What does Bismarck's speech on the issue of the Poles reveal about his understanding of the German nation?
Bismarck's treatment of the Polish population of Prussia, and his consequent defence of that treatment, like his handling of Prussian Catholics and socialists, is of interest both as a problem in itself but also for the insights it gives us into his understanding of the German nation. Bismarck's "Polish Problem" speech delivered to the Lower House of the Prussian parliament is a result of the brutal expulsion from Prussian territory of some 30,000 Poles carried out the year before (1885) and serves as a response to the opponents of that expulsion, the Polish Party and the Central party. It was this domestic parliamentary reaction to these expulsion measures, the fact that he was being held answerable for his actions, which makes transparent Bismarck's understanding of the German nation. Compelled to defend the expulsions before the elected representatives of the nation, Bismarck did so by means of an appeal to German nationalist feelings. While this speech explains how Bismarck performed nationalism, it does not, I feel explain his own understanding of it. Bismarck, I will argue, was a state nationalist and his policy toward Poland and his understanding of the German nation was based much more upon his view of the necessities of state rather than upon national bigotry.
Although remarkable for the degree and tone of its anti-Polish vehemence the speech should be regarded as a ploy of statecraft. In this regard I will try to fit Bismarck's performance of nationalism in his speech on the "Polish Problem" into a picture of Bismarck as the state-nationalist statesman. Seen in this light, Bismarck's policies towards Prussia...
... middle of paper ...
...uity, becomes important when we realise that Bismarck was the chief source from which the next generation was to obtain its political education. Through a slight tweaking of Bismarck's understanding of the German nation, Bismarck's synthesis became a revolutionary instrument. His deliberate exaggeration of the degree of German patriotism which he experienced, as is dolefully expressed in this speech, would lead to disaster for the German nation in the following century.
Bibliography:
Blanke, Richard, `Bismarck and the Prussian Polish policies of 1886' in The Journal of Modern history, Vol. 45, No. 2 (Jun., 1973),pp. 211-239
Pflanze, Otto, `Bismarck and German Nationalism' in The American Historical Review, Vol.60, No.3 (Apr., 1955), pp. 548-566
Holborn, Hajo, `Bismarck's Realpolitik' in Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 21, No.1 (Jan. 1960), pp. 84-98
Research will be drawn from many sources including several historical studies and online articles. The sources used revolve around Bismarck's attitudes and actions toward German unification and general policy. Sources include works by historians A.J.P. Taylor and James Wycliffe Headlam. The policies of Bismarck during the interwar period were researched as well, through several scholastic journals and written works.
For example, in Herman Wagener’s memorandum, or private letter, to Otto Von Bismarck, he gave recommendations on strategies to strengthen the army and essentially gain more dominance and power (doc 3). Herman Wagener, being a conservative politician, advised Bismarck in the private letter that he shift the masses’ opinion while strengthening the power and reliability of the army. Also, Kaiser Wilhelm 1 made a speech to Reichstag proposing that they enforce “... the repression of Social Democratic excesses ...” (doc 5) and also promote workers’ welfare. This German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm 1, made his speech to Reichstag naturally hoping to influence the parliament to support Bismarck by saying that they need to convict the socialists in order to cure defects which will lead to more support from many people and more power. In addition, in 1884 Bismarck spoke in support of the Socialists, in support of their ideas, and apologized for the proposal that the government tried to win more support for the Anti-Socialist law (doc 6). Bismarck made this speech in support of the Socialists in order to gain their support to increase his dominance and power. Finally, Eugen Richter wrote a newspaper article in 1890 explaining Chancellor Otto Von
Because of the state of Germany’s economy, Hitler portrayed himself as the saviour of Germany, the man that was going to restore the respect that their forefathers had earned & installed. However, under no uncertain terms was he going to do it alone, he pr...
