On Personnel Policy of Wilhelm II in German and Prussian Armed Forces

The study analyses the influence of Wilhelm II, German Emperor on the personnel policy in the armed forces between 1888–1918. It also describes the most crucial events in connection with the level of institutions of the Empire and highest Prussian institutions. The study looks for main actors of individual appointments and examines who was instrumental in key personnel appointments. The study’s conclusions are primarily based on analysing non-published sources from the Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin-Dahlem, namely the Brandenburg-Preußisches Hausarchiv, Repositur 53, Kaiser Wilhelm II. und Familie. It is also based on reports of Austrian-Hungarian ambassadors in Berlin saved in the Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv, Wien, namely Abteilung III. (Preußen). The author concludes that Wilhelm II’s personnel policy had three stages of development. At the beginning of his rule, he excitedly grasped the chance to “rejuvenate” the corps of generals of the armed forces and to surround himself with people who suited him — people who admired him, did not criticize him, and did not argue with him. From this perspective, he negatively influenced the state of the armed forces because (unlike his predecessors) he focused more on subjective factors rather than objective criteria when assessing the abilities of the members of the armed forces. After 1900, the second stage began, during which the Emperor accepted suggestions for promotions. The third stage — the significant decline of the Emperor’s influence on the personnel policy of armed forces — started after the scandals in 1907 and after the beginning of World War I. Wilhelm II’s influence on the personnel policy of armed forces can be (similarly to his influence on foreign and internal policies) described as chaotic, unsystematic, and in some instances even destructive, which is why he is partly responsible for the developments during World War I, including the takeover of political decisions by the leaders of the armed forces.223

The Development of the Brewing Industry in South Bohemian Region in The Turn Of The 20th And 21st Centuries

The study showed that the South Bohemian beer industry is developing in a specific way within the Czech beer production. Only in the South Bohemian region during the small privatization, sales of two major breweries were implemented. The only privatized brewery in the Czech republic that is town property, the Strakonice Brewery, is located in the South Bohemian region. Another distinction is that only the Budweiser Budvar Brewery has not been privatized until this day and is the only and last state enterprise. Also very specific is the fact that the Budweiser Budvar is only fourth place in beer production but first in beer export in the Czech republic

Transport Policy as a Way to Strengthen Geostrategic Position – A Review of Vienna as a Centre of Air and High-Speed Rail Transport in Central Europe

Vienna’s geostrategic importance fluctuated through the ages because of the power clashes and subsequent political and socio-economic impacts on the population. This paper assesses its current position in a historical context and then focuses more on the socio-economic dimensions such as interconnectedness and other transport aspects of the geostrategic position. Air and environmentally friendlier modes of passenger transport like high-speed rail are considered and analysed in the European context. This paper also reviews the results and issues dealing with the development of the Vienna Airport and the progress of high-speed railway projects in the Central European Economies (CEEs) after the European Union’s enlargement in 2004. The results suggest that after a restoration period of Vienna’s geostrategic position between 1995–2005, there is currently only a moderate and slowly growing exercise of power, control or influence over the CEEs. The results suggest that there is competition from busier German hub airports as well as the growing importance of CEE airports in transit and growing passenger transport performance figures. The lack of environmentally friendly high-speed infrastructure as a viable option instead of the fastest air travel is preventing Vienna to strengthen its strategic position. Its strategic importance is highly affected by the underdeveloped transport networks in CEEs and the future development of the Vienna Airport as a major transport hub

"The Daily Telegraph affaire" Mass media and a transformation of the German empire in 1908

