Germany 1890-1945
Part one: Germany and the growth of democracy
● Kaiser Wilhelm and the difficulties of ruling Germany: the growth of
parliamentary government; the influence of Prussian militarism;
industrialisation; social reform and the growth of socialism; the
domestic importance of the Navy Laws.
● Impact of the First World War: war weariness, economic problems;
defeat; the end of the monarchy; post-war problems including
reparations, the occupation of the Ruhr and hyperinflation.
● Weimar democracy: political change and unrest, 1919–1923, including
Spartacists, Kapp Putsch and the Munich Putsch; the extent of recovery
during the Stresemann era (1924–1929): economic developments
including the new currency, Dawes Plan and the Young Plan; the impact
of international agreements on recovery; Weimar culture.
Part two: Germany and the Depression
● The impact of the Depression: growth in support for the Nazis and other
extremist parties (1928–1932), including the role of the SA; Hitler’s
appeal.
● The failure of Weimar democracy: election results; the role of Papen
and Hindenburg and Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor.
● The establishment of Hitler’s dictatorship: the Reichstag Fire; the
Enabling Act; elimination of political opposition; trade unions; Rohm and
the Night of the Long Knives; Hitler becomes Führer.
Part three: The experiences of Germans under the Nazis
● Economic changes: benefits and drawbacks; employment; public works
programmes; rearmament; self-sufficiency; the impact of war on the
economy and the German people, including bombing, rationing, labour
shortages, refugees.
● Social policy and practice: reasons for policies, practices and their
impact on women, young people and youth groups; education; control
, of churches and religion; Aryan ideas, racial policy and persecution; the
Final Solution.
● Control: Goebbels, the use of propaganda and censorship; Nazi culture;
repression and the police state and the roles of Himmler, the SS and
Gestapo; opposition and resistance, including White Rose group, Swing
Youth, Edelweiss Pirates and July 1944 bomb plot.
Imperial Germany
Wilhelm II
Background Personal Qualities How did he run Germany?
He had a withered left He had a good He wanted Germany to
arm meaning that he personality, since he build a huge army since
always wanted to amazed the people he he took great pride in it.He
improve his strength. met. However, he was sacked those who didn’t
Even from a young age always making different agree with his ideas and
he loved military decisions and wasn’t able enjoyed having the most
parades. to focus on one specific power over those around
task. him. He enjoyed control
He was: over others. He got angry
● Unpredictable with others meaning he
● Ambitious didn’t have a great
relationship with the
● Temperamental
Chancellor.
● Rude
● Deluded and childish
The Kaiser’s aims were:
To build a powerful germany
To beat Britain in the arms race
International fame/ recognition and glory
The economy and Industrialisation
Diplomatic-the resolution of a problem without conflict. The Kaiser was
unable to be diplomatic with his European counterparts.
,Industrialism- when an economy is transferred from primarily agriculture
(farming) to one based on the manufacturing of goods.
Empires- a group of states or countries ruled over by a single monarch or
another state.
Socialism-where the community or state owns the general means of
production (e.g farms, factories,tools and raw materials) and profit is used to
help the community/state.
Economy- the system by which goods and services are produced, sold and
bought in a country or region.
Positives of the German economy Negatives of the German economy
Germany produced more iron and Working class wages were low but
steel rivalling Britain food was expensive.
German companies in electrical Workers joined trade unions
goods and chemicals dominated The impact of industrialisation was
Europe. uneven.
It made business owners very rich. In cities there was overcrowding and
Travel was quicker since there was poor sanitary conditions.
more transport
By 1914 they produced ⅔ of europe’s
steel
In 1914 they were world leaders in
industrialisation.
Factory and business owners
became rich and influential
Proletariat-group that wishes to control the “means of production”.
The German Political system
Chancellors
, ● The chancellor was directly responsible to the kaiser as Chief minister
of the Reich.
● He was in charge of the appointment and dismissal of other politicians.
● The chancellor could ignore the resolutions and decisions made by the
reichstag.
● The chancellor must be able to negotiate with other politicians and be
effective at making deals with others.
● Responded directly to the Kaiser
● Kaiser wanted obedient civil servants
Kaiser
● Kaiser Wilhelm II was the 9th king of Prussia and ascended to the
throne on the 15th June 1888 and the 3rd king of Germany
○ He inherited Germany which was formed in 1871 and made up of
multiple different states mainly Prussian and Austrian
● The Kaiser was always to be the Prussian King, and German emperor.
● The Kaiser had full control over foreign and domestic policies.
● He had the power to make alliances, sign treaties, wage wars, and sue
for peace.
● He appointed and dismissed his chancellor and had the power to
dissolve the reichstag.
● He would often turn to advice from the military if unsure of what to do.
● During the 1880’s rich businessmen became influential on the Kaiser
● Powerful position and wanted to be at the centre of governmental
decisions
● Opposed socialism and wanted to extend his rule into other countries
(supported nationalism and patriotism)
The Reichstag
● The part of the German parliament that could make laws.
● It debated laws which people wanted to introduce but didn’t have
power to suggest new laws.
