Tough Times Call for Change

People often ponder the history of Germany and question how in the world can man such as Hitler gain so much power so quickly. I have even pondered this question myself. The recent reading helped to clarify this issue and shine some light on why the German people could have supported something like this.

Something to consider was that during World War I, the German state was already in a slightly confused political time with various changes occurring. The World War I effort was left wth a conflicted German nation of which delegations of Reichstag such as the SPD, the Center Party, Progressive People’s Party, and the National Liberal Party (193). They came together to exert pressure on the government through withholding support for war loans (194). It seemed through the representation of these parties that Germany wanted peace but it did not come until some extensive damage was done. When United States enter the war in 1917, Germany continued to suffer extensive losses (194). Now one would think that during this time, the German people would support the various parties coming together against the current establishment, but people put their hopes in military leaders instead such as such as General Hindenburg who was appointed Army high command in 1916 (195). This was proof that Germans still looked to military leadership as a form of patriotism and unification in the state which made Hitler's later speeches on military expansion effective. 

When Germany went to a truce in 1918, the country was practically forced into their first democratic system and it was not due to the normal rise of a political party. This fact gave Germans a bit of a bad taste in their mouths about democracy right off the bat. Not only that, but even as the German people had an election and formed the new basis of government, the truce with the Allied powers in 1919 cause a great deal of German territory to be lost (202). Germans were pretty much all opposed to his result and even did whatever they could to refuse the terms of the peace agreement but they gave in due to continuous blockade of food and threat to continue attacks if Germany did not agree (203). The Treaty of Versailles did not have favorable terms either, and many Germans saw that and the new form of government as a punishment posed on them by the Western forces (204).  One thing lead to another, and the economy was not looking good. Things even got so bad that the money economy broke down and people went back to bartering goods (210). The instability of the country following World War 1 lead to the resentment of the first German democracy. Every German felt like they were losing the fight, and this made them thirsty for change.

I am confident that this helped contribute to Hitler’s rise to power with the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (230). Hitler was an amazing public speaker and this carried him well in the eyes of the Germans, speaking of nationalism and expansion (231). Under democracy, Germany was not in the best of conditions and people put their trust in Hitler to unify the country and bring change and prosperity. Of course, Hitler’s run finally came to an end in 1945 with the end of the war and shortly after a temporary Democratic system was established in West Germany by the Britain, France, and the U.S. (287).

In the end, it was not by a mere hiccup that Hitler rose to power. There were many factors that contributed to his rise of power but it was mostly due to the political unrest in the country and the feeling of defeat after World War I. Germans were tired of dealing with questionable economic stability and they most certainly did not want to continue bartering for the rest of their lives. Germany wanted change at the time of Hitler and he gave them hope of better lives and national strength. Thankfully Hitler's plans to take over the world failed, but this example shows us that despite the different types of people throughout Germany, they all genuinely want their country to succeed and have the desire to come together. 

WORD COUNT: 710

References:

Schulze, Hagen. Germany: A New History. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1998. Print.

Picture Sources:

1. General Hindenburg: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-von-Hindenburg

2. Treaty of Versailles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles

3. Hitler and Nazi Party: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/527765650055915323/

Unification Through Conflict

Germany appeared to have a difficult transformation into a unified state, but this process helped define German identity as a nation. One challenge that Germans faced was dealing with the extensive wars that surrounded Europe during their early beginnings, but these wars also helped develop a sense of nationalism and pride as time passed.

Frederick the Great who was
crowned King of Prussia in 1701

One figure that truly left a mark on German identity and culture was Frederick the Great who crowned himself King of Prussia in 1701 (Schulze 78). Not many people saw him as a legitimate ruler but he proved himself during the Seven Year's War with success when Prussia was quite poor and had little resources (83-4). His actions legitimized Prussia as one of the powers of Europe (which was composed of German land) and also began a trend of pride for the country through war and conflict. This trend of pride helped to unify Germany, which we see in other battles as well.

Another battle sprang up with Napoleon in France who assumed control at one point after a wave of wars in Germany (101). Following Napoleons seize of control, he was overrun when combined forces from Russia, England, Prussia, Sweden, and Austria all came together to take him down (106). It was interesting to see how during these times, military success against the French helped Germans start to unify in a sense of national pride.

Above is a picture of Napoleon I of France who became emperor of France in 1804. 

During the Rhine Crisis of 1840, France made another notion to expand its borders in the direction of Germany and this yet again, sprang up the idea of German nationalism (118). It almost appears that each time German lands went through war or had issues with the French, it would bring them closer as a group of people. This sense of German nationalism started to develop into a liberal movement towards separation an poor harvests of 1846 put things over the edge resulting in famine, migration of cities, overcrowding, and problems with the economy (122). Germans specifically began to speak out more against the government. There was even attempts to draw up a constitution in 1848, when a German national assembly came together to come up with basic freedoms and elect a national government (124). One really interesting thing that illustrates the vastly different people coming together was that the delegates included poets, leaders of wars, historians, and even Catholic priests (124). In 1849, this constitution of the German Reich was an attempt to unify Germany under the rule of the Prussian king, which was unfortunately denied because Frederick William IV did not want to upset the other princes in the area (129). One might notice that even though this constitution was not implemented, it still was a sign that Germans were beginning to really move towards unification.

Assembly in 1848 in Frankfurt to help develop a constitution to unify Germany. 

Another sign of development was industrialization which blew up in Germany in the 1850s. This economic boom brought about lower unemployment, steady wages, and infrastructure development including railroads (132-33).  Modernization in Germany however, also took a toll on old traditions of religion loyalty, and familiar norms which became weakened (134). This trend was a small setback with the whole society in a silent but alarming state of confusion with identity.