Studie zhodnotila důsledky aféry s Daily Telegraphem pro vývoj vztahu německého obyvatelstva k monarchii a konstatovala vážné narušení vážnosti této instituce. Autor je přesvědčen, že v roce 1918 se projevily důsledky diskreditace trůnu, a monarchii nahradila republika. Vinu jednoznačně přisuzuje poslednímu německému císaři, který by dokázal vybudovat dobré vztahy mezi Velkou Británií a Německem, ale vzhledem ke svému temperamentu této úloze nedorostl a zklamal. Protože se potácel mezi anglickou a německou „identitou“, byly jeho osobní zásahy do zahraniční politiky a britsko-německé diplomacie chaotické a nevypočitatelné. Autor zhodnotil i současnou diskusi o „osobní vládě“ a došel k závěru, že Vilém II. dodržoval říšskou ústavu a v žádném případě nebyl absolutním monarchou. Veřejnost ale často mylně považovala jeho náhlé nápady za oficiální stanoviska.The study evaluated the consequences of the affair with Daily Telegraph for developing a relationship between the German population and the monarchy and observed a severe disruption of the regard of this institution.The author is convinced that in 1918 the consequences of discrediting the throne came into effect; the monarchy was replaced by a republic. The last German emperor is seen as clearly at fault for this situation. He would have been able to develop good relations between Great Britian and Germany but he was not able to rise to this occasion and thus failed because of his temperament. His personal interventions in foreign affairs and the British-German diplomacy were chaotic and unpredictable because of his struggle between his English and German „identities“. The author also evaluated the current discussion about the „personal rule“ and came to the conclusion that Wilhelm II honored the constitution of the empire and was not under any circumstances an absolute monarch. The public often incorrectly perceived his sudden ideas as official statements.809

Russisch‑deutsche Beziehungen nach der Thronbesteigung Wilhelms II.

The study analyses the German foreign policy after ascension of the German Emperor and Prussian King Wilhelm II, in detail its relations with the Russian Empire and the transformation of the alliance system. It analyses the causes of the deterioration of the German‑Russian relations through observing the foreign‑political, economic and personal aspects. It answers the questions, why the German leadership did not continue in Bismarck’s alliance system, why it refused a treaty relationship with Russia based on the Reinsurance Treaty, and who specifically was responsible for that decision in the ranks of the German governing elite. The author claims that the German foreign policy was not able to timely notice the Russian shift of interest from the Balkans to Middle Asia. At the same time the author points out that even before Bismarck’s departure the German‑Russian trade war had raged, the significance of the Reinsurance Treaty had declined and the later cancelling of the treaty was not the beginning but the end of the disrupted relations between Petersburg and Berlin. The false impression of German diplomats that Great Britain wanted to give up its ‘splendid isolation’ and join the Triple Alliance can be seen as the other important impulse leading to the breakdown of the treaty.617

Selected Aspects of the development of the German Economy in the Great Depression

The Great Depression deepened problems of the Weimar Republic and contributed to the establishment of the Nazi dictatorship. However, the symptoms of weakness in the economical sphere could be already seen in the late 1920s. The indebtedness of the state and high public expenditures related to the great bulk of foreign loans became the biggest problems of this state. Political parties could not achieve unanimity in anti-crisis reforms and, as a result, in 1930 President Paul von Hindenburg appointed new Chancellor Dr Heinrich Brüning. His cabinet focused on balancing of the national budget and nullifi cation of reparations. Consecutively, the German government adopted a wide range of drastically saving provisions with the intention of lowering state expenditures and maintaining the stability of currency. The adopted defl ation policy did not take into account rapidly increasing unemployment and social instability that was refl ected in the rising preferences of radical political parties - NSDAP and KPD. Economic slump reached its peak after the outbreak of the socalled Bank crisis, caused by the collapse of infl uential Berlin bank houses. German government continued to pursue the defl ation policy which was based on an experience with the hyperinfl ation in the years 1923-1924 and the majority of politicians feared that new credits and state interventions would cause depreciation of currency and political unrest. Following cabinets of Franz von Papen and Kurt von Schleicher did not manage to stop the impact of the Great Depression. Only the new cabinet of Adolf Hitler started the era of state investments into armament and construction and thus contributed to the fi nishing of the depression.unemployment, German Economic Policy, the great deppression, politics of defl ation, banking cisis

The Development of the Institute of the Economic History of the Faculty of Economics and Public Administration, University of Economics, Prague

