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Section A: Plan of the investigation

Throughout the late 19th century, victorious achievements were made in many aspects to

benefit leading countries. With the kickoff of the Second Industrial Revolution, numerous

European countries started to become industrialized, including Germany, Austria, Russia and

Italy. Industrial growth in this period benefited from new technology, production in large-scale

factories, increased consumer spending and more available capital. The most prominent country

in this Second Industrial Revolution was Germany. With its economy expanding spectacularly,

abundance in natural resources, (especially coal), efficient equipment, new technology and

successful military, the German country was the leader of this Revolution. Of course, this

prospering that Germany was experiencing would affect its future. In what ways did the Second

Industrial Revolution affect both World War I and II Germany? In order to achieve knowledge of

this subject, this investigation will analyze sources such as Welcome to Germany, Germany the

land, The Holocaust, Hitler, and Nazi Germany, several topics of Hitler and reading the text of

The Western Experience.

Section B: Summary of Evidence

“The Industrial Revolution was turning Germany upside down. Farmers abandoned their

fields to become factory laborers. Craftsmen’s workshops gave way to assembly lines. Science

challenged religious authority, turning believers into doubters. People felt dispossessed and

uncertain; they had lost their moorings, and they needed someone to blame” (Altman 24).

“The arsenal included everything from tanks and mortars to hand grenades and machine

guns that ‘cut down like waves of wheat.’ The Germans could mount long-range artillery

barrages with cannons that fired shells weighing over seventeen hundred pounds…Chemical

weapons like ‘liquid fire’ and poison gas added even more terror…Poison gas was even the most
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dreaded of all weapons. There was no defense against it until gas masks were created. Deadly

mist collected in shell holes, clung to the ground, seeped into clothing. It blinded men, seared

their lungs, ate at their skin like acid. Poison gas became a symbol of all that was terrifying about

mechanized war.” (Altman 25).

“Robert Koch in Germany showed that different diseases were caused by distinct

microbes, discovered the microorganism responsible for tuberculosis, and opened the way to new

techniques in bacteriology and in the battle against communicable diseases…The success of

science stimulated a general expansion of secondary and higher education, and most of the

academic disciplines” (Chambers 894).

“Germany is one of the richest and most industrialized countries in the world. There are

factories in all of the main German cities…Germany has large reserves of only one material:

coal. Iron and steel must be imported from other countries. They are then used to make

machinery, trains and ships. Some of our power stations use nuclear energy. Germany is the

third-largest producer of cars in the world. Inventions by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and

Rudolf Diesel in the late 1800s were important to car industry. Today, the brand names

Mercedes-Benz, Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen are known all over the world” (Costain 24).

“Germany started building its highway network, or Autobahn, in the 1930s. It was a way

to create jobs for millions who were out of work at the time. At 6,500 miles, the Autobahn is the

second-longest highway network in the world…There is no speed limit, although motorists are

advised not to go faster than 80 miles per hour” (Lane 20). “While Hitler was in power, the

economy grew strong. Many people found jobs building the Autobahn” (“Germany..people” 10).

“During World War II, bombs destroyed many of Germany’s cities. Some had to be

completely rebuilt. These cities are modern looking, with tall skyscrapers, apartment buildings
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and wide roads. Still other cities were lucky enough to have the Alstadt, the old city, escape the

bombs” (“Germany..people” 16).

Section C: Evaluation of Sources

The textbook The Western Experience written by Mortimer Chambers, Barbara

Hanawalt, Theodore K. Rabb, Isser Woloch and Raymond Grew covers a span of history from

11,000 B.C. to modern day history of the 20th century of Europe. Four highly college professors

of history who have obtained their Ph.D.’s have acquired the information within this text.

Mortimer Chambers is a Professor of History at the University of California at Los Angeles;

Barbara Hanawalt is the King George III Chair of British History at The Ohio State University;

Theodore K. Rabb is Professor of History at Princeton University; Isser Woloch is Moore

Collegiate Professor of History at Columbia University; and Raymond Grew is Professor of

History Emeritus at the University of Michigan (previously professor at Brandeis University,

Princeton University and at the Écloes des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Pairs.) In this

textbook, the authors were trying to not only set forth information of European history but to also

serve as an example of historical writing. They wanted to give students an introduction to the

major achievements in Western thought, art and science as well as the historical context for

understanding them. Their goals were to treat various aspects of history-politics, culture,

economics, in an integrated way. This becomes valuable in gathering knowledge for this paper

because of the authors ambition to relay the imperative data for students. Chapter 25 is

completely focused on the Second Industrial Revolution, by means of its short-term as well as

long-term effects throughout Europe. This is crucial to this investigation because it goes in depth

of the industrial growth of the 19th century, and based on those facts it is simple to put it in

conjunction with future events. These authors have presented a balanced perspective of the
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Second Industrial Revolution from different countries and the way each one was affected in both

positive and negative aspects.

The book The Holocaust, Hitler and Nazi Germany by Linda Jacobs Altman and is a

description of the events and inhabitants from which the country of Germany’s worst era, of the

1920’s and great depression, had advanced and focuses on Hitler’s rise to authority and his

position in World War II. The author, Linda Altman, specializes her writing in social issues,

history and ethnic subjects focused more towards adolescent students. She has composed

numerous books regarding the Holocaust, such as The Holocaust Ghettos. This book is an

excellent juxtapose to The Western Experience because of its rich data of World War II and the

Holocaust, and its facts on the use of machinery, and health status within it. These qualities are

reflected from the Second Industrial Revolution: “ ‘It was like being in hell,’ said one veteran

who survived an attack. ‘Some of the men began to scream terribly, tearing off their clothes,

trying to beat out the flames.’ Poison gas was the most dreaded of all weapons. Deadly mist

collected in shell holes, clung to the ground, seeped into clothing.”