Hagen W (2012). ‘German History in Modern Times: Four Lives of the Nation’. Published by Cambridge University Press (13 Feb 2012)
The biographical approach to German unification in Bruce Waller’s Bismarck leaves the reader without much information on the European political picture as a whole and by no means provides a plethora of information on many of the political power players outside of Bismarck’s Germany. For example, Waller’s approach to Bismarck’s economic foreign policy is clearly lacking an explanation of outside factors, and those factors of the European economic situat...
However, with the designation of Wilhelm II as the new Kaiser, Bismarck’s ways and goals weren’t longer taken into account and was dismissed in 1890. The new Kaiser had different objectives; he was ambitious and wanted to improve the notability of Germany by expanding the empire. This expansion involved more colonies from where they would be able to import cheaply raw materials and labour supply. The whole new tendency whose sole purpose was to expand was named Weltpolitik. This Imperialism was one of the many causes of WW...
Kaiser, David E. Politics and War: European Conflict from Philip II to Hitler. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1990. Print.
Berghahn, Volker R.. Germany and the approach of war in 1914. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1973.
In the year 1929 their was a large depression in the country of Germany. This depression was made up of power struggle and economic distress. The people of Germany no longer trusted the democratic government that they once knew. This allowed Adolf Hitler, the great speaker that he was, to persuade the German people to bring him and his Nazi party into power. Adolf Hitler approached the German people speaking of nationalism which was very much needed after World War I. Not only did he need the...
In the time leading up to and during Hitler’s reign in Germany, German citizens felt the impacts of the political as well as the economic situation of the country. These conditions in Germany led to the building of the Nazi party and to the Holocaust. The new government headed by Adolf Hitler changed the life of all Germans whether they joined the Nazi party themselves or opposed the ideas of Hitler or aided Jews to fight the persecution they suffered under this government.
Hugh Trevor-Roper, “Hitler’s Plan for War Reaffirmed” in Snell, J.L., ed., The Outbreak of the Second World War: Design or Blunder? (Boston: D.C. Heath, 1963) p. 9
Fichte advocated for German nationalism, and in his “Addresses to the German Nation” of 1808, he insisted that Germans should act with a certain personality (of being German), “To have character and to be German undoubtedly mean the same” (63). This particular section of Fichte’s work is unique and interestingly unprecedented, as he is urging his fellow Germans to stand out and be recognized. He wanted to give them a sense of hope and even patriotism.
Treitschke, Heinrich. “History of Germany in the Nineteenth Century and Historical and Political Writings.” The Human Record. By Alfred J. Andrea and James H. Overfield. Vol. 2. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2011. 2 vols. 292-295.
Examinations of Hitler's role in the formulation of Nazi foreign policy and his goals of that foreign policy leads to questions of the limits of his goal of Lebensraum. This introduces the debate between 'globalists' and 'continentalists'. Expanding on Trevor-Roper's emphasis on Hitler's goals of Lebensraum, historian Gunter Moltmann argued that Hitler's aims were not confined to Europe but at world domination. Andreas Hillgruber expands on this idea with his concept of a three-stage plan he calls the Stufenplan as the basis for Nazi foreign policy. This plan involved Germany gaining mastery over Europe, followed by the Middle East and British colonial territory, and later the USA and with that the entire world.
Prior to unification in 1871 the territory that would become Germany was comprised of thirty-nine independent states and city states joined together in a loose German Confederation. The most powerful among these states was Prussia, both geographically the largest state and that with the largest population. The influential politicians and policies that came out of Prussia were instrumental in the gradual formation of a united Germany. Beginning with the rise of Napoleon, the nineteenth century was a time of incredible change which dramatically altered the political balance of Europe. In order to understand the factors that culminated in official German unification on January 18 1871, it is necessary to examine the preceding decades. No single factor can be credited for the unification of the German states. Rather, the combined forces of social change, economic strength within a unified customs union, the moral justifications provided by nationalism, Bismarck’s careful manipulation of internal politics and the advantages gained through military action resulted in the unification of Germany.