Zusammenfassung des bilingualen Geschichtsgrundkurses für das bilinguale Abitur

Definitions
• Nation
• Nation-state
• Nationalism
• Liberalism
• Imperialism
• Racism
Collective of humans with equal culture, language and tradition (territory, ancestry, government,
religion)
Defined as a group of people united in the political and legal structure of the State (may also be
multi-cultural)
Ideology that super-elevates the importance of cultural attributes and brings an aggressive
demand for unity
Ideology that conveys the importance of liberty of individual in front of the law, equal rights,
against church control, autocracy. Liberalism also supports the idea of a constitution and a
division of power
Aggressive policy of the industrialized nations to get control over distant “weaker” countries. An
imperialist state dominated a colony’s economic, political and cultural life
Belief that argued that humans can be separated into so-called races with specific natural
characteristics. Moreover the belief included that the with race is superior to other races
• Anti-Semitism
• Prejudice, hatred or discrimination against Jews because of their heritage
• Social-Darwinism
Belief that individuals & groups (nations) compete with one another for success in life
• Pax Britannica
• British peace through an immense power at the sea
• Splendid isolation
• Isolation in order to supervise the other powers
• Policy of Rollback
• Risky policy of the USA while the Cold War with the aim to force other countries to change their
regime (opposite of Containment & Détente)
• Glasnost
• Openness & transparency in Russian politics
• Perestroika
• Political movement for reformation in the political & economic system
Rapprochement
Reestablishment of cordial relations between two countries
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949)
Military alliance for countries that agreed to mutual defense
Marxism
Economic & sociopolitical worldview of land, factories production belonging to everybody
National socialism
Variety of Fascism incorporating biological racism and antisemitism
Fascism
Radical authoritarian nationalism
NS-Ideology

Germany under Napoleon 1800 - 1815
1792: French occupation until
the Rhine
Territorial reorganization
• Only 30 German states
• Reichsdeputationshauptschluss (1803)
o Säkularisation
o Mediatisierung
Napoleon
• 1812 climax of power
• States left the rhine + big
parts of northern Germany +
Regions in the north and the
middle of Italia
1806: Confederation of the Rhine
• 16 south- and westgerman
states
• Under protectorat of France
• Leaded by Baden, Württemberg
and Bayern
Prussia expands it‘s power
1812/13: Attacking Russia
• Last independent power
• Nearly 500.000 dead soldiers
Patriotic revolts in Germany and
Prussia
• Decline of french control
• Attitude against France
• Nationalism
Prussia gained the
Rhineland
Revolution from above
• Modern central-bureaucratic
administrational system
• Code Civil
End of feudal and
corporative system
1813 – 1814 War of
Liberation
1813 Battle of Nations
in Leipzig
1814: Napoleon‘s
dismissal
o Exile on St.
Helena
6. August 1806: Disorganization
of the Holy Roman Empire of
German Nation
Reforms in Prussia
• Departmental principle/ minister
responsibility
• Local self-administration of cities (1808)
• Agricultural reform und abolishment of
serfdom
o Increase of agriculture
• Economic reform (1811)
o Abolishment of Zunftzwang
o Freedom of trade
• Emancipation of the Jews (1812)
• Soldier reform
o Mobilisation of the people
• Educational reform
o Liberalism and Nationalism
o Compulsory education
o Three step educational system
Austria gained a closed
Emprie
1815 Holy Alliance
• Monarchs of Europe
(Prussia, Russia, Austria)
commit themselves to
the outcome of the
Congress of Vienna
• Later: Nearly every
European monarch
entered
1814/15 Congress of Vienna
• Reorganization of Europe
• Restauration
• Solidarity (Measures against
national, liberal and democratic
movements)
• Balance of power in Europe
• Legitimacy (right to rule for
souvereigns)
• Long lasting peace
• Increase of baronial power
• Mostly corporative constitutions
Foundation of the German
Confederation
• 35 States + 4 free cities
• Only central institution: Bundestag
in Frankfurt
• Federal constitutions
• Mostly low relevance
• Baden, Württemberg and
Bayern included
souvereingty of the people
to their constitutions

German reorganization
Prince Klemens Metternich
influenced
1794 – 1814: Napoleonic Wars:
Ideas of liberalism and nationalism
spread in Europe
German Confederation
• 35 States + 4 free cities
• Only central institution:
Bundestag in Frankfurt
1815: Congress of Vienna
• Calm Europe down
• Create lasting peace
• Principles:
Restoration
Legitimacy
Solidarity
Balance of powers
6. August 1806: Disorganization
of the Holy Roman Empire of
German Nation
Result 8 th June 1815:
• German Confederation (39 States) with Austria in leading role
No parliament
Different tax systems
• Unhappy nationalists/democrats
1817 Wartburg Festival:
• Wartburg Castle near Eisenach
• Festival on the occasion of 300 th anniversary
of Martin Luther’s nailing of his thesis and
the 4 th anniversary of the Battle of Nations
in Leipzig
• Wartburg = Symbol of German nationalism
(Luther translated the Bible here)
• Protests
Book-burning of reactionary literary
works,/symbols
1819 Carlsbad Decrees:
• Caused by assassination of Kotzebue (poet
& diplomat)
• Control of universities (remove liberal
professors)
• Ban of student fraternities
• Censor of the press
• Suppression of national and liberal actions
• Protect the monarchy
1832 Hambach Festival:
• Disguised as fun fair
• 20 – 30.000 members
• Emigrants from Poland
• Speeches (Siebenpfeiffer, Schüler, Geib,
Wirth)
• Aims:
Liberty
Civil & political rights
National unity
Popular sovereignty against the
European Holy Alliance
1815 – 1848 Vormärz (Biedermeier):
• Middle class family:
Boys: expensive education
Women: household & childcare
Men: retirement from political life
(Biedermeier)
Political disappointment & fear
• Working class family:
Lack of money
Women and children had to work (no
emancipation)
Men: retirement from political life
(Biedermeier)
Professors:
Observed, not allowed to spread
national/liberal ideas
Fled to neighboring countries
Artists:
Not allowed to publish
national/liberal ideas
Afraid of suppression (prison) fled
Students
Found student fraternities for
national ideas
Lützow Free Corps fought in
Napoleonic wars Members of
fraternities Black, red, gold
1815 Teutonia in Jena

