'German agriculture and industry were transformed in the years 1890 - 1929.' Explain what you agree or disagree with this view.
- Created by: yazmintaylorx
- Created on: 29-04-18 10:10
View mindmap
- 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
- controlled 1/2 world's electrical industry
- 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
- Agree
Similar History resources:
Teacher recommended
Comments
No comments have yet been made