One Day in Berlin

It has long been debated within the historiography of German politics, whether the assassination of Kaiser Wilhelm I, was the great catalyst for political change that it has often been portrayed as. Regardless of whether or not it was, his death had several repercussions.

The first of these, was the removal of Bismarck as Chancellor, with Crown Prince Friedrich, who had long disagreed with Bismarck's conservatism, replacing him with the progressive leader Eugen Richter appointed Chancellor, and fresh elections called.

The assassination met with condemnation across Europe, and his funeral was attended by dignitaries from around the world, including former American President Ulysses S. Grant. [1]

Following changes to the electoral boundaries, and the expansion of seats from 397 to 500, the new German Reichstag, following the elections of November 1878 looked like this:

500 seats (226 needed for a majority)

National Conservative Party (NKP)-118 seats out of 500 [2]
National Liberal Party (NLP)-116 seats out of 500
Centre Party (Z)-116 seats out of 500
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-68 seats out of 500 [3]
Social Democratic Party (SPD)-38 seats out of 500
Others-44 [4]

Following the election, Eugen Richter, of the Liberal Democratic Party formed a coalition with the Centre Party and the National Liberals.

[1] Grant had begun a European tour, following the election of Democrat Samuel J. Tilden in 1876

[2] The National Conservative Party formed as a merger between the German Conservative Party and the German Reich Party.

[3] Liberal Democratic Party was formed from the merger of the German Progressive Party, Liberal Union and German Peoples Party to secure more seats for progressives.

[4] These included the Polish Peoples Party (PVP/PPL), Democratic Party of Alsace (DPE/PDA), German-Hanoverian Party (DHP) and the Danish Peoples League (DVB/DFL).
 
Last edited:
Interesting idea.

Two things:
When does the assassination take place? I guess in the fall of 1878? Has the Congress of Berlin happened as in OTL?


A sitting POTUS traveling to Europe to attend the funeral of a foreign monarch would be extremely unusual in the 19th century.
In OTL, the first POTUS to leave the US during his time in office was Teddy Roosevelt who visited the Panama Canal in 1906.
In other words, you might want to consider the implications for the US public perception.
 
The assassination happens on June 2, 11 days before OTL Berlin Conference, throwing German preparations into chaos.

As for the POTUS issue, I might edit that to a former American President (most likely Grant) since if it was highly unlikely I can't really see Tilden being the first to do it. (Thank you for that, my knowledge of American presidential history is pretty sketchy! :))
 
The New Constitutionalism: 1878

Following the formation of the "Black-Gold" coalition [1], Richter's government planned to introduce several constitutional reforms. A new constitution (known in some circles as the "Westminster Paper" was promulgated which made substantial changes to the political system of the empire. These included:


  1. The Emperor's position shifted to that of a constitutional figure head with significant reserve powers. While the emperor still appointed the chancellor, the chancellor would have to have the majority support of the Reichstag.
  2. The Chancellor and the cabinet were now fully responsible to parliament, and could simultaneously be members of the Reichstag or Bundesrat. The government could forced to resign if theit lost a vote of confidence in the Reichstag.
  3. The civil service was granted independence from strict political control.
  4. The largest party outside of government, now became the official opposition.
  5. The Bundesrat was now directly elected, with its elections held simultaneously with those of the Reichstag.
  6. Minority rights, including language rights for areas with significant minority populations (Alsace-Lorraine, Eastern Prussia and Schleswig-Holstein) and Jewish emancipation were to be protected by the constitution.
The new constitution was ratified in January 1879.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
Interesting...

Following the formation of the "Black-Gold" coalition [1], Richter's government planned to introduce several constitutional reforms. A new constitution (known in some circles as the "Westminster Paper" was promulgated which made substantial changes to the political system of the empire. These included:


  1. The Emperor's position shifted to that of a constitutional figure head with significant reserve powers. While the emperor still appointed the chancellor, the chancellor would have to have the majority support of the Reichstag.
  2. The Chancellor and the cabinet were now fully responsible to parliament, and could simultaneously be members of the Reichstag or Bundesrat. The government could forced to resign if theit lost a vote of confidence in the Reichstag.
  3. The civil service was granted independence from strict political control.
  4. The largest party outside of government, now became the official opposition.
  5. The Bundesrat was now directly elected, with its elections held simultaneously with those of the Reichstag.
  6. Minority rights, including language rights for areas with significant minority populations (Alsace-Lorraine, Eastern Prussia and Schleswig-Holstein) and Jewish emancipation were to be protected by the constitution.
The new constitution was ratified in January 1879.

Interesting; this sounds a lot like the imperial/federal system advocated by the Frankfurt Diet, which didn't go very far... have the dynamics changed that much in three decades?

Likewise, Fritz was certainly liberal in comparison to his father (and son), and by extension, who wouldn't be, but this seems a lot to expect ... the pattern, generally, after a head of state was assasinated was for the sucessor to crack down and assume more power, not less - czars Alexander II and Alexander III, for example.

Best,
 
Last edited:
Interestingly enough I actually based it pretty heavily on the Westminster system.