Vormärz and German Revolution
Agricultural
country
Imports from
England
Fast growing
population
Low wages
unemployment
Pauperism
1844 Revolt in Silesia:
• 3000 frustrated weavers
attacked bookkeepers
• Reasons: Exploitation, low
wages
• Result: Violent reaction by
Prussian government
1845 - 1847 Crop failures:
• Poor harvests
• rising food prices
• Especially in 1847:
Starvation
24 th February 1848: French
King Louis Philippe was forced
to abdicate
1848: March demands:
Middle class Peasants Workers
• Freedom of press
• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom of religious belief
• Trial by jury
• Representation of the
German people in the
German Confederation
• Reduction of army
• Reduction of taxes
• Representation in an
assembly of citizens
• Enough land
• Social Justice (fair payment)
• Better living conditions
(Institutions for care of old
and invalid farmers)
• Freedom of the press
• Freedom of assembly
• General suffrage
• Universal eligibility to be
elected
• Freedom of speech
• Reduction of army
• Education for children
• Secure work
27 th February 1848: First
demonstrations in Mannheim
calling for political reforms
Spreading demonstrations in Germany with destruction
of castles, administration buildings and tax records
16 th & 20 th March 1848:
Liberal governments
(March Ministries) in
Saxony and Bavaria
• 13 th March 1848: Chancellor
Metternich resigned
• A new constitution was drawn up
Freedom of Press
Basic civil rights
• 18 th March 1848: King Friedrich
Wilhelm IV apologized and accepted
the demands
Free parliamentary elections
Constitution
Freedom of press
Unification of Germany
• 23 th March 1848: March Ministry
under rule of Rhineland bankers
and businessmen

National Assembly
Provisional government in
Frankfurt-on-Main:
• No territory
• No civil servants
• No police force
• No military
• No judiciary
• No recognition of the
states
18 th May 1848: First German National Assembly
• 585 freely elected representatives from all states
• Meeting in St. Paul’s Church in Frankfurt-on-Main
• “parliament of professors”
• Aims:
Unified & democratic Germany
Central government
Liberal constitution
Catalogue of civil rights (published in
December 1848)
Radicals broke up
violently the NA
The NA asked for
protection by
troops of the rulers
whose powers it
had tried to limit
The NA voted
for the peace
treaty
Bad reputation
Prussia didn’t
change its mind
Schleswig-
Holstein was lost
Voted against a
peace treaty
5 th September
1848: Peace
treaty
Denmark tried
to annex
Schleswig-
Holstein
Prussia went to
war, but is
threatened by
Russia, Sweden
and England
Problems of discussion:
• Hereditary monarchy, elected monarchy,
republic?
• “Greater Germany” (+Austria), “Little
Germany”?
• Federation, independent states?
28 th March 1849:
• Draft of the constitution:
Constitutional monarchy
King of Prussia = hereditary head of
state
October 1848:
Defeat of radicals
in Vienna
November 1848:
Defeat of radicals
in Prussia
December 1848:
Dissolution of the
elected parliament
April 1849: Meeting of NA and Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV
• Wilhelm IV refused the crown
• He felt insulted and “disgraced”
1850: Wilhelm IV imposed the first constitution on Prussia
• Undemocratic
• Granted civil rights
• Three-Class Election System (one third of the seats for the top tax-paying,
one third for the middle group and one third for the poor)

Otto von Bismarck (1815 – 1898)
• Privacy:
– Was born in Schönhausen (now Saxony-Anhalt)
– Son of noble Prussian landowning family
– Age 7: Was sent to a boarding school in Berlin
– Age 17: Studied law in Göttingen
– Short time civil service (was bored fast)
– 1847 he married Johanna von Puttkammer
– Died in 1898
• Character:
– Ultra conservative royalist (little respect for parliamentary democracy)
– Discipline was educated
– Had a problem with submission
– Multilingual
– Protestant
– Against the student fraternities
– Against liberalism
• Career:
– 1847 representative of the newly created Prussian State Assembly
– Part of the National Assembly in Frankfurt-on-Main
– Prussian ambassador in Paris and St. Petersburg
– 1862 Prussian Prime Minister
– 1871 Chancellor of the new German Empire
• Resigned in 1888

