History revision – Political, economic, social, cultural and ideological trends (3)
- Under Wilhelm II the Kaiserreich developed in ways B disapproved before his death
Political Trends – The Wilhelmine Political System
The Kaiser
- Had a quick mind, excellent memory and charming manner
- Understanding of issues was often superficial and distorted
- Lacked powers of steady application and moods and behaviour liable to fluctuations
o Once described by B as a “balloon” “If you let go of the string, you never
know where he will be off to”
- Spent much of his period as Kaiser on business and recreational travels
o 200 days per year travelling
- Meant he was absent from Berlin for long periods and so didn’t have command of the
detail of the governments work
o Could be claimed he didn’t control the course of Gr policy
- Held extensive powers
o Right to appoint and dismiss Chancellor and State Secretaries
Completely independent of the Reichstag’s wishes
- He believed his accountability was to God and only God
- No major decisions could be made without his agreement
The German Chancellors
General Leo Caprivi – 1890-94
Prince Chlodwig Hohenlohe – 1894-1900
Bernhard Bülow – 1900-09
Theobald Bethmann-Hollweg – 1909-17
- Were essentially civil servants and not seasoned statesmen like B
- Didn’t dominate Gr political scene in the same way B had
- Lacked B’s prestige, talent and independence
- Political survival for Chancellors was dependant on loyalty to Wilhelm and his will
o Difficult when his personal involvement often amounted to little more than
impulsive actions
Kaiser Wilhelm II – 1888-1918
- Became Kaiser in 1888 following death of grandfather (March) and father (June)
- Many historians view him as arrogant and a man who frequently changed his mind
- Was deeply disturbed:
o His breech birth delivery resulted in partial paralysis of his left arm – his
paralysis affected him psychologically
o Had a strained relationship with parents opposing their liberal views
o His love of the military verged on pathological
o Some suggested Wilhelm’s self-assertive and erratic behaviour should be seen
as symptoms of insanity or sadism
o Repressed homosexual or a sufferer from ADHD
- Undisputed that Wilhelm proved to be a disaster for Gr and the rest of EU
- Indecision and limited ability meant he surrounded himself with advisers
o Result was a lack of progress in domestic affairs combined with an ill-
considered aggressive foreign policy resulted in WWI
- Under Wilhelm II the Kaiserreich developed in ways B disapproved before his death
Political Trends – The Wilhelmine Political System
The Kaiser
- Had a quick mind, excellent memory and charming manner
- Understanding of issues was often superficial and distorted
- Lacked powers of steady application and moods and behaviour liable to fluctuations
o Once described by B as a “balloon” “If you let go of the string, you never
know where he will be off to”
- Spent much of his period as Kaiser on business and recreational travels
o 200 days per year travelling
- Meant he was absent from Berlin for long periods and so didn’t have command of the
detail of the governments work
o Could be claimed he didn’t control the course of Gr policy
- Held extensive powers
o Right to appoint and dismiss Chancellor and State Secretaries
Completely independent of the Reichstag’s wishes
- He believed his accountability was to God and only God
- No major decisions could be made without his agreement
The German Chancellors
General Leo Caprivi – 1890-94
Prince Chlodwig Hohenlohe – 1894-1900
Bernhard Bülow – 1900-09
Theobald Bethmann-Hollweg – 1909-17
- Were essentially civil servants and not seasoned statesmen like B
- Didn’t dominate Gr political scene in the same way B had
- Lacked B’s prestige, talent and independence
- Political survival for Chancellors was dependant on loyalty to Wilhelm and his will
o Difficult when his personal involvement often amounted to little more than
impulsive actions
Kaiser Wilhelm II – 1888-1918
- Became Kaiser in 1888 following death of grandfather (March) and father (June)
- Many historians view him as arrogant and a man who frequently changed his mind
- Was deeply disturbed:
o His breech birth delivery resulted in partial paralysis of his left arm – his
paralysis affected him psychologically
o Had a strained relationship with parents opposing their liberal views
o His love of the military verged on pathological
o Some suggested Wilhelm’s self-assertive and erratic behaviour should be seen
as symptoms of insanity or sadism
o Repressed homosexual or a sufferer from ADHD
- Undisputed that Wilhelm proved to be a disaster for Gr and the rest of EU
- Indecision and limited ability meant he surrounded himself with advisers
o Result was a lack of progress in domestic affairs combined with an ill-
considered aggressive foreign policy resulted in WWI
