalty charge) but Hitler only gets 5 years (only does 9 months) & L gets away no
charges. Nazi party almost broken up.
1919 - 1925 = Friedrich Ebert president of Weimar republic → stable presidential
leadership allowing it to survive
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