German unification
1864: German-Danish War:
• Bismarck provoked Austria to declare war on the militarily
weak Denmark short war
• Result: Prussia occupied Schleswig / Austria occupied Holstein
1866 Austro-Prussian War:
• Disagreements in administration of Schleswig-Holstein
• 3 rd July 1866: Battle of Königgrätz
Largest battle of the time with immense losses
Extremely influenced by new technologies (e.g. railway,
telegraph, cast steel rifled cannon, etc.)
• August 1866: Treaty of Prague
Dissolution of the German Confederation of 1815
Prussia gained Schleswig and Holstein and German states
north of the Main, which had fought on the Austrian side
North German Confederation End of Austrian influence in
Germany
Southern States of
Germany were
afraid of France
and militarily allied
with the North
German
Confederation
1870 - 1871 Franco-Prussian War:
• France was against a unification of Germany
• Bismarck changed the Ems telegram (in which King Wilhelm politely rejected
France’s demand, the Hohenzollern prince not to become Spanish king) to an
insulting and humiliating message France declared war in July 1870
• After 2 Months, Fras was defeated
18 th January 1871: Wilhelm I
was proclaimed Emperor off
the new German Empire in
Versailles. Bismarck became
chancellor
German population: 39 million
French population: 36 million
British population: 29 million
No balance of power
May 1871: Peace Settlement in Frankfurt-on-Main
• Humiliation for France
• Reparations of 5 billion francs
• Territories of German-speaking Alsace and coalproducing
Lorraine were annexed by Germany
• Army stationed in France until the reparations were
paid
Result:
• Zentrumspartei increased its
influence (through counteractions)
Bismarck moderated his politics
• Pope Leo XIII came to power 1878
• Bismarck abolished some
restrictions
• 1887 final end of Kulturkampf
1871 - 1878: Kulturkampf
• Bismarck vs. Pope Pius IX
• Church lost influence through liberal thoughts
• The Vatican asked for church critics to be dismissed from schools and universities
The Vatican
Bismarck
• The Vatican declared socialism and liberalism
as falsity Bismarck lost influence (also
against the Zentrumspartei)
• The Vatican asked for church critics to be
dismissed from schools and universities
• 1871 dissolution of the catholic department
Cultus Ministry
• Punishments for clerics who used their job
for political manipulation
• 1875 (1874 in Prussia) civil marriage was
improved
• State observed education
• No further payments to the church

Bismarck’s foreign policy
1873: Three Emperors League
• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia
• Germany aimed to isolate France
• Agreed that republicanism & socialism were common enemies
• Promised to cooperate in future
1877 - 1878: Conflict between
Russia, the Ottoman Empire,
Britain and Austria-Hungary
1878: Berlin Congress
• Bismarck mediated the dispute
Russians & Slavs were
disappointed
1876: Austria-Hungary and Russia
agreed to divide the Balkans after
a Turkish defeat (1877)
Russia abandoned
the alliance
Wilhelm I.
1871
-
1888
1879: Dual Alliance
• Defensive alliance between Germany & Austria-Hungary
• Russia Germany = Austria provides military assistance
Russia Austria = Germany provides military assistance
• France Germany = Austria neutral
1881: Three Emperors Alliance
• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia promised to remain neutral in case
another power is in war
• Black Sea closed to foreign warships
• Territorial changes in the Balkans had to be accepted by the partners
• The Balkans were divided into spheres of atmosphere (Russia in the
east, Austria in the west)
• Russia may enlarge Bulgaria
• Austria-Hungary may annex Bosnia-Herzegovina
1882: Triple Alliance
• Germany, Austria, Italy agreed that if a partner
were attacked by 2 or more powers, the others
would provide assistance
• Russia Austria = Italy neutral
• France Germany = Italy provide assistance
• France Italy = Germany & Austria provide
assistance
1884: Alliance is
renewed
1885: A conflict
about Bulgaria
made it obsolete
Friedrich
III.
99 Days
Wilhelm II.
1888
-
1918
1887 - 1890: Secret Reinsurance Treaty
• Russia & Germany promised to remain neutral in case of
war
Unless Germany France
Unless Russia Austria
18 th March 1890: Bismarck’s dismissal
• High age
• Tensions between Wilhelm II. and him
Social policy (Wilhelm II liberal/ Bismarck
conservative)
Anti-Socialist law from 1878
Wilhelm II. asked for a relationship to Russia
• General Leo von
Caprivi 1890 – 1894
• Prince von
Hohenlohe-
Schillingsfürst
1894 – 1900
• Baron von Bülow
1900 – 1909
• T. Bethmann-
Hollweg 1909 - 1917

Industrial Revolution
1768: The steam engine
was found in England
1798: The steam engine
was exported to Germany
Guilds and the King of
Prussia limited the
progress in Germany
Better infrastructure
between the single German
states (iron from Lorraine)
New technology in agriculture
increased efficiency
• rationalization
Increasing demand for
iron (Thyssen Krupp)
1835: The first railways were
built in Germany
• 1840’s governments
promoted new railways
Centralization to the cities
next to rivers (cooling water
& transport)
• People from the
countryside to the cities
Private investments made big companies possible (labor) and
reduced competition
• Stock markets
• Custom union (Zollverein)
* 1834
Aimed to promote trade in the German Confederation
Weights and measures were standardized
Economic unification
Important improvements in
electrical and chemical
industries
1870: Improvement of
ships increased the
demand for iron
Results:
• Decreasing product prices
• Decreasing wages
• Mass production
• Pauperism, child labor, bad working conditions
The social question
Strong Anti-
Semitism
1873 – 1895: Economic
crisis
Economic boom
• Highest export rate
• Slowly increasing wages
New “Sunrise industries”
• Electrical industry
• Telecommunications
• Machine building
• Car & chemical industries
Bismarck introduced the
social security law
• 1883 Health insurance
• 1884 Accident insurance
• 1889 Invalid insurance &
old age pension
Generous
employers built
houses for
workers
1878: Bismarck’s Anti-Socialist
Laws:
• Forbid all activities of trade
unions and the SPD
(newspapers, meetings)
Help from Church
• Kolping
• Von Bodelschwingh
• Von Ketteler
Workers
formed trade
unions and
workers’ parties
1875: Socialist Workers’
Party
• Formed by Lassalle,
Bebel, & Liebknecht

