A level Germany History ((2) Domestic Politics in Wilhelmine Germany 1890-1914) Mind Map on (2)The advent of Weltpolitik, created by Marcus Danvers on 09/11/2014.
He was an 80 year old Bavarian aristocrat, with a
reputation for indecision and long windedness
Hohenlhe was appointed Chancellor in 1894 and
held the office for six years, the government was
dominated by men who supported the policies of
the Kaiser. Talk of a coup, nothing came of it.
The aging Hohenlohe could not counter
the intrigue at court and government
By 1897, a group of key political figures emerged and
embarked on the Kaiser wishes for "personal rule". In
that year there were three new important appointment:
Most importantly Bulow, as Foreign Secretary
Admiral von Tirpitz, as Navy Secretary
Count Posadowsky-Wehner, as Interior Secretary
In addition, two-serving figures began
to assume even greater prominence
Fredrich von Holstein, a senior offical in the Foreign Office
Johannes von Miquel, Prussian Finance Minister (and the leader of the National Liberals).
The creation of this new government team in 1897 as a
turning point in history since it coincided with the drive to
achieve world power status for Germany or Weltpolitik.
The Motive of Weltpolitik
The German Navy
Of greater importance to Weltpolitik was the decision to expand the German navy.
The appointment of Tirpitz meant that there was a man prepared to do this, for he
not onlly enjoyed the full confidence of Wilhelm II, but also recognised the
importance of gaining parliamentary support and popular backing for such plans.
In 1898, he established the Navy
League in order to further these aims
The Navy League argued that naval
expansion was a patriotic national symbol
of Germany's new status in the world.
With the backing of leading industrialists, it was able to gain a
membership of over a million and this large-scale public support
strengthened Tirpitz's position in his handling of the Reichstag
When he presented the Naval Bills of 1898 and 1900
they were both passed with substantial majorities, largely
because they were supported by the Centre Party.
The political impact
of Weltpolitik
The introduction of Weltolitik succeeded where Caprivi's
"new course" had run into difficulties because it achieved a
greater acceptance from the various political parties.
It successfully rallied both the middle and upper
class and their political representatives in the
Reichstag behind the Kaiser and the Government.
The support of the Centre Party represented an important step forward, since
it helped to secure an effective majority for the government in the Reichstag.
Weltpolitik even won the support of many of the ordinary people by
playing on their feelings of patriotism and loyalty to the crown.
Finally, the policy closely coincided with the aspiration of the Kaiser, who convinced himself
that Weltpolitik must be under his personal rule. However, in the coming years it was shown
that Weltpolitik did not prove to be the complete cure for the problems of government