This blog will provide a summary of relevant information sourced in a Lett's, Revise A2 History - Modern British and European. I picked it up in a charity shop, and it effectively and concisely outlines key issues in Germany, but links it to other events and other countries and their situations. It also provides more background to events.

These ideas could be used to create revision lesson plans.

German Nationalism & Empire

• Empire was an massive boost to German national pride & transformed the European balance of power (political & military strength combined with a rapidly growing economy)


• Nationalism became increasingly aggressive -main external threats from France


• Diplomatic energies focused towards Russia & Austria to avoid military threats on two fronts


• Also a fear of the Catholic threat


• Under Wilhelm II German nationalism became more aggressive - this is viewed by some historians as the main reason for the first world war

• Kaiser Wilhelm embarked on the policy of Weltpolitik - nothing the world should be settled without the intervention of Germany. In practise it meant colonial expansion, extension of German power in the Balkans & constructing a powerful navy


• This nationalism was in line with German opinion - it probably sowed the seeds of national socialism


• Many have argued that Weltpolitik was to win internal loyalty, but outside powers felt threatened (Britain, China, Russia, Middle East, Morocco & others)
  

Economic Modernisation in Germany

• Industrialisation made rapid progress after 1850 in Germany - railways were a massive influence


• By 1914, Germany's industrial strength rivalled Britain's


• Major factors in this growth were the rich resources available, industry protection, a well developed infrastructure, a highly developed banking system & the formation of cartels


• The development in Germany was enough to sustain a huge war effort - however, the war made industry significantly decline, as well as being the first country to introduce rationing


• These shortages led to malnutrition & food riots


• At the end of the war Germany had severe economic problems e.g. food shortages, inflation, high unemployment & massive national debts


• The reparations to be paid by Germany were huge, and the government couldn't raise the money through taxation, so printed more money leading to high inflation. It eventually defaulted on payments and so lost Ruhr to France


• The eventual printing of more money led to hyper-inflation, and the mark became worthless


• Foundations for recovery were laid in the introduction of a new currency, reparations were scaled down this led to a period of relative stability & prosperity


• However, the new positive era was marred by the reliance on foreign investments (mainly from America), as well as trade being unfavourable, and unemployment being high


• The Wall Street Crash hit Germany particularly hard - Americans withdrew support & called in loans. There was a huge knock-on effect, wages fell & unemployment rose further. This led to the fall of the Weimar Republic & the rise of the Nazis


• Under the Nazis unemployment fell, production of industrial goods increased, coal production increased


• This was achieved by a massive programme of public works, controls were put in on wages, food prices, ect., spending on armaments increased, deficit financing was employed, small farmers were helped & a plan to make Germany ready for war was created


• Historians are divided over Nazi success & whether it would have lasted long-term. Germany remained fairly dependent on others
  

Hitler

• The Nazis offered hope on the brink of economic collapse & firm government


• They enjoyed a genuine popularity with the German people because of the success of many of their policies


• Their appeal stretched across all class, but their core of supporters from the 1920s onwards lay with lower middle and skilled working classes


• They also enjoyed the support of peasants with the Nazi promises to reduce the burden on small farmers


• Industrialists liked the fact that the Nazis provided a guard against communism


• The Nazis achieved some of their popularity through propaganda & terror, but this seems to have merely exaggerated results


• The main instrument of terror was the SS (an elite parliamentary body under Himmler's command), which controlled concentration camps & it took control of the Gestapo (secret police)


• Opposition that survived remained largely underground e.g. socialists & communists & some survived in the churches


• The only potential source of opposition really was the army, and so it was put under Hitler's direct command


• The Nazis created a one party state - both party & state expressed Hitler's will


• In reality power was diffused through an old system of conflicting authorities


• Some saw Hitler as a weak & lazy leader - a man of big visions, not little administrationwork. Other views suggest that Hitler was happy to see his subordinates to fight amongst each other - Hitler controlled big decisions, he left details to others


• Those with power included Goering (President of Reichstag), Gobbels (Nazi Propagandist) & Himmler (Head of SS)


• Hitler set out his aims in Mein Kampf - overturn the Treaty of Versailles, reunite German peoples & acquire living space for Germans (lebensraum)


• The idea of struggle was central to his argument, and that it was the duty of the German state to acquire 'land and soil'


• Some argued that Hitler was an opportunist, whereas other suggest that his aims remained the same but that he was enormously flexible in method