Imperialism
Spread
Christianity
Spread the
European culture
(missionary work)
End slave
trade in
Africa
Gain political
power in foreign
countries
Expanding
territory
arms
race
Breaking down trade
barriers/ control
foreign trade
Acquire
resources and
raw materials
Pax
Britannica
Inferiority
of natives
Social
Darwinism
Gain
international
respect
Create
new
markets
Acquire
cheap
labor force
Gain knowledge
about unknown
territory
adventure
Discover
new
species
Conducting medical
research to find cures for
diseases
Former colonies in
America were lost
Independence wars
1871: Bismarck was
against colonization
1880: European powers
began the scramble for Africa
• People were dominated
• Resistance ruthlessly
suppressed
Since 1805: Pax Britannica
• Strong sea power
1880’s: Businessmen and
nationalists forced
Bismarck to change policy
Germany was not seen as equal to the
other countries because it just unified
• But:
Strongest military power
Strongest economy
Rapid growing population
Leading in scientific research
1884: Berlin West Africa Conference
• 15 nations decided ground rules for the
partition for Africa
German colonies in:
• Togo, Cameroon, South-West Africa (1884)
• East Africa (1885 – 1890)
• in the Pacific (1884 – 1899)
• Kiaotchow (China, 1898)
1890: Bismarck’s dismissal 1890 – 1914: German Weltpolitik
• Germany from “European power” to a “World
power”
Britain & France had conflicts over
trading rights and influence in Africa
• Overseas colonies
• Protective navy (Tirpitz became State
Secretary of German Navy Office in 1897)
German Naval League (Flottenverein)
1904: Entente Cordiale
• Friendly agreement as protection
against Germany
1907: Triple Entente
• After a conflict in the Balkans Russia
joined the Entente powers
Britain felt threatened by the rising German Navy
1906 – 1913: Naval race
War ships:

1882: Triple Alliance
• Renewed in 1907 and
1912
The Road to WWI
1892: Franco-Russian
Alliance
1907: Anglo-Russian
Entente
• With France Triple
Entente
1902: Anglo-Japanese
Alliance
• Defensive Alliance
• Britain ended it’s policy
of splendid isolation
1904: Entente Cordiale
• Great Britain & France
• Less formal
1904: Britain allows France
to colonize Morocco
1911:
• German Panther
(gunboat) was sent to
Agadir
• Britain supports France
German gives in
• France gained the most
of Morocco
1905: Wilhelm II. traveled to
Morocco and promised German
protection against France
1906 – 1907: France increases
influence in Morocco
1906: International
conference in Spain
• Majority for France
(Britain, Russia & U.S.)
• Morocco = independent
state with free trade
• Weak Germany
Consequences
• Germany is bitter about their defeat
• The Entente government are alarmed by the German
aggressivity
1908: Austria annexed
Bosnia Herzegovina
The Serbs were disappointed about their crushed dreams of a
“Greater Serbia” called Yugoslavia and asked Russia for support
1912 – 1913 &
summer 1913:
2 wars enlarged
Serbia’s territory
Secret terrorist societies in
Serbia effort to free the
Balkans from Austrian
control
28 th July 1914: Austria
declares war on Serbia and
bombards Belgrade
Consequences
• Russia felt humiliated
intensified armament
• Serbia as German enemy
Increasing tensions
between Austria and
Serbia
25 th July 1914:
After Russia
promised
support Serbia
rejects the
ultimatum
Russia backed down
• The Entente power did not
support Russia
• Germany promised support
for Austria
28 th June 1914: Archduke Franz
Ferdinand and his wife were
assassinated by Gavril Princip in
Sarajevo
23 rd July 1914: Austria-Hungary
officially blames Serbia for the
assassination and gives an ultimatum to
hand over the assassins (after Germany
promises support “Blank Cheque”)
31 st July 1914:
Russia’s
troops
mobilized
1 st August 1914:
Germany declares
war on Russia and
France
4 th August 1914: Britain declares war on Germany
after Germany invaded Belgium one day before
(1839 British-Belgian treaty)

WWI
1914: WWI
• New weapons (poison gas, machine guns, landmines, tanks)
• Another battle field (in air, at sea)
• Trench warfare
• Extreme casualties (about 10 million)
The Schlieffen Plan:
• Fight France and Russia one after another
• Von Schlieffen expected Russia’s army to need 6 weeks to mobilize
• Believe that Britain would not risk a war to support Belgium
1. Surprise attack on France via Belgium
2. Defeat of France in 6 weeks
3. Quick movement from west to east via railways
4. Attack and defeat Russia
August 1914: Attack on western front
• Strong Belgian resistance slow advance
• British support for Belgium
• Quick Russian troop movement Germany
has to divide the troops
• Quick advance lack of supply
September 1914: Battle of the Marne
• Trench war began stalemate
April 1917: USA enters the
War on the allies side
September 1918
• Ludendorff & Hindenburg
recommended a new civilian
government to keep the allies calm
October 1918:
• Civilian Government led by Prince Max
of Baden including liberals and socialists
• Mutiny broke out in German navy
Autumn 1917: Russian October
Revolution
• Poor harvests starvation
• Men left the army
• After Revolution Vladimir I.
Lenin armistice with Austria-
Hungary & Germany
March 1918: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
• Russian delegation accepted only
after troops were sent to Russia
again
• Independence of Ukraine,
Georgia, Finland, Poland, Belarus
and the Baltic states (Lithuania,
Latvia, Estonia)
• The treaty took away:
1/3 of Population
½ of industry
9/10 of coal mines
November 1918: German Revolution
• Workers’ and Soldiers’ Council was set up in Kiel
and in other cities
• Abdication of Emperor Wilhelm II
11 th November 1918: Armistice between the Allied
Powers and Germany
1919: Paris Peace Conference
Georges Clemenceau Woodrow Wilson David Lloyd George
• Cripple Germany prevent
following wars
• French President (Poincaré)
wanted Germany broken up
into smaller states
• Germany as a threat
• Too harsh treatment
revenge
• Strengthen democracy
• Cooperation world peace
• Just punish but not too
harsh
• Germany to lose its navy
and colonies
• Promised the people to
make Germany pay