● It controlled the defence budget which could only be debated once
every 7 years
Part one: Germany and the growth of democracy
● Kaiser Wilhelm and the difficulties of ruling Germany: the growth of
parliamentary government; the influence of Prussian militarism;
industrialisation; social reform and the growth of socialism; the
domestic importance of the Navy Laws.
● Impact of the First World War: war weariness, economic problems;
defeat; the end of the monarchy; post-war problems including
reparations, the occupation of the Ruhr and hyperinflation.
● Weimar democracy: political change and unrest, 1919–1923, including
Spartacists, Kapp Putsch and the Munich Putsch; the extent of recovery
during the Stresemann era (1924–1929): economic developments
including the new currency, Dawes Plan and the Young Plan; the impact
of international agreements on recovery; Weimar culture.
Part two: Germany and the Depression
● The impact of the Depression: growth in support for the Nazis and other
extremist parties (1928–1932), including the role of the SA; Hitler’s
appeal.
● The failure of Weimar democracy: election results; the role of Papen
and Hindenburg and Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor.
● The establishment of Hitler’s dictatorship: the Reichstag Fire; the
Enabling Act; elimination of political opposition; trade unions; Rohm and
the Night of the Long Knives; Hitler becomes Führer.
Part three: The experiences of Germans under the Nazis
● Economic changes: benefits and drawbacks; employment; public works
programmes; rearmament; self-sufficiency; the impact of war on the
economy and the German people, including bombing, rationing, labour
shortages, refugees.
● Social policy and practice: reasons for policies, practices and their
impact on women, young people and youth groups; education; control
, of churches and religion; Aryan ideas, racial policy and persecution; the
Final Solution.
● Control: Goebbels, the use of propaganda and censorship; Nazi culture;
repression and the police state and the roles of Himmler, the SS and
Gestapo; opposition and resistance, including White Rose group, Swing
Youth, Edelweiss Pirates and July 1944 bomb plot.
Imperial Germany
Wilhelm II
Background Personal Qualities How did he run Germany?
He had a withered left He had a good He wanted Germany to
arm meaning that he personality, since he build a huge army since
always wanted to amazed the people he he took great pride in it.He
improve his strength. met. However, he was sacked those who didn’t
Even from a young age always making different agree with his ideas and
he loved military decisions and wasn’t able enjoyed having the most
parades. to focus on one specific power over those around
task. him. He enjoyed control
He was: over others. He got angry
● Unpredictable with others meaning he
● Ambitious didn’t have a great
relationship with the
● Temperamental
Chancellor.
● Rude
● Deluded and childish
The Kaiser’s aims were:
To build a powerful germany
To beat Britain in the arms race
International fame/ recognition and glory
The economy and Industrialisation
Diplomatic-the resolution of a problem without conflict. The Kaiser was
unable to be diplomatic with his European counterparts.
,Industrialism- when an economy is transferred from primarily agriculture
(farming) to one based on the manufacturing of goods.
Empires- a group of states or countries ruled over by a single monarch or
another state.
Socialism-where the community or state owns the general means of
production (e.g farms, factories,tools and raw materials) and profit is used to
help the community/state.
Economy- the system by which goods and services are produced, sold and
bought in a country or region.
Positives of the German economy Negatives of the German economy
Germany produced more iron and Working class wages were low but
steel rivalling Britain food was expensive.
German companies in electrical Workers joined trade unions
goods and chemicals dominated The impact of industrialisation was
Europe. uneven.
It made business owners very rich. In cities there was overcrowding and
Travel was quicker since there was poor sanitary conditions.
more transport
By 1914 they produced ⅔ of europe’s
steel
In 1914 they were world leaders in
industrialisation.
Factory and business owners
became rich and influential
Proletariat-group that wishes to control the “means of production”.
The German Political system
Chancellors
, ● The chancellor was directly responsible to the kaiser as Chief minister
of the Reich.
● He was in charge of the appointment and dismissal of other politicians.
● The chancellor could ignore the resolutions and decisions made by the
reichstag.
● The chancellor must be able to negotiate with other politicians and be
effective at making deals with others.
● Responded directly to the Kaiser
● Kaiser wanted obedient civil servants
Kaiser
● Kaiser Wilhelm II was the 9th king of Prussia and ascended to the
throne on the 15th June 1888 and the 3rd king of Germany
○ He inherited Germany which was formed in 1871 and made up of
multiple different states mainly Prussian and Austrian
● The Kaiser was always to be the Prussian King, and German emperor.
● The Kaiser had full control over foreign and domestic policies.
● He had the power to make alliances, sign treaties, wage wars, and sue
for peace.
● He appointed and dismissed his chancellor and had the power to
dissolve the reichstag.
● He would often turn to advice from the military if unsure of what to do.
● During the 1880’s rich businessmen became influential on the Kaiser
● Powerful position and wanted to be at the centre of governmental
decisions
● Opposed socialism and wanted to extend his rule into other countries
(supported nationalism and patriotism)
The Reichstag
● The part of the German parliament that could make laws.
● It debated laws which people wanted to introduce but didn’t have
power to suggest new laws.
● It controlled the defence budget which could only be debated once
every 7 years