Most of her writing is straightforward. This book is also very balanced with its

presentation of different perspectives, a strength making it valuable. The limitation is that some

of Linda’s statements are formed into her opinion. “This would not be a ‘good, old-fashioned

war’ complete with blaring trumpets, charging cavalry and infantry marching in close-order

drill...The Germans expected a quick victory.”

Section D: Analysis

The innovative Second Industrial Revolution taking place in the late 19th century

consisted of economic growth, amplified agriculture, changing gender roles and demographic

transitioning. Men dominated manufacturing, services, armed forces and mining.

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Communication, agriculture and construction were spread out between men and women during

the Second Industrial Revolution. Achievements of new developments in chemistry and biology

were clear, as well. Robert Koch in Germany showed that distinct microbes caused different

diseases, discovering the microorganism responsible for tuberculosis. As well as the discovery of

microorganisms was also the discovery of Aspirin. A German chemist named Felix Hoffman was

in search for a cure to relieve his father of arthritis. In the process, he rediscovered acetylsalicylic

acid, known today by the name of aspirin. These discoveries would also help Germany later

down the road in the World War II, in treating injuries and managing soldiers’ health. The

success of science stimulated a general expansion of secondary and higher education.

A major contribution to 20th century Germany from the Second Industrial Revolution was

a man named Karl Marx. His theories and opinions were formed around government, capital and

social sciences. Marxism has deeply affected all modern thought, shaped the policies of all sorts

of governments, and provided a core for some of the most powerful political movements of the

last hundred years. There were four main qualities that most people considered good aspects of

Marxism. Marxism thrived on economic equality and saw society as one; it demanded a

systematic and detailed analyses of the interrelationship among politics, economics, schooling

and most importantly, social values. Marxism fully accepted industrialization as beneficial to

bourgeoisie while also making criticism of an industrial society. Marxism doled moral

judgements, without defending an ethical system. Marxism is secure by determinism and knows

the limits of science. It accepts the unexpected, and the rapid flow of change that many were

experiencing at this time. Whether it was an economic factor or the structure of capitalism. These

characteristics were very appealing to those people of Europe because of its tolerance and

freedom. Numerous inhabitants followed Marxism that was developed during the Second
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Industrial Revolution.

Germany’s main natural resource, coal, was a main source for the newfound electricity of

the Second Industrial Revolution. Coal benefited Germany because it could be burned in

factories and power stations to be used as energy within the World War II. Not only was it a

contribution to the country’s success of the war, but also to the citizens in needs of work. Most

Germans without a job or stuck in poverty would look to the city factories for work and would be

successful in the iron and steel industry.

With the invention of the steam engine and railroads in the Second Industrial Revolution,

this evoked many new weaponry, machines and methods of transportation to assist the World

War II. While Hitler came to power, Germany’s economy began to become more powerful. Like

those finding jobs in the coal and iron factory, many looked toward the building of the Autobahn

and the creation of weapons for a job. The Autobahn displayed nationalism in Germany, because

they were striving to have the largest transportation network in the world and succeeded. The

Autobahn was used to gain support for Germany and to show off their industrialization. It united

the German people both physically and in pride.

The Treaty of Versailles ending in World War I stated that Germany was not to increase

their weapon supply, in fact, but continued to do so anyways (Treaty of Versailles left the

German economy in ruins with the payments to the Allies from World War 1.) Hitler opened

industry to create a power of army, navy and Luftwaffe. It was clear that Hitler was disobeying

the Treaty of Versailles and planning for war.

Along with the Autobahn was the major leap in automobile production. Over the years,

Germans had become known for their contributions to the car industry. Karl Benz was the first to

build a car, in the entire world. The car was built in 1885, had three wheels and ran at a
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maximum speed of 10 miles per hour. Eventually when Benz realized that a three wheeled car

was not efficient enough, he began to manufacture a four-wheeled vehicle. When the economic

issues that chased after World War I, Karl Benz and Mercedes (Gottlieb Daimler) merged

automobile businesses and the company became the high class cars known today as Mercedes

Benz.

The assembly of these machines and inventions reflect ideas from the Second Industrial

Revolution that truly benefited the future of Germany and in World War II.

Section E: Conclusion

If the Second Industrial Revolution hadn’t taken place beforehand, with Germany

creating heavy industry and chemicals, World War II would not have occurred. The Second

Industrial Revolution affected Nazi Germany in many aspects, through industry, economical

downfalls and up rises, domestic and gender roles, demographic transitioning and uplifts in

nationalism.

Section F: List of Sources

Altman, Linda Jacobs. “The Holocaust, Hitler, and Nazi Germany.” Berkeley Heights: Enslow,

1999.

Chambers, Mortimer and Barbara Hanawalt and Theodore K. Rabb and Isser Woloch and

Raymond Grew. “The Western Experience.” New York: McGraw, 2003.

Costain, Meredith and Paul Collins. “Welcome to Germany.” Ed. Miriana Dasovic. Broomall:

Chelsea House, 2002. 24.

Lane, Kathryn. “Germany the land.” Ed. Jessica Rudolph. New York: Crabtree, 2001. 20, 22, 24.

Lane, Kathryn. “Germany the people.” Ed. Jessica Rudolph. New York: Crabtree, 2001. 9-10.

“The Second Industrial Revolution: Germany.” The Cause and Extent of the Recent Industrial
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Progress of Germany. 22 Mar. 2010 <http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/>.