Treaty of Versailles
Clemenceau:
Not harsh enough
D. Lloyd Geoge:
Too harsh
Fear of another war
(revenge)
Woodrow Wilson:
Too harsh
Violation oft he 14 points
1. No secret treaties
2. Free access to the seas in peacetime or wartime
3. Free trade
4. Work towards disarmament
5. Colonies to have a say
6. German troops to leave Russia
7. Independence for Belgium
8. France to regain Alsace-Lorraine
9. Frontier between Austria and Italy to be adjusted
10. Self-determination of eastern Europe
11. Serbia to have access to the sea
12. Self-determination of the Turkish Empire
13. Poland to become independent with access to
the sea
14. League of Nations
Only Germany got the war guilt
Germany had to pay reparations
Colonies were taken away
Lost land (territory and population)
No ally with Austria again
Rhineland: demilitarized zone
Army is restricted to 100.000 volunteers (no conscription anymore)
Germany is not included in the League of Nations (police)
War guilt clause (§231) humiliation
Right opposition attempted a revolution against Ebert (Kapp Putsch in
1920)
National chaos
o German bitterness
Current government was to blame (signed armistice and treaty Stab
in the back)
Reparation costs wakened Germany’s economy further
Allies take the German dept in raw materials
o Workers go on strike
o French attack (100 victims)
Germany had no money an no goods
o Germany printed new money Hyperinflation
Exclusion from the League of Nations
Unilateral disarmament of Germany
Treaty was unjust, threatening, economically weakening and causes
a “dictated peace”

Set up of the Weimar Republic
November 1918:
• Scheidemann declared Germany a republic
• Friedrich Ebert (SPD) became new leader of Germany (10 th November)
• Government made concessions so that the army supported it Free Corps
The left wing:
• Communists
• Wanted a communist
revolution (like 1917 in
Russia)
The right wing:
• The Emperor’s old advisers remained in their positions
in the army, judiciary, civil service and industry
• Stab-In-The-Back-Myth
Ebert caused the defeat in war
January 1919: First free elections
• Ebert’s party won President of the
Weimar Republic
• Scheidemann became Chancellor
January 1919 Spartacist uprising in Berlin
was suppressed by the Free Corps
• Liebknecht and Luxemburg were
murdered
February 1919: Elected National Assembly met in Weimar
• Aim new constitution
• Weimar Coalition (SPD, Centre Party, DDP)
May 1919: Presentation of the Treaty of Versailles
June 1919: Germany had to sign the Treaty of
Versailles
• Foreign minister Müller signed the Treaty
• Scheidemann resigned
Stab-In-The-Back-Myth
November Criminals
August 1919: The Weimar Constitution was completed
Positive
• Democracy division of power
Laws by plebiscite
Individual Rights
Proportional representation
• General suffrage
Negative
• Culmination of power (Reichspresident)
7 years in office
§§ 25 (dissolve the Reichstag)/48
(Emergency Decree)
• Threats from right and left opposition
• Proportional representation splinter
parties harder to form coalitions
• Judicial & administrative structures remain
unchanged
Authoritarian structures & beliefs

Crisis of the Weimar Republic
1918 – 1923: Hyperinflation
• German businessmen
speculated
• Expensive war
• Reparation costs
• Loss of investors
• Dissatisfaction among the
people
• Currency reform by Gustav
Stresemann (Chancellor 1923
– 1929)
Stresemann reduced
the reparation
payments in the
Dawes Plan (1924)
and the Young Plan
(1929)
Since 1919: The Stab-In-The-Back-Myth
• Hindenburg & Ludendorff accused the socialist government
of “stabbing the army in the back”
Distracted from army’s responsible for the defeat in
war
Discredit the new government
March 1920: Kapp Putsch
• General Lüttwitz seized Berlin wanting Kapp as chancellor
Government fled
Lüttwitz wanted to stop the dissolution of the army
• Putsch collapsed through a general strike
• But:
Less authority by government
Less support from army
1923: Invasion of the Ruhr
• Germany was behind paying reparation costs French and
Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr Area
• General strike no production economy suffered
8 th November 1923: Munich Putsch
• Hitler, Ludendorff & Goering tried to take over Munich & Berlin
• Putsch failed Hitler was sent to prison
1925: Death of President Friedrich Ebert
• Election of a new President Paul von Hindenburg
Positive
• Keep to constitution
• No connection to the war and the years of crisis
Negative
• Against a republic
• Wished for a more authoritarian system
October 1925: Locarno Pact
• Stresemann signed a series of treaties with France, Britain & Belgium
Acceptance of Germany’s western borders
Renounce of force and invasion
• Treaty with Czechoslovakia & Poland
No use of force
1926: League of Nations
• Germany joined the LoN and gained a veto
power (Stresemann)
Gain financial aid from USA
End military control over Germany
Have a say in foreign policy
1926: Treaty of Berlin
• Stresemann signed a treaty with the USSR
(public & secret clauses)
Improve relations
Economic & military assistance
Mild pressure on western countries

