The Post-WWI Community and the Rise of the Nazis

                

Post-war inflation was so bad that burning money was more cost effective than buying coal to heat a furnace.

            World War one was a defeat for Germany that reached into many elements of the German identity. The most obvious losses were those that were tangible; people, land, and resources. The Treaty of Versailles took 20% of the land, 10% of the people, and 80% of the iron ore reserves that the Germans mined for their livelihood (203). Without these resources, the already weakened country could not defend itself and could not recover easily from the war. To add insult to injury, the Treaty was signed in the same place where the founding of the German Empire had occurred not fifty years earlier (204). The losers had to not only deal with the tough terms of the Treaty but the vicious irony of the victors as well. This led to a lot of enmity towards the Treaty. Even though the German’s opposed the conditions, they were in no place to negotiate for different terms. The people were humiliated by the “dictat”. To them, it was an instance of the West proving its might and rubbing in the defeat of the German army. This affected the view of the West that Germans had. The West was cruel and vengeful, something the Germans would remember come World War two. 

The terms of the Treaty were harsh, and would be hard for the German people to swallow.

The Treaty made a mark on the German people in that it took away from a people that were already exhausted from a lengthy and bloody war. The prevailing sentiment among the Germans was that unjust terms were being thrust on a defenseless country (204). This would come into play later with the rise of the Nazi party. The German people were desperate for change, hope, and a sense of community. All of those wants were addressed by Hitler. He was a man that the people could look to and see power. He lit the fires in people’s hearts and gave them hope. His listeners were people in despair, feeling victimized and haunted by inner demons, starved for good news and stimulation, and indifferent to rational programs and logical arguments. The Fuher demanded from them faith and devotion, promising in return certainty and the security of a new, protective and apparently meaningful community; this was what people sought and found in Hitler and his message (233). Hitler changed the views of the German people; before, they deal with the Depression, harsh reparations, and a collapse of their political system. Now, with Hitler in charge, they sensed that a turning point was near. 

Hitler was a very animated speaker; he played to his audiences emotions to win them over.

 

When I first learned about the Nazis, I always wondered how the party was able to gain so much traction with the people. I never got as much back story before. After seeing the state that the Germans came out of right before World War two, I can see how the Treaty and the rest of the world changed their view of themselves. Before World War one, the German people had been very successful in their military endeavors. They had a successful economy and were able to enjoy a lot of privileges. After the war, those all got taken away. It changed their identity; before a proud and somewhat arrogant people, now a humbled yet resentful population. Hitler gave this population the promise of freedom from other nations, the ability to restore Germany to its former glory. If I was a member of the population at this time, I certainly would find it hard to resist Hitler’s ideals. The promise of better times and a restored nation would have been something that was finally good enough to rally around. This changed the people in that it gave them hope for something better since the end of World War one. That  would certainly be something hard to resist, hence why Hitler was able to become so powerful. 

Hitler made displays of power to show the people that they were strong and could rise from the ashes of WWI

Otto von Bismarck and the Creation of a Unified Germany

     Although there were many events that led to the eventual founding of the German nation in 1871, arguable the most influential were set in motion by Otto von Bismarck. Although his intent was to establish Prussian hegemony in Germany (pg 138), he ended up creating the perfect blend of political and social sentiments to create a united Germany. 

Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898)

     To start, the genius of this man politically has to be recognized. He realized early on that his goal would only happen insofar as the other great European powers would consent to goals (pg 139). In order for them to consent, they would have to be focused on other matters that drew their attention away from any sort of unification within the German state. When Denmark annexed Schleswig in November 1863 (pg 139) it provided the perfect backdrop for Bismarck to plan an invasion of the country. He faced a challenge in that the liberal nationalists opposed his policies (pg 139). However, their opposition provided a screen for him to operate behind. By allying Prussia with Austria and acting in concert, he was able to incorporate the liberated duchies as an “Austro-Prussian condominium” (pg 140). This obviously enraged the liberals, who wanted the new territory to be incorporated as part of the German Confederation. 

Central Europe in the 1860s

     This move added to the German identity in that it was a ruthless and efficient way of dealing with a matter, something that German’s are stereotyped for even today. As Bismarck himself stated; “The great questions of the age are not settled with speeches and majority votes…but by iron and blood” (pg 140). While his principles may not have been altogether ethic, no one could dispute that they were effective in achieving the desired outcome. Ultimately, Bismarck was able to prove that the liberal movement was vocal but had no real power. 

     The next step in his plan to expand Prussian power would allow him to realize his goal of a lasting hegemony in Germany and a final reckoning with Austria (pg 140). The two powers had a very slim balance, and usually they had the buffer of the rest of the German speaking lands between them to prevent any conflict. But the war with the Danish had created a change; it was the first time that the lines of central Europe had been redrawn without intervention from any external powers (pg 141). This also created an opportunity to shape the identity of the German state because for the first time in a long time there was a window of opportunity for a strong nation state to seize power and shape central Europe in a way that had not been seen before (pg 141). 

Austro-Prussian War 1866

     A challenge to Bismarck’s plans would obviously be Austria, but after the battle of Koninggratz in 1866 Austria was no longer a threat. The battle represented a critical stage in the unity of Germany in that had Austria won the German Confederation would have dismantled Bismarck’s plans for Prussian supremacy (pg 142). When the Treaty of Prague was signed, it allowed Prussia to be the main seat of power in the north of Germany. This shaped the German identity because the smaller northern states in Germany would now be under the jurisdiction of Prussia and all of its propaganda. This propaganda would have a profound influence on the thoughts and feelings of those living in the north. 

The Battle of Koninggratz

     With the crowning of King William I of Prussia as the German Emperor in 1871, the unity of Germany was complete, and Bismarck had effectively achieved his goals. His actions helped to literally shape the German state. Because of him, all German people now had a central government that they could affiliate with, creating a sense of nationality that had not existed in the past (pg 145). This was essential in creating an identity for the German people. Before, as a conglomerate of territories, there had been no central power to stand behind. But now the German people had a seat of power that they could all stand behind. 

King William I Emperor of Germany