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Whilhelmine Germany Depth Study Revision Summary
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Summary of 18 pages for the course Unit Y314: The challenge of German nationalism at OCR (Depth study sheet)
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Revision: Wilhelmine Germany and the Growth of Nationalism 1884-1914Character and ideas of Wilhelm II
Had a quick (if not original mind), excellent memory and charming manner, but
lacked a deeper understanding of issues, which were often distorted by his
prejudices. His moods and behaviour often fluctuated widely- and he therefore
lacked the power of steady application.
● Wilhelm’s breech birth delivery resulted in partial paralysis of his left arm
and damage to the balance mechanism in his ear- possible psychological
consequences?
● Had a strained relationship with his parents. During his adolescent years,
he grew apart from them, opposing their liberal sympathies and preferring
the company of his grandfather. He particularly enjoyed the regimental life
of the military garrison at Potsdam. (His love of military ceremonial verged
on the pathological.)
● Some have suggested that Wilhelm’s self-assertive and erratic behaviour
should be seen as symptoms of insanity, megalomania or sadism. More
recently, he has been depicted as a repressed homosexual or (more likely)
a sufferer of attention deficit disorder – a mental condition which reveals
itself in volatile and irrational behaviour
The tone and character of Wilhelm II were also shaped by his ambitious mindset
and imperialistic aspirations. He was intolerant of criticism and opposition,
displaying a dogmatic approach to leadership. He viewed himself as a personal
and dominant kaiser, with an optimistic, energetic, and adventurous spirit.
William II forged alliances with pro-war parties and the chief of the general staff,
Count Alfred Von Waldersee. He also aligned himself with a reactionary ultra-
Prussian Kreuzzeitung faction and a Christian-Socialist group. However, his
reckless and ill-judged decision-making led to disunity and a lack of respect for
those beneath him, including politicians. His foreign policy was often clumsy,
belligerent, and damaging, leading to conflicts and tensions with other nations.
Did he hold influence?
No: Averaged 200 days per year travelling on official business and recreation
during his first decade as the Kaiser. Therefore spent limited time in Berlin and
did not have command of the details of the government’s work.
Yes: The German constitution granted him significant powers (e.g. right to
appoint and remove Chancellor and State sects independently from the
Reichstag)- this meant no major decision could be taken without his agreement.
He was also fairly popular- people listened to him.
, The end of Bismarck’s period as Chancellor and its
significance for Germany’s foreign policy
Immediately Before the Kaiser
Bismarck began to change his mind on the merits of colonial expansion toward
the end of his time as Chancellor- why?
● Colonialism had become popular in the 1800s, and pressure groups such
as the German Colonial Union founded in 1882 sprang up with support
from major industrialists, interesting the German public in overseas
expansion.
● Colonies could benefit the German economy by providing new markets
and raw materials, as trading companies were complaining they were
being squeezed out of parts of Africa by foreign rivals.
● Bismarck was considering the possibility of a lasting reconciliation with
France. Active cooperation with France in the colonial field was the first
step, by siding with France and picking quarrels with Britain over German
colonial aims, he could align France with Germany.
● There was an absence of serious difficulties with either Russia or France.
● Bismarck wanted to use colonialism to weaken the liberal parties in the
upcoming 1884 elections and colonialism could help rally patriotic support.
Bismarck deliberately picked quarrels with Britain over colonial aims in South
West Africa and sided with France in opposition to British plans in Egypt. Britain
had no wish to antagonise Germany and was not opposed to it acquiring colonies
as such between 1884 and 1885 Germany acquired Togo, German East Africa,
German SW Africa and the Cameroons totalling over 1,000,000 square miles of
land. However, by 1887 Bismarck was resisting demands for further colonial
expansion on the grounds of German continental security as relations with
France and Russia deteriorated due to the Bulgarian crisis.
Bulgarian Crisis:
This shattered the three emperors’ alliance which was due for renewal in 1887.
Austria and Russia squared up against each other in the Balkans and Bismarck
refused to take sides in the dispute warning the Austrians that Germany would
not help them, and the Russians that he would not abandon Austria.
Bismarck’s fear of French aggression was also revived. In 1886 General
Boulanger became French war minister and talked of a war to recover Alsace
Lorraine, as a result, Franco-German relations quickly deteriorated. On top of
this, Pan-Slav advisers who were sympathetic to France and hostile to Germany
exerted great influence in Russia. Bismarck was alarmed by the fear of a Franco-
Russian alliance and felt that diplomatic precautions were needed to safeguard
Germany. As a result, the Triple Alliance was renewed in February 1877.
Furthermore in March 1887 Britain Austria and Italy signed the first
Mediterranean agreement committing themselves to the maintenance of the
status quo in the eastern Mediterranean—a clear anti-Russian action.
, Reinsurance Treaty:
Events turned in Bismarck’s favour, and Russian diplomats reached out. In June
1887 the reinsurance treaty was signed. This stated that if either Russia or
Germany were at war with a third power then the other would remain neutral.
The provision would not apply to a war against Austria or France resulting from
an attack on one of these two powers by either Russia or Germany. Whilst a
legitimate step forward in what was deteriorating Russo-German relations the
treaty’s importance should not be exaggerated. It was hardly the foundation or
cornerstone of Bismarck’s diplomatic system and was another temporary
expedient to remove his fears of a Franco-Russian alliance.
Russo-German relations did not improve as a result either, as Bismarck denied
Russian access to the Berlin money market for loans, Russia simply turned to
France as a result. The treaty didn't necessarily reduce tension in the Balkans
either. Rumours of a second Mediterranean agreement, and the publishing of the
dual alliance in February 1888, partly to warn Russia that Germany would stand
by Austria if it came to war, persuaded Russia to hold its hand and the Bulgarian
crisis fizzled out.
Military Spending issue w Reichstag
Bismarck experienced problems with the Reichstag by 1887, the Reichstag
refused to agree on substantial military increases unless it was allowed to review
military expenditure every three years. Bismarck was not happy with this so
dissolved the Reichstag and created a picture of a revenge-seeking France ready
for war at any moment to convince the German people that they would remain in
danger until the Septennates were passed. This electoral strategy worked and
the conservatives and national liberals won an absolute majority in 1887.
Conflict with Wilhelm and dismissal
Kaiser Wilhelm’s (became Kaiser June 1888 after the death of William I)
personality led to frequent conflicts with Bismarck over important issues:
● He questioned the need to maintain links with Russia such as the
reinsurance treaty, which Bismarck believed was the only thing standing
in the way of a Franco-Russian alliance that would have been detrimental
to German interests, isolating it on the world stage.
● They also disagreed over social policy. Wilhelm was confident he could win
over the working class by a small extension of the welfare system.
Bismarck however favoured further repression. In 1889 he proposed
making the anti-socialist law permanent but Wilhelm wanted the measure
watered down. The rejection of Bismarck’s bill by the Reichstag in January
1890 demonstrated a crumbling of his political power.
In February 1890 Wilhelm issued a proclamation promising new social legislation.
The absence of Bismarck’s countersignature from this proclamation caused a
sensation that led to disaster for Bismarck. Conservative and national liberal
allies lost 85 seats, putting the opposition radicals and socialists back in control
of the Reichstag. If the Reichstag refused to pass increases in army spending and
repressive anti-socialist laws- Bismarck proposed that an assembly of German
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