The Weimar Republic
Parliamentary Presidential
Hermann Müller (1928 – 1930)
• SPD
• Grand Coalition (but failed)
Heinrich Brüning (1930 – 1932)
• ZP
• Austerity programme
• Gains for extremists
Franz von Papen (1932)
• ZP
• After dismissal, intrigued with Hitler
1929:
• Gustav Stresemann died
• Parliamentary presidential government
Kurt von Schleicher (1932 – 1933)
• Crossbench
• Worried about Nazis and civil war
included them in government murdered
by the Nazis
24 th October 1929 The Depression
• American loans are recalled bankrupt businesses
• Protectionism
o Implementation of high import taxes decline of world trade unemployment
o France and Britain were not able to confront Hitler
USA
• National income fell by nearly a half (1929 –
1932)
• Isolationism (“New Deal” by F.D. Roosevelt)
o Government spending on public
o
projects
Government help for businesses and
farmers
• Massive export of oil to Italy support of
Mussolini
• Remained neutral in case of European war
• Left Britain and France to deal with dictators
on their own
‣ Aim: Rebuilding American economy
France
• French economy depended less on int. trade
• After 1933 great crisis (economy hardly
damaged) Huge debt and war pensions
from WWI
• Inadequate armed forces
• Social divisions between left & right wing
extremists riots
• Provoked Germany in the early 1930’s
Germany
• Unemployment, less productive output, mass
poverty (especially workers, small farmers)
massive discontent street violence
• Emergency powers to the president
• Increase of support for extremist parties
(NSDAP & KPD)
o
Propaganda (Promise: Work, freedom
& bread)
• Hitler as Chancellor on 30 th January 1933
End of democracy on 23 rd March 1933
(Enabling-Law)
• Hitler as dictator of Germany
o
o
o
withdrew Germany from LoN
strengthened his position
rearmed Germany
• Conscription
Britain
• Low national production wrecked traditional
manufacturing industries (e.g. textiles,
shipbuilding)
• The pound was reduced injured British pride
conflicts in Labour Party
• Weakened Empire (Full-scale rearmament did
not occur until 1938) war in Japan Could
not risk to start a war with Germany

Hitler’s consolidation of power
October 1929: Stresemann died
Depression
Collapse of the Weimar Republic
30 th January 1933: Hitler became chancellor,
Goering Minister of Interior
1933:
• 17 th February: Cooperation of local police with SA and SS
• 27 th February: Reichstag fire Communists were blamed (Arrest of 4000 communists and opponents)
• 28 th February: Emergency Decree at Hitler’s request: - Arrest subjects without a trial
• - Hitler may take over regional governments
• 5 th March: Reichstag elections: Success through the control of radio and presence of the police
• 13 th March: Goebbels appointed head of Ministry of Propaganda
• 24 th March: Enabling Act: - Hitler may pass decrees without the President ( legal dictatorship)
• 7 th April: Civil Services, courts, education purged of “alien elements” (Jews, other opponents)
• 1 st May: May Day holiday for workers
• 2 nd May: Trade unions were banned German Labour Front (DAF)
• 9 th June: Employment Law new Jobs
• 14 th July: Law against new parties One-party-state
• 20 th July: Concordat between Hitler and the Roman Catholic Church: Religious freedom but church banned
from political activity.
1934:
• 30 th June: Night of the Long Knives: SS attacks SA (bad disciplined) and arrested the Leaders
• August: Hindenburg dies, Hitler became Führer, Soldiers swore oath of loyalty to him
1933 – 1945: Nazi control of Germany
SS:
• Led by Heinrich Himmler
• Highly trained Aryans that were totally
loyal to Hitler
• Destroying opposition & execute the
racial policies
Death’s Head units:
• Concentration
camps
• Slaughter of the
Jews
Waffen-SS:
• Fight
alongside the
regular army
The Gestapo:
• Led by Reinhard
Heydrich
• Extensive powers
• Arrest citizens on
suspicion without trial
• Feared people informed
about each other
Concentration camps
• Ultimate sanction against the people
The police and the courts:
• Political snooping
additional to normal law
and order role
• Ignore crimes by Nazi
agents
• Nazis controlled the
courts
Little opposition:
• Frightened of Terror
• Nazi successes (trust in Hitler)
• Economic fears
• Propaganda
Propaganda:
• Events (Nuremberg rallies, 1936 Olympics)
• Media
o
o
1933 “book-burning”
Subsidize radios (Hitler’s speeches were repeated
the whole time)
• Hitler Youth and League of German Maidens

Causes of the Second World War
Nazi control of Germany
Hitler’s plans:
• Abolish the Treaty of
Versailles
• Expand German territory
• Defeat Communism
1935: The Saar
plebiscite:
People in the Saarland
voted (with over 90%)
to belong to Germany
again
Appeasement policy:
• Hitler against
Communism
• Maybe not the whole
British Empire would
have joined a war
against Germany
• Memories of the last
war
• Britain & France
suffered from
Depression and were
not fully armed
• The Treaty of Versailles
was seen as too harsh
• The USA followed a
policy of isolationism
January 1942: Wannsee
Conference
• Solve the Jewish question
Political effects of WWII:
• New leaders
• Boost of independent
movements (particularly in
the British Empire)
• Weakened economy
stronger cooperation
• World powers were USA
and USSR
moralizes
makes
possible
Hitler’s actions:
1933 - Took Germany out of the League of Nations
- Germany begins to rearm (fist secretly, then
because of other countries that did not disarm)
1934 - Tries to take over Austria but was hindered by
Mussolini
1935 - Held massive rearmament rally in Germany
- Anglo-German Naval Agreement on an
enlarged German navy
1936 - Reintroduced the conscription army
- Sent German troops into the Rhineland
(against the Locarno Pact of 1925)
- Made an anti-Communist alliance with Japan
(Anti-Comintern Pact)
1937 - Tried out Germany’s new weapons in the
Spanish Civil War
- Made an anti-Communist alliance with Italy
(Anti-Comintern Pact)
1938 - Took over Austria (Anschluss)
- Took over the Sudetenland area of
Czechoslovakia
1939 - 15 th March: Invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia
- 1 st September 1939: Invaded Poland
29 th September 1938: The
Munich Agreement:
• Czechoslovakia was to lose
the Sudetenland
• Britain did not consult the
Czechs or USSR
24 th August 1939: Nazi-
Soviet Pact:
• No war between
USSR and Germany
• Divided Poland
between each other
3 rd September 1939: World War II
• 3 rd September 1939 – April 1941: Aggressive Blitzkriegs,
success in western Europe Stalingrad (May 1942)
Entrance of USA to the war
• 22 nd June 1941 – June 1943: Counteroffensive
• January 1945 – March 1945: Germany is invaded from
east and west
• 30 th April 1945: Hitler commits suicide
• 7 th May 1945: Germany surrenders hour zero
• 6 th & 9 th August 1945: Atomic bombs on Hiroshima &
Nagasaki
• 14 th August 1945: End of war

