Germany Special Path

Compared to other powerful European nations at the turn of the twentieth century, such as the U.K. and France, Germany had a very different history in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This ‘sonderweg’, or ‘special path’, that Germany followed decisively influenced its history in the twentieth century and helps explain why Germany would be the source of much devastation. Two aspects of the special path, namely the speed with which the German Empire developed and the Empire’s distinctive authoritarian government, can account for the buildup that led to World War 1, and following defeat there, the rise of Nazism and World War 2.

There was a very short timeframe in which Germany would evolve from a collection of small states to a global

Some proponents of the special path hypothesis argue that Germany’s rapid transformation from a weak confederation to a leading power on the continent created an inflated sense of confidence and ambition that would bring it into conflict with other nations. In this view, a German quest for power was the primary reason for World War 1. This view however ignores the fact that after unifying Germany, Bismarck worked to ensure the continent would not go to war. He maintained Germany had no territorial ambitions in Europe and worked towards cordial relations with other European powers. Bismarck forged alliances with Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Russia, and maintained friendly relations with Great Britain. If France was isolated as Germany’s only major enemy, then World War 1 would likely not have occurred. The turning point occurred in 1890, when Bismarck was fired by Kaiser Wilhelm II, who favored a more aggressive foreign policy. Germany’s foreign relations were determined by individual people and not by its path in centuries prior. While Wilhelm II’s shift may have contributed to the alliances that made World War 1 so devastating, this did not make the war inevitable. It was Austria-Hungary, not Germany, that would start World War 1 by declaring war on Serbia in response to the assassination of Archduke Franz

The failure of the Weimar republic and the rise of Nazism in Germany is more readily explained by World War 1 and its aftermath. After the war, Germany endured severe hyperinflation then unemployment. This, combined with the population’s anger against the government for Germany’s defeat in World War 1 and the reparation payments that followed, created conditions conducive to ultranationalist forces to enter the government. Promises of a fight against the harsh conditions of the Treaty of Versailles and a return to prewar glory would certainly prove enticing for voters. After gaining entry into the government, it was not difficult for the Nazis to take over a republic saddled with economic issues and popular discontent. Although conditions in Germany were especially favorable for a far-right force to rise, it was not unique in witnessing a far-right takeover. Many countries after World War 1 experienced a rise in extremist movements, and several other countries in Europe fell to right-wing autocratic governments. Among these countries were Italy, Portugal, and Spain, none of which were part of the Central Powers in World War 1. In fact, Hitler took over Germany’s government 10 years after Mussolini did so in Italy. Fascism in Italy was partly borne out of a feeling that Italy had not received as much territory as it should have by being an