German election, 1912
Encyclopedia
The 13th German election of 1912 is most notable for the major breakthrough of the leftist Social Democratic Party
(SPD, Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands), which for the first time became the largest party in the German Reichstag
. It more than doubled its seat total from the 1907 election
.
The party breakdown in the 1912 Reichstag made possible a majority coalition of groups hostile or at ambivalent to the ruling elites of the German Empire – the Social Democrats, the Catholic Centre
, and the left-liberal Progressives
between them commanded a majority. The effects of this possibility would be seen with the vote of no confidence in the government of Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg over the Saverne Affair
in 1913 and the Reichstag Peace Resolution
of 1917. Nonetheless, the Centre and the Progressives were unwilling to act consistently in opposition, leaving the government largely free to do as it wished.
Some historians, such as Fritz Fischer
have theorized that World War I was partially a result of the strategy of the conservative Prussia
n Junker
s to deal with this result. In an attempt to drum up support for conservative parties and policies, to distract the population from the SPD they hoped to drum up patriotism in an external conflict with Russia or another east European state such as Serbia
. Other authors, such as Niall Ferguson
, feel that German conservatives were ambivalent about a war, worrying that losing a war would have disastrous consequences, and even a successful war might alienate the population if it were lengthy or difficult. See: Causes of World War I
for details.
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
(SPD, Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands), which for the first time became the largest party in the German Reichstag
Reichstag (German Empire)
The Reichstag was the parliament of the North German Confederation , and of the German Reich ....
. It more than doubled its seat total from the 1907 election
German election, 1907
The 12th German federal election to the Reichstag of 1907.-Results:-Further reading:* Bureau des Reichstages : Reichstags-Handbuch. Zwölfte Legislaturperiode. Berlin: Norddeutsche Verlagsanstalt, 1907...
.
The party breakdown in the 1912 Reichstag made possible a majority coalition of groups hostile or at ambivalent to the ruling elites of the German Empire – the Social Democrats, the Catholic Centre
Centre Party (Germany)
The German Centre Party was a Catholic political party in Germany during the Kaiserreich and the Weimar Republic. Formed in 1870, it battled the Kulturkampf which the Prussian government launched to reduce the power of the Catholic Church...
, and the left-liberal Progressives
Progressive People's Party (Germany)
The Progressive People's Party was a liberal party of late Imperial Germany. It was formed in 6 March, 1910 as a merger of Freeminded People's Party, Freeminded Union, and German People's Party in order to unify the various liberal groups represented in parliament...
between them commanded a majority. The effects of this possibility would be seen with the vote of no confidence in the government of Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg over the Saverne Affair
Saverne Affair
The Saverne Affair was a crisis of domestic policy which occurred in the German Empire at the end of 1913. It was caused by political unrest in Saverne in Alsace, where two battalions of Prussian Infantry Regiment 99 were garrisoned, after a second lieutenant insulted the Alsatian population...
in 1913 and the Reichstag Peace Resolution
Reichstag Peace Resolution
The Reichstag Peace Resolution passed by the German Reichstag on July 19, 1917 with the support of the Social Democrats, the Catholic Center Party, and the Progressive People's Party was an attempt to seek a negotiated peace in World War I. The resolution called for no annexations, no indemnities,...
of 1917. Nonetheless, the Centre and the Progressives were unwilling to act consistently in opposition, leaving the government largely free to do as it wished.
Some historians, such as Fritz Fischer
Fritz Fischer
Fritz Fischer was a German historian best known for his analysis of the causes of World War I. Fischer has been described by The Encyclopedia of Historians and Historical Writing as the most important German historian of the 20th century.-Biography:Fischer was born in Ludwigsstadt in Bavaria. His...
have theorized that World War I was partially a result of the strategy of the conservative Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Junker
Junker
A Junker was a member of the landed nobility of Prussia and eastern Germany. These families were mostly part of the German Uradel and carried on the colonization and Christianization of the northeastern European territories during the medieval Ostsiedlung. The abbreviation of Junker is Jkr...
s to deal with this result. In an attempt to drum up support for conservative parties and policies, to distract the population from the SPD they hoped to drum up patriotism in an external conflict with Russia or another east European state such as Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. Other authors, such as Niall Ferguson
Niall Ferguson
Niall Campbell Douglas Ferguson is a British historian. His specialty is financial and economic history, particularly hyperinflation and the bond markets, as well as the history of colonialism.....
, feel that German conservatives were ambivalent about a war, worrying that losing a war would have disastrous consequences, and even a successful war might alienate the population if it were lengthy or difficult. See: Causes of World War I
Causes of World War I
The causes of World War I, which began in central Europe in July 1914, included many intertwined factors, such as the conflicts and hostility of the four decades leading up to the war. Militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism played major roles in the conflict as well...
for details.
Results
| Party | Seats |
|---|---|
| Social Democratic Party of Germany Social Democratic Party of Germany The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany... (SPD) |
110 |
| Centre Party Centre Party (Germany) The German Centre Party was a Catholic political party in Germany during the Kaiserreich and the Weimar Republic. Formed in 1870, it battled the Kulturkampf which the Prussian government launched to reduce the power of the Catholic Church... (Zentrum - Political Catholics) |
91 |
| National Liberal Party National Liberal Party (Germany) The National Liberal Party was a German political party which flourished between 1867 and 1918. It was formed by Prussian liberals who put aside their differences with Bismarck over domestic policy due to their support for his highly successful foreign policy, which resulted in the unification of... (NL - National Liberals, right wing Liberals) |
45 |
| German Conservative Party German Conservative Party The German Conservative Party was a right-wing political party of the German Empire, founded in 1876.- Policies :It was generally seen as representing the interests of the German nobility, the East Elbian Junkers and the Evangelical Church of the Prussian Union, and had its political stronghold... (DKP - Conservatives) |
43 |
| Progressive People's Party Progressive People's Party (Germany) The Progressive People's Party was a liberal party of late Imperial Germany. It was formed in 6 March, 1910 as a merger of Freeminded People's Party, Freeminded Union, and German People's Party in order to unify the various liberal groups represented in parliament... (FVP - Liberals, left wing Liberals) |
42 |
| Poles (P - Polish Deputies in Posen Province of Posen The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2.... , West Prussia and Upper Silesia Upper Silesia Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of... ) |
18 |
| German Reich Party Free Conservative Party The Free Conservative Party was a right-wing political party in Prussia and the German Empire, which emerged from the Conservatives in the Prussian Landtag in 1866... (DRP - Conservative Nationalists) |
14 |
| Elsass-Lothringer (A - Lorrainian and Alsatian regionalists in Alsace-Lorraine Alsace-Lorraine The Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was a territory created by the German Empire in 1871 after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle region of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian part lay in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east... ) |
9 |
| German-Hanoverian Party (DHP - Hanover regionalists) |
5 |
| Antisemiten (AS - Anti-Semites) |
3 |
| Peasant's Parties (BL - Bund der Landwirte, etc.) |
7 |
| Independent | 2 |
| Dänen (D - Danish Deputy in Northern Schleswig) |
1 |
| Total | 397 |
Literature
- Reichstags-Bureau (ed.): Reichstags-Handbuch. 13. Legislaturperiode. Berlin: Norddeutsche Verlagsanstalt, 1912
- Reichstags-Bureau (ed.): Nachtrag zum Reichstags-Handbuch der 13. Legislaturperiode. Berlin: Druckerei des Reichstages, 1916