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HIST2128 Germany, 1871-1933: From Empire to Republic

HIST2128 Germany, 1871-1933: From Empire to Republic. ‘Weltpolitik’ and the spectre of encirclement Lecture 11 28 February 2012. Foreign Politics, ca. 1900-1914. Weltpolitik (world policy) :

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HIST2128 Germany, 1871-1933: From Empire to Republic

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  1. HIST2128Germany, 1871-1933: From Empire to Republic ‘Weltpolitik’ and the spectre of encirclement Lecture 11 28 February 2012

  2. Foreign Politics, ca. 1900-1914 Weltpolitik(world policy) : To secure new colonial territories + spheresof influence worldwide → Attempt to create formal & informal empires Flottenpolitik(naval policy) : To extensively enlarge German navy → Attempt to create 2nd largest battle fleet to rival GB

  3. Mass support organisations Pan-German League(Alldeutscher Verband) → Promotes aggressive nationalism to include ‘membra disiecta’ + Germans abroad + colonies • German Naval League (Deutscher Flottenverein) → Promotes aggressive naval armament to rival GB’s sea-power + force GB to ally with G

  4. Kiaochow, 1898-1914 (1) • Leasehold from China (Apr 1898) • Naval port to supply German fleet • ‘Model colony’ to demonstrate G’s industrial achievement • Governed by Tirpitz’ Naval Office to demonstrate navy’s abilities & skills • Set up as ‘German Hong Kong’ to rival GB • Strong impact on hinterland (Shandong province): Coalmines, railway

  5. Kiaochow, 1898-1914 (2) • Huge financial burden for German government • Developed into important trade hub & major port in NE China for Chinese products • Strong presence of firms from G, CH, J • Attempts to emphasise cultural tasks, e.g. German- Chinese College (Deutsch-Chinesische Hochschule)

  6. The German Colonies, 1913-14

  7. Franco-Russian Dual Alliance, 1894 Consequence of: Non-renewal of Re-Insurance Treaty (1887) between G + R ► Development of R’s industry & rail system with help of French capital ► Start of R’s Far Eastern politics = ‘Encirclement’ (Einkreisung) or ‘Self-Exclusion’(Auskreisung) of Germany with only A + Ottoman Empire left as major allies

  8. ‘Policy of Free Hand’ Attempt to maintain ‘free hand’ as between R + GB: • Reflected division between pro-GB & pro-R groups • Miscalculated & exaggerated degree of alienation between GB + R and between GB + F • Swung backwards & forwards between R + GB • Alternated between endearments and threats • Antagonised both R + GB

  9. Daily Telegraph Affaire (1) • Private conversations of Kaiser & Colonel Wortley summed up in one single text • Sent by Daily Telegraph to Chancellor Bülow who later claimed not to have read it • Text signed by minor official + sent to London for publication • Published in Daily Telegraph (28 Oct 1908)

  10. Daily Telegraph Affaire (2) Irritating statements of Kaiser: He … • Claimed to belong to small group of GB friends in G → fresh GB fears about G’s rearmament • Presented himself as independent actor in G’s foreign politics → slap in face of German diplomacy • Called himself inventor of GB’s battle plan for Boer Wars → strong overestimation • Claimed that Tirpitz Plan was not directed vs. GB but vs. Far East → provocation of Japan

  11. Daily Telegraph Affaire (3) • Showed Kaiser’s arrogance & tactlessness • Provoked storm of anger in G. and abroad • Made Chancellor Bülow to distance himself from Kaiser & to remain silent on own responsibility • Led to irreparable break between Kaiser and Bülow → Important factor for his dismissal (Jun 1909) • Demonstrated deficiencies of imperial constitution

  12. Collapse of Bismarck’s alliance system Franco-Russian Dual Alliance, 1894 Britain abandons ‘splendid isolation’, 1898 → British-Japanese Alliance, 1902 →‘ Entente Cordiale’ France-Britain, 1904 = Germany ‘encircled by enemies’: Threat by Two-Front-War extremely strong

  13. Tirpitz Plan (1) • Naval construction program inspired by Admiral Tirpitz, state secretary of Naval Ministry (1897) • Favoured by Kaiser Wilhelm II, heavy industrialists, nationalists, middle class • Potential instrument for rallying popular support behind monarchy: Navy as ‘palliative’ vs. SPD • ‘German Naval League’ (Deutscher Flottenverein) as mass organisation & popular pressure group

  14. Tirpitz Plan (2) • Naval enthusiasm as general contemporary obsession with sea-power (US admiral Mahan: ‘Mahanism’) • Conviction that G needs own fleet to rival GB, R, USA • Strategic thrust of battle fleet directed vs. GB • Strived to force GB to accept G as equal world power + to come to some kind of agreement or alliance with G • Regarded as tool of ‘policy of free hand’

  15. Tirpitz Plan (3) = Built on miscalculations on GB’s attitudes & naval strengths = Caused growing suspicion in GB = Inspired unwinnable naval race with GB = Totally damaged relations with GB and made any agreement/alliance impossible ► Return toContinental strategy shortly before 1914 as retreat from failed Tirpitz Plan

  16. Conclusion (1) Weltpolitik: Failure → political drawbacks and diplomatic isolation Flottenpolitik: Failure → unwinnable naval race + permanent estrangement with Britain = Feeling of ‘encirclement’ but self-exclusion

  17. Conclusion (2) • Overestimation of G’s power position following Bismarck’s dismissal → Isolation + rising tensions in Europe • Impulsive diplomatic actions of Wilhelm II ruined German diplomacy • Severe deficiencies of semi-authoritarian political system + series of weak chancellors = Comprehension oftotal stalemate in G’s foreign AND domestic policies on side of German civilian + military leadership (1912-14)

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