Junkers
How did the Weimar constitution affect their political position?
Even though at the end of the Kaiserriech they had technically been stripped of their power due to lack of change in the military they still had lots of power.
How did their political status change post WW2?
Most of the Junker's land were in Prussia which meant it was taken over by Russia in the GDR. Their communist meant they weren't going to tolerate the Junkers.
How did the social position of the Junkers change in Weimar
Not a lot - they were still socially important.
Who were the Junkers?
Prussian landed elite
What important positions did the Junkers hold in Weimar?
Von Papen - chancellor Hindeburg - President.
What was the Agrarian league ? when was it set up ?
A political pressure group set up in 1893
How did the wealth of the Junkers change in Weimar ?
Agriculture went into depression which seriously threatened the wealth of the Junkers - Agriculture was hit hard even before the Great Depression. - Prices fell, they were taxed more, they received little investment.
How much did Wheat prices fall from 1920-1931?
By a third.
How did the social status of the Junkers change in Imperial Germany
Due to them maintaining their political importance, their social status remained very high. They are the most powerful people in Germany - they run the army and civil service.
What did the imperial constitution give them?
Military powers, social superiority and the army commissions.
Why did Von Room threaten them?
His policies favoured free trade which meant he favoured industry over agriculture.
how did the revolutions from above and below affect them?
In theory a lot more than reality. Ebert Groener pact shows they still have political importance. But they dont dominate in the same way as before.
What was the affect of industrialisation on the Junkers
Industrialisation lead to urbanisation which meant there was less of an agricultural workforce. It also made the middle classes want more political power at the expense of the Junkers
How did the War affect people's attitudes towards the Junkers?
It accelerated people's hatred of the elite and not liking people in charge.
What was Hitlers relationship with the Junkers and the Army?
Mixed - Hitler values them (shown by the Night of the long knives) but he is also wary of them.
How did the wealth of the Junkers change in imperial Germany?
It started the decline - it was protected by Bismarck but by the start of WW1 industry was much more important.
Which states started threatening the power of the Junkers at the beginning of WW1?
Southern states.
How did the imperial constitution affect their political position?
The 3 tiered voting system meant they had a majority in the Bundesrat
How did WW2 affect the relationship between the Junkers and the Army?
The Junkers turned against Hitler - the July plot 1944.
What helped the Junkers maintain their political power by 1914?
The SPD weren't revolutionary and wanted to stay loyal to the German system. They let wealthy industrialists into the upper sections of political power which - helped keep the middle class on side.
How did the economic position change after WW2?
The landed wealth is almost entirely gone - destroyed by the red army or confiscated and redistributed.
How did the social position of the Junkers change in the Nazi period?
They are still important due to their involvement in government but have lost their dominance.
Overall how did the position of the Junkers change between 1871-1991?
They declined very gradually during the first 2 periods. In the Nazi period they had a more dramatic decline and by the beginning of the Post war Germany they were almost entirely destroyed.
How did the overall position of the Junkers change in Weimar?
They hold onto power but are loosing their base of power.
How did the political position of the Junkers change in the Nazi period?
They lost of dominance of the army after 1938 when Hitler took control of them - although they were still important in leadership Hitler could remove any who were against his aggressive foreign policy.
How did the overall position of the Junkers change under the Nazi's?
They lost their dominance politically and socially. Economically they were struggling. It was a gentle decline until WW2 and then it decreases rapidly.
How did their political position change in the Kaiserriech?
They remained important - Under Bismarck they very important - They were threatened in 1893 when Bismarck resigned and Von Roon took over but the Agrarian group campaigned for them and got 140 Reichstag deputies to support them.
How did their social status change after WW2?
They were barely a class - No economic or political importance - Many were put in NKVD camps
What happens to the wealth of the Junkers under the Nazis?
between 1933-38, 1 million people leave the country so German agirculure declines and with it the wealth of the Junkers.
How did the % of agirculture of GDP change in imperial Germany
it was 30% but by 1915 only 15%.
how powerful were the Junker in Imperial Germany
very