Effects of WWII and beginnings of the Cold War
Germany lost the war more and
more
February 1945: Yalta Conference
• Declaration of liberated Europe
• Dismemberment (4 occupational zones), disarmament, demilitarization of
Germany
• Punish war criminals
• Countries were liberated from German occupation and allowed to hold
free elections to choose the government they wanted
• Big Three joined the United Nations Organization (UN) peace keeping
• Eastern Europe = Soviet sphere of influence
• Poland moved to the west, therefore did the USSR not intervene into
Britain’s fight against communism in Greece
12 th April 1945: Death of
Roosevelt replaced by
Harry Truman (more anticommunist)
May: Hitler was defeated
Zero Hour
1945 - 1946: Nuremberg
Trials
August 1944: Morgenthau Plan
(German = agrarian state)
July 1945: Election in
Britain: Churchill was
replaced by Clement Attlee
17 th July-August 1945: Potsdam Conference
• Demilitarization, denazification, democratization,
dismantling ( decentralization)
• Establishment of the Oder-Neisse line as provisional border
between Germany and Poland
• $20 billion reparation cost
• Disagreements:
Stalin
Cripple Germany in order to
prevent further attacks
Stalin wanted to unite the
Slav’s in order to create a
preventive buffer against
further attacks
Truman
Did not want to repeat the
mistake of the Treaty of
Versailles
Truman was unhappy about
Stalin’s intentions and got
tough
The allies informed
Stalin that they had
tested an atomic bomb
on 16 th July 1945
Tension
1946: Stalin dominates over eastern Europe:
• Communist governments in Poland,
Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania
October 1947: The Cominform was
found:
• Coordination of Communist Parties in
eastern Europe
The “iron curtain”:
The borders between
Soviet-controlled
countries and the west
Propaganda war
developed
The USA and the USSR
increased their stock
of weapons
The Cold War

The Cold War
The USA was the other world power
The USSR was very powerful and
dominates eastern Europe
Capitalist & democratic system:
• Freely elected government
• Business and property were privately
owned
• Extremes in wealth rate
• People had individual rights
Communist system:
• One-party dictatorship (Communist
Party)
• Industry was state-owned
economic superpower
• Equally split wealth
• Individuals were tightly controlled
Communism spread
over eastern Europe
No
reaction
Communists tried to take
control of Greece by force
1947: Truman Doctrine
• Money, equipment and
advice to every country
threatened by a
Communist take-over
1946: The USSR protested to
the United Nations Threat
of peace in Greece
Civil war
Truman paid for
some staying
troops
Greece:
• 1944: Germans retreated
from Greece
• Struggles between the
monarchists and the
Communists
• 1945: British troops arrived
to support the monarchists
reintroduction of a king
24 th February 1947: Britain
announced to withdraw their
troops
Some troops stayed and
propped up the king’s
government
Containment
policy
• New markets for
American goods
• Making countries
dependent on
dollars
December 1947: Marshall Aid:
• Ruined economy in Europe
• $17 billion to rebuild
Europe’s prosperity
March 1948: Acceptance of
Marshal Aid
American people were
concerned about their
foreign policy
March 1948: Communist took
over of Czechoslovakia
purging of Anti-Soviet leaders
1946: Britain and the
USA formed Bizonia
later with France it
becomes Trizonia
1948: Currency
reform (Deutschmark)
Provokes
1949: West Germany
was found
June 1948: Berlin Blockade:
• West Berlin was cut of from
supplies from West Germany
aim: dependent on USSR
every step against the
blockade would have been an
act of war
May 1949: Stalin
reopened
communications
April 1949: NATO
was set up
Air lift supplies for 10
months

Foundation of the FRG
June 1948: Western Allies agreed on the
formation of an independent West
German state
A parliamentary council (representatives by the Länder)
aimed to establish a parliamentary government by
drawing up the costitution
September 1949: Official foundation of
the FRG
Problems:
• Over 2 million unemployed
• Rising prices
• Refugees from Eastern Europe
• Post-war rebuilding
• Unclear status in Europe
1951: German enters the European Coal
and Steel Community (ECSC)
August 1949: First elections
• CDU leader Konrad Adenauer was elected chancellor
• Theodore Heuss (FDP) was appointed
Until 1955: Occupation Statute
• Western Allies retain control over West German
affairs (foreign policy, trade)
Britain pushes Germany to become a member of NATO
(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
Germany is allowed to have an own army
Refugees from the
East provided cheap
and flexible labor
Cheap raw
materials from
the Ruhr or from
outside Germany
Industrial
infrastructure
survived the
war
Ludwig Erhard introduces the “social
market economy”
• Combination of a free market
economy and state intervention
The Marshall Plan
Good labor relations (efficiency)
Korean War (1950) boosted the
West German economy
1962: The Spiegel Affair:
• Adenauer supported
the arrest of Authors
who criticized his
Minister of Defence
1960’s: Economic miracle
• Unemployment 8,1% 0,5%
• Economic growth per year: 8%
• Average income: +400%
1952: Stalin Note
• Offer about
reunification
negotiations were
rejected by Adenauer
• Disregard for free press Uncompromising policy
1963: Adenauer’s resignation
towards the GDR
Ludwig Erhard becomes
chancellor
Erhard was afraid about inflation
• Increased the taxes
• Reduced government spending
1966: Erhard resigned
1955 – 1969: Hallstein-
Doctrine
• The FRG was angry
about other countries
recognizing the GDR
• The FRG claimed the
exclusive mandate to
speak for the whole of
Germany
Political isolation of the
GDR