Really sorry for how long its taken me to reply/update, I'm doing an MA and I have a lot of work on, so my posts are likely to be irregular until Christmas.

Hopefully this turns into something enjoyable for all!
 
Richter's First Years: 1879-1881

Richter's government reversed several of Bismarck's policies, including ending the high tariff protectionism in a commitment to free trade principles, reversed the Kulturkampf [1] and condemned antisemitism. They also ignored calls from the National Conservatives and the nationalist press to pass anti-Socialist legislation, which would have banned any socialistic organisation. Richter's government introduced legislation granting trade unions increased rights, though they refused to introduce any form of welfare as called for by the Social Democrats. The government also introduced legislation forbidding the employment of children under 13 while restricting workers aged between 13 and 18 to a maximum 10 hour day.

In foreign policy, Richter's government adopted a conciliatory attitude towards Britain and Austria-Hungary and maintained good relations with Italy, though relations with France and Russia remained poor. Richter's government was also conflicted on the issue of colonies, with many within the National Liberals and Centre Party supporting their acquisition, while Richter and his Liberal Democrats were opposed. Eventually after much debate, the government agreed to create chartered companies that would pursue colonial ventures rather than adopting a fully imperialist approach.

In Britain meanwhile, the election of 1880 saw Lord Hartington's Liberals [2] swept into power, and in 1880 the Boer War broke out. [3] In the USA, Ulysses S. Grant returned to power to become the first President to both serve non-consecutive terms in office and a third term in office. [4]

[1] Which by 1878 was gradually being abandoned: the "Black-Gold" government simply expedited the process.
[2] Spencer Cavendish became leader of the Liberal Party following Gladstone's retirement and became Prime Minister following the Liberal's victory in 1880.
[3] The Boer War resulted in a British victory, following Cavendish's decision to send an army of 25,000 men under the command of General Frederick Roberts, who had served with distinction in Afghanistan. The British force the Boers into open battle near Newcastle and rout them, resulting in British troops occupying large swathes of territory, though the Boers refused to surrender.
[4] Grant's third term would see him continue many of his previous policies as President though his cabinet included many of the "new guard" such as James Garfield. His term in office would be afflicted by his ill-health.
 
Does this mean that Elsass-Lothringen is considered a full Lander, rather than Reichsland?
If that is the case, there may be a gradual thawing of relationship with France as Alsatian diaspora will be a) less numerous and b)less enraged by news coming from home (I assume the Zabern affair will be impossible ITTL and relationships in Alsace will be better, if only because the linguistic issue is handled better).
 
Does this mean that Elsass-Lothringen is considered a full Lander, rather than Reichsland?
If that is the case, there may be a gradual thawing of relationship with France as Alsatian diaspora will be a) less numerous and b)less enraged by news coming from home (I assume the Zabern affair will be impossible ITTL and relationships in Alsace will be better, if only because the linguistic issue is handled better).


I was thinking of something along those lines, but I haven't thought it through yet. Also apologies for how late my reply is, I've had no internet for the last 9 days!
 
Following the formation of the "Black-Gold" coalition [1], Richter's government planned to introduce several constitutional reforms. A new constitution (known in some circles as the "Westminster Paper" was promulgated which made substantial changes to the political system of the empire. These included:


  1. The Emperor's position shifted to that of a constitutional figure head with significant reserve powers. While the emperor still appointed the chancellor, the chancellor would have to have the majority support of the Reichstag.
  2. The Chancellor and the cabinet were now fully responsible to parliament, and could simultaneously be members of the Reichstag or Bundesrat. The government could forced to resign if theit lost a vote of confidence in the Reichstag.
  3. The civil service was granted independence from strict political control.
  4. The largest party outside of government, now became the official opposition.
  5. The Bundesrat was now directly elected, with its elections held simultaneously with those of the Reichstag.
  6. Minority rights, including language rights for areas with significant minority populations (Alsace-Lorraine, Eastern Prussia and Schleswig-Holstein) and Jewish emancipation were to be protected by the constitution.
The new constitution was ratified in January 1879.

Sorry for reacting only now, but IMO there are some serious problems with the constitutional reforms:

