The German Economy and Societal Change: 1890-1991

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In this essay I will consider to what extent the German economy has been central to change regarding the development of Germany over the whole period, 1890-1991. I will consider the German economy under the Kaiser in accordance with World War 1, during Hyperinflation under the Weimar Republic in 1923, in Nazi Germany under Hitler and in East and West Germany leading to the building of the Berlin Wall. It appears that the German economy to a large degree has been exceedingly central to change in the country over this entire period. It is evident though that the economy itself has not solely been the derivation of precise events over the course of the period. There have been other ideas and proceedings that must be taken into consideration and I aim to assess the prominence of these notions in opposition to the German economy. These include the radical ideas of the Kaiser and Hitler leading to the occurrence of World War 1 and 2, the ‘Stab in the back’ theory strengthening support for radical parties and anti-fascist ideals prompting the construction of the Berlin Wall.

The German economy under the Kaiser is an example of the effect the economy had on change in the country. The Weltpolitik policy was as adopted by Germany in the 19th century and they wanted their ‘place in the sun.’ Germany had industrialised rapidly since 1850 so that by 1900 under the Kaiser, its industry was the equivalent of Britain’s and bigger than France’s. This meant Germany had economic power and many people wanted to translate this into territorial expansion. Kaiser Wilhelm was too obsessed with his idea of increasing Germany’s sphere of influence over Europe. Growing in confidence Germany was involved in a Naval Race with Britain in the building of Dread...

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...lin Wall which intended to halt the migration of East Germans to the enriched West. Based on the evidence outlined above it is clear that the arguments for the German economy being central to change outweigh the arguments against. There are other points that are important in assisting change such as the Hitler’s aggressive but opportunistic foreign policy leading to World War 2. This is to a great extent more crucial to change than the German economy. But a final judgement suggests that overall no other theme was as imperative to change between 1890 and 1991 as the economy.

Bibliography

Secondary Sources

J Wheeler-Bennett, ‘Ludendorff: The Soldier and the Politician’, 1938

W Norton, ‘Germany's Aims In the First World War’, 1967

G Loescher, ‘The UNHCR and World Politics: A Perilous Path’, 2001

H J Braun, ‘The German Economy in the Twentieth Century’, 1990

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