Foundation of the GDR
October 1949: Announcement of the GDR
• SED (Socialist Unity Party) drew up the constitution
Powerful leader Walter Ulbricht
• Wilhelm Pieck President
• Otto Grotewohl Prime Minister
Strong influence from Moscow
• SED as a puppet government
1952: Ulbricht became General
Secretary of the SED
17 th June 1953: General strike
• Raise of working hours
• Rising food prices
• Already high taxation
1950: Elections
• Every candidate had acceptable views for the
SED
• Intimidation tactics
• Propaganda (ridiculed West-Germany)
Soviet troops
crushed the protests
Concessions
• Many officials and members of
the SED were removed
• No increasing working hours
• Reduction of food prices
Economy
• 25% of industrial goods went to the USSR
• Trade only with backward countries of the Soviet
Bloc
• 5-Year plans (commanded economy) caused
overproduction and shortages
• Collectivization (1959 – 1960) mass emigration
Ulbricht asked Khrushchev to close the
borders between East and West Berlin
Berlin Wall
1955 – 1991: Warsaw Pact
• Military alliance similar to the
NATO
• Aimed to protect of western
attacks

1969: Willi Brandt became chancellor
• Socialist
• Policy of Détente (Ostpolitik)
• Increase of welfare
• Move towards greater social and sexual
equality
The reunification of Germany
1971: Ulbricht was succeeded by Erich Honecker
• More attention to living conditions and
material consumer demands
• Generous loans from the FRG dependence
1970: Moscow Treaty
• FRG & USSR
• Aim: International peace
• Respect present borders
Oder-Neisse-Line
East & West German borders
1971: Quadripartite Agreement on Berlin
• GB, France, USSR & US
• Unimpeded traffic through the GDR
• Proxy rapprochement
1970’s: Economic problems
• Oil crisis
• Welfare contra national income
• No balancing budget
1985: Mikhail Gorbachev reforms the USSR
• Wants to end the Cold War Era of openness
(Glasnost & Perestroika)
• Promised not to interfere into other countries
matters
• Honecker resisted and distanced from the USSR
Heavy critics:
• Validating the
existence of a
repressive,
communist regime
• Making future
unification more
unlikely
1972: Basic Treaty
• Equality between FRG & GDR
• Civil rights
• Recognition the GDR as independent state
• Future cooperation
1989: Gorbachev made
clear that the GDR
would not get again
military support
1973 Problems:
• Signs of inflation
• Beginning of the world oil crisis
• Ill health
• Personal assistant (Gunther Guillaume) was
an East German spy
October 1989:
Peaceful protests
in the GDR
• Brutally crushed
• Monday
demonstrations
18 th October 1989:
Honecker resigned
• Succeeded by Egon
Krenz
• He legalized the
travel to the FRG
1974: Brandt resigned
Helmut Schmidt
• SPD
• Only fragile support of FDP
• Moving towards nuclear power (critic)
• Decision of the USA to station nuclear missiles
in Europe and West Germany (critic)
• Economic problems
unemployment
Helmut Kohl
• CDU
• Support for European cooperation
• Continued Ostpolitik
1984 new financial & travel
agreements
• Allowed the NATO to station missiles in
Germany
• Controlled inflation
• Heavy indutries microelectronic industries
• BUT: High rate of unemployment (8-10%)
• 10-point-plan of unification
9 th November
1989: Right for the
people to travel
wherever they
wanted
Hans Modrow
became new East
German Prime
Minister
• Introduced the
four-stage plan
for unification
8 th November 1989:
SED leaders resigned
• After a
demonstration (1
million people) in
East Berlin
9 th November 1989:
Right for the people to
travel wherever they
wanted
1990: Two-plus-Four Agreement
• Reunification
• Germany stayed member of the NATO
• Mitterand, Thatcher, Bush, Gorbachev
3 rd October 1990: Reunification of Germany
• Chancellor Helmut Kohl

Russia and the USA in the Cold War
1959: Fidel Castro’s rebels overthrew corrupt
pro-US government in Cuba
22 nd October 1962: Kennedy ordered the US
navy to blockade Cuba
Castro tried to make a trade agreement with
the USA
• The USA rejected
Castro made a dead with the USSR
• The USSR bought Cuban goods and
therefore they were allowed to station a
nuclear missile in Cuba
Soviet ships were spotted heading towards
Cuba
27 th October 1962: Khrushchev secretly
offered to pull out of Cuba if the USA pulled
out of Turkey
• Kennedy agreed
Propaganda victory for the USA because the compromise was secret
Improvement of relations since there on

Foreign policy
Racial ideology
Living space
Aryan race
Anti-Semitism
War
Elimination of
Jewry
Con
inst
NS-Ideology

12
10
8
6
4
Great Britain: 38
Germany: 26
2
0