a) Most important, it really should not be "a new constitution". Such a document would have to be ratified by all member states, rulers and parliaments alike, and that would be very complicated.
b) More typical would by a number of simple laws changing the constitution. These could be passed by the Reichstag and the Bundesrath. But even that would probably take longer, just in order to formulate the laws correctly.
c) The Reich was, technically, a Federation of monarchies and free cities. Members like the Mecklenburg duchies did not even have parliaments in the modern sense, just estates. Formally, the Bundesrath is the highest body, and it certainly has to agree on all laws. That influences which changes are likely.
1. While it is possible to make the Kanzler dependent on the support of the Reichstag majority, formally reducing the position of the Kaiser is very unlikely. He is the primus inter pares of the German federal princes, and Wilhelm I. has accepted the imperial title from them, not from the parliament. Changing that is an affront to the other kings and dukes, and rather unnecessary.
2. Possible.
3. What do you think of when you write "civil service"? The imperial administration is tiny. You have the Chancellery, the Foreign Office, the Office for Law Courts, the Postmaster-General's Office and the Railway Office.
4. Possible.
5. No, simply no. The Bundesrath is composed of representatives of the 25 governments of the German member states, with differing numbers of votes according to their population. Reforming it into a directly elected chamber would not be politically acceptable. You could even argue that it would undermine the whole construction of the Second Reich.
6. There is not even anything like a Bill of Rights for the majority in the old constitution, and that would have to come first, I think. Plus, the National Liberals did not call themselves that for nothing, and I have a hard time to believe in a viable parliamentary majority for the idea that foreign-language subjects should be protected from assimilation into the German nation.
d) IMO, you overlook the elephant in the room: Prussia alone has 27 million people out of 45 million German subjects. It has a highly regressive, tax-based voting system and in many practical cases, the Prussian bureaucracy simply doubles as federal one. Being the Ministerpräsident of Prussia is certainly as important as being Reichskanzler.
If you want Friedrich III createing a modernized Germany, you should have him start at home, in Prussia first, before potentially alienating the other monarchs.
 

Tyr Anazasi

Banned
Sorry for reacting only now, but IMO there are some serious problems with the constitutional reforms:

a) Most important, it really should not be "a new constitution". Such a document would have to be ratified by all member states, rulers and parliaments alike, and that would be very complicated.
b) More typical would by a number of simple laws changing the constitution. These could be passed by the Reichstag and the Bundesrath. But even that would probably take longer, just in order to formulate the laws correctly.
c) The Reich was, technically, a Federation of monarchies and free cities. Members like the Mecklenburg duchies did not even have parliaments in the modern sense, just estates. Formally, the Bundesrath is the highest body, and it certainly has to agree on all laws. That influences which changes are likely.
1. While it is possible to make the Kanzler dependent on the support of the Reichstag majority, formally reducing the position of the Kaiser is very unlikely. He is the primus inter pares of the German federal princes, and Wilhelm I. has accepted the imperial title from them, not from the parliament. Changing that is an affront to the other kings and dukes, and rather unnecessary.
2. Possible.
3. What do you think of when you write "civil service"? The imperial administration is tiny. You have the Chancellery, the Foreign Office, the Office for Law Courts, the Postmaster-General's Office and the Railway Office.
4. Possible.
5. No, simply no. The Bundesrath is composed of representatives of the 25 governments of the German member states, with differing numbers of votes according to their population. Reforming it into a directly elected chamber would not be politically acceptable. You could even argue that it would undermine the whole construction of the Second Reich.
6. There is not even anything like a Bill of Rights for the majority in the old constitution, and that would have to come first, I think. Plus, the National Liberals did not call themselves that for nothing, and I have a hard time to believe in a viable parliamentary majority for the idea that foreign-language subjects should be protected from assimilation into the German nation.
d) IMO, you overlook the elephant in the room: Prussia alone has 27 million people out of 45 million German subjects. It has a highly regressive, tax-based voting system and in many practical cases, the Prussian bureaucracy simply doubles as federal one. Being the Ministerpräsident of Prussia is certainly as important as being Reichskanzler.
If you want Friedrich III createing a modernized Germany, you should have him start at home, in Prussia first, before potentially alienating the other monarchs.

I completely agree. One thing to add: The federal level of the German Reich had few own administration. Because of this there was no kind of bill of rights within the Reich level. It was seen as irrelevant. Indeed it was the task of the federal states to do so. On this level you have no problems in this regard. Germany was a state of law, which was defended by the courts. The Prussian Supreme Administration court (Preußisches Oberverwaltungsgericht, Pr. OVG) for example did develop much in this regard. Their decisions were (and still are) the base of many laws.

So indeed Friedrich should start modernizing the Prussian constitution first and then go for the Imperial level. On that level I would propose a Reich supreme administration court. It was proposed in that time but did not come until 1941 as a step to dissolve the Pr. OVG, which had remained a bastion of state of law. In that time it was considered the task of the administration courts to defend the civil rights.
 
Are the relations with Russia THAT poor ("remain"?) in this timeframe around 1880 ?

IF GErmany and Britain enter a state of "intensive" friendship and cooperation then the relations with Russia Might (probably will) become worse, but as of now (time of POD) they should be rather cordial.
 

Pomphis

Banned
5. No, simply no. The Bundesrath is composed of representatives of the 25 governments of the German member states, with differing numbers of votes according to their population. Reforming it into a directly elected chamber would not be politically acceptable. You could even argue that it would undermine the whole construction of the Second Reich.

I just want to add: the weimar constitution and the grundgesetz we have today kept the system of the reichsrat/bundesrat being appoinnted by and representing the Länder (state) governments.
 
Thank you all for the feedback,

I will write a new post retconning the implausibilities and incorporating the various points made, but due to applications and such I am very busy so it might not be for a while (I will try and have it done sometime this week, but this may not be fully possible.)

Again thank you for the comments, since while I knew Prussia was the dominant state in the Second Reich I didn't realise it was to such an extent, and so yes Friedrich reforming Prussia first makes much more sense.
 
Top