'German agriculture and industry were transformed in the years 1890 - 1929.' Explain what you agree or disagree with this view.

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  • German agri. transformed 1890 - 1929
    • Agree
      • demands of war meant armament production increased
      • 1900 biggest economy & fastest growing worldwide
      • changes in workforce meant G. estd. industrial-based (not agri.) economy
        • industrial sector developed in political influence e.g. Krupps & Thyssen
      • G. most efficient agri. producer in Europe by 1914 doubling in value of farm products despite decline in rural population
      • G. economy post-war relied on US loans
      • 1927 - coal production 79%, pig iron 68% & steel 86% pre-war levels
      • farming machinery & fertilisers were beginning to become available - those who invested greatly increased their yield
      • root crops encouraged a revolution in agri.
        • facilitated faster crop rotation & provided additional fodder for livestock
      • In the 1880s GNP 40% agri. & 35% ind. by 1914 25% agri. & 45% ind.
      • % population in agri. fell 50% - 35% 1871-1907
      • only 8 cartels 1875. 70 in 1887, 300 in 1900, 600 in 1911 & 3,000 in 1925
      • by early C20th producing over 3/4 world's chemical dyes, estd. virtual monopoly
      • railway length 41,820 km - 63,000 km & merchant marines 3x USA
      • production of  electrical energy increased 150% 1901-1915
        • controlled 1/2 world's electrical industry
          • exported £11m (USA & UK together 8m) by 1913
      • ammonia production 84,000 tonnes to 287,000 tonnes 1897-1907
      • 1878 1m tonnes H2SO4 worldwide & 1907 G alone 1,402,000 tonnes
      • internal migration increases; 1871 64% rural, 1910 40% rural
      • 1913 major world trader
        • 60% exports to Russia, UK & France
        • rest to 'informal empire' in Latin America, South Africa & Ottoman Empire
      • volume of exports & imports grew 4x 1880-1913
        • 1890 imports £200m & exports £153m. 1913 imports £526m & exports £495m
        • foreign investments = £1000m & revenues from shipping & banking
      • protective tariffs introduced 1878
        • iron, wheat & rye
        • retaliation for Russian tariffs on grain
      • coal production increased 400% 1880-1914
        • Ruhr coal output 60m tonnes - 114m tonnes 1900 - 1913
    • Disagree
      • German economy grew by 4% 1913-29; US grew 70%
      • unemployment never fell below 1.3m & reached 3m Feb 1929
      • economic improvements were not universal
        • rate of economic growth erratic & by 1920s signs economy slowing down
        • small businesses & agri. never benefitted from 'boom' & caramelisation made matters worse
      • considerable regional variation existed with Northern/Western states richer than South
      • industrialisation only occurred in certain sectors of economy; Germany retained its artisan industry & small workshops into 1920s
      • despite some large Junker estates, many farms remained small in size
        • 60% farms were less than 5 acres
        • farmers did badly in 1920s & indebtedness& under-investment remained a problem
        • socially there was limited change in agricultural community
      • production declined; post-war exports were damaged & industrial growth knocked
        • coal output fell esp. with Ruhr occupation & barely back to 1913 levels in 1929
      • only 3% small farms benefitted
      • relied heavily on US loans
      • ToV had damaging effect = 13% land, coal, steel, iron & population lost
      • cars too expensive for ordinary Germans

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