The study preciously analyses and reconstructs the diffi cult process of the constitution and development of the Institute of the Economic History since its origin (1958) to the time of changes after 1989. It was the fi rst Czech institute of the conomic history; in its head there were Professor Rudolf Olšovský, Professor Václav Průcha, Ing. Daniel Váňa and Doc. Dr. František Stellner. The study is concentrated to the research of the activities of the members of the Institute, to the pedagogical and scientifi c part of the work of its directors and members; the study contains the analysis of the published works of the members of the Institute, too. They published these important works: Olšovský, R. a kol., Přehled hospodářského vývoje Československa v letech 1918-1945, Praha 1961; Faltus, J., Průcha, V., Všeobecné hospodářské dějiny 19. a 20. století, Praha 1966, Průcha, V. a kol., Hospodářské dějiny Československa v 19. a 20. století, Praha 1974, Průcha, V. a kol., Hospodářské a sociální dějiny Československa 1918-1992. I. díl Období 1918-1945, Brno 2004.Institute of the Economic History, Faculty of the National Economy, University of Economics, Prague

To the Economic Development of the Weimar Republic during the Brüning Era

Immediately after its succession in 1930 the administration of Heinrich Brüning had to deal with many serious problems. In the economic sphere it had to cope with the Great Depression. Politically, Brüning's government was without the support of parliament, it could, however, rely on goodwill and powers of President Hindenburg. Moreover, it was the era of the greater impact of extremist political parties - Communists and NSDAP. Brüning supported deflationary policy that deepened an impact of the Great Depression in Germany. It led to mass unemployment and growth of votes for Nazi Party. The Cabinet intended to make the best of an unpleasant economic situation to force the Western powers to annul reparations. This attempt was successful but it led to social instability, long-term mass unemployment and deflection from democratic and parliamentary principles.Germany, Reparations, Great Depression, deflationary policy, banking crisis, crisis of democracy

Selected Problems of the Economic Politics during the Government of H. Müller (u

In 1928 was appointed the last coalition democratic government which aim was to deal with growing economic problems of the Weimar republic. The so called "Great coalition" failed to come to agreement on solution of the most important questions: social policy, fiscal policy, reparations and the Young plan. Yet before October 1929 the problems of the political sphere and variety of opinions on German economic policy emerged. Therefore the study focuses both on problems which the cabinet considered crucial in economic sphere, on mingling of interests of political parties, trade unions, special interest groups in industry or agriculture, on influence of economic policy and particularly on controversy concerning the access to the social question. Marginally it deals as well as with weak points of the Weimar republic parliamentarianism in connection with searching the outlets from growing economic problems and with the question whether the creation of the so called "Great coalition" in 1928 was bigger mistake than its much more criticized failure two years later.unemployment, Germany, German Economic Policy, Reparations, the Young Plan, the Great Depression

Innovative activity and business cycle: Austria in the 19th and 20th century

This paper focuses on the analysis of the relationship between business cycles and innovative activity in a small open economy. Small economies benefit from imports of foreign technologies through international trade and foreign investments and are subjects to significant exogenous shocks that impact their business cycle. The economic analysis is based on the demand and supply theories of innovation and economic fluctuations. Hypotheses about long term and short term (Granger) effects are tested on Austrian historical data (1852-1979) about the economic output (gross domestic product and industry production) and innovation output (granted patents). The econometric analysis utilizes vector error correction procedure to estimate time-series models of the economy. The results are interpreted in Austrian historical context. The economic-historical analysis suggests that there is no long-term relationship between business cycles and innovative activity between 1852 and 1937. The long-term relationship manifested only between 1948 and 1979. This relationship is very complex and influenced by the historical context, and it is not easy to grasp by the econometric analysis. In the short run, there is no compelling evidence trough-out the analyzed time period (1852-1979). However, we cannot fully reject the hypothesis suggesting a relationship between economic cycles and innovative activities. In the most recent period (1948-1979), we can observe a negative impact (Granger causality) of granted patents on the real GDP. Future research taking into account more countries using parametric as well as non-parametric approach could shed some light on the demand hypothesis in the pre-war and post-war development of small open economies. This paper showed that there is a long-term equilibrium between economic output and innovation activity. This result suggests that long term factors such as political stability are behind the complex relationship