The French came to the rescue again in helping Germans gain more nationalism. Napoleon III, nephew of the original Napoleon, attempted to make a rise for power as emperor and challenge the forces in Europe (136). This new French threat yet again helped Germany come together in determination to create a single nation state to have the military power to fight France directly.

Otto Von Bismarck who
became prime minister of
Prussia in 1862

A figurehead named Otto Von Bismarck came to power as prime minister in 1862 was viewed as opposition to the liberal movement in creating a unified German state (138). However, Bismarck true intentions were to create a stronger and unified Prussia at the expense of Austria. Bismarck created an established rule with Austria and Prussia, combining these two forces to rule over Germany (141). Bismarck aimed towards centralized rule in Germany and soon after joining forces, Prussia began to quarrel with Austria over who would become the central power over Germany which creating yet another war conflict. The Battle of Koniggratz in 1866 was the largest European battle of the 19th century where Prussia was successful. This conflict is considered another step towards German unity, because Germans felt an nationalistic pride towards Prussia (141). 

Probably the final conflict that brought Germany together was the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 where southern and northern states of Germans came together with success in bringing the French down once again (145). After the war, the pressure to create a unified Germany not only came from the liberal and middle-class supporters of the separation, but also from the princes. They both came together to crown King William I of Prussia as German emperor in 1871 (145).

Germans went through constant fighting and war conflict throughout Europe in their early beginnings and this not only hindered their progress of becoming unified, but also contributed to the process. Germany came under rule of many different powers, but along the way, they developed a sense of nationalism through military success. We see this sense of nationalism develop from the early stages with Frederick the Great to the Franco-Prussian War that finally resulted in German unity. 

WORD COUNT: 850

Pictures sources:

1. Frederick the Great: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_the_Great
2. Napoleon: https://www.reference.com/history/goal-revolution-did-napoleon-achieve-e805629f17b29098
3. Assembly in Frankfurt: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist151/StatesNationalities1848&later/album/Germany/slides/Frankfurt%20Assembly%20meeting%20September%2016%201848.html
4. Otto Von Bismarck: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Bismarck

Berlin History: A Tale of Two Sides

Frederick the Great of Prussia serves
as an example of militarism and new ideas

Before watching this documentary, I will be safe to admit that I may have known little to nothing about Berlin history. Its history may be one of the most colorful stories in the world, filled with highs and lows. Berlin had periods of violence, fear, and confusion but also served as the center for new ideas, freedom, and reform.

Berlin's conflicting history can be well represented by a famous man named Frederick the Great. Frederick, also known as Fritz, was born into the royal family and grew up rebellious. He performed classical poetry and played the flute, contrary to his father's will. At a very young age, he became engaged in the arts, despite his family's military background. When Frederick became the King of Prussia, he led a brutal and dominating military conquest, gaining control of sections of Poland, Saxony, and Austria. Frederick was a bit of a two-sided figure, who loved the arts and playing the flute but also revealed violent, dominating characteristics which foreshadows Berlin's long history of ups and downs. Fritz eventually had a statue created on the top of the Brandenburg Gate which farther on would act as the divide between East and West Berlin.

Brandenburg Gate: an old divider between East and West Berlin

Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg:
Past leaders of the communist party in Germany
who were killed for their cause

What I was truly amazed by was how well Frederick's story portrays and exemplifies Berlin's history as a whole. Fast forward to the 19th Century, East Berlin was nicknamed "Red Berlin" for all of the violence and unrest that surrounded the city. This developed after the end of World War 1 when two republics were declared, including the communist party. Two individuals named Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht lead the communist party and the political unrest lead to a bloody uprising where communists gained control of the city, and then lost control and many were killed.

May 6, 1933, the Nazi party attacked Hirschefeld's
institution while burning other books labeled "degenerate"

Despite all of the violence that existed among ideas that swarmed Berlin, Berlin became a center of freedom of censorship and expression. Censorship was being lifted as the communist party gained power, which lead to Hirschfeld taking part in gay rights activism in the 1920's and also starting a sexual research institute. The good times can only last so long however until Hitler came to power and attacked this institute while also burning literature that was considered (degenerate) in the "coming of a new age" of the Nazi Party.

The Palace of the Republic after original Stadtschloss
was torn down

It was due to separations of ideals that created the all-too-famous Berlin Wall in the first place after World War II. The wall began on "Barbed Wire Sunday" where it meant to separate Communist East Berlin and Capitalist West Berlin. This wall cut communities, families, and friends apart from each other. Both sides claimed that they were the "true Germany," and it is ironic that Berlin became the capital of Germany as it is today, despite such a past. The differences between East and West Berlin and the history behind the city makes it a perfect capital. Even the development of architecture has something to say about it as well. For example, when the Stadtschloss was torn down after the Cold War, it was the original city palace and center of the German Empire. The spot where the Stadtschloss was, they had tore it down on the East Berlin side and turned it into a palace of Republic. Some East Berliner's loved the new Parliament building but many individuals did not like the change, believing that the old Stadtschloss building meant something to the ideals of the German people and the building was renovated yet again back to its original form.


 The city reveals Germany's development through a clash of ideals, philosophies, and instability. Berlin's survival speaks wonders for the German people in what they have been able to withstand and persevere through in the past. The fact that East and West Berlin came together again is a shock to me after listening to the documentary. The story of Berlin is so similar Frederick the Great: Berlin has a militaristic background, but has developed into a country that praises, values, and supports different ideas, views, and idealistic principals.

WORD COUNT: 697

Martin Luther: A Man of Courage, Faith, and Reform

A portrait of Martin Luther who would
later become one of the most influential 
religious and cultural reformers in history

Martin Luther is most commonly known as a religious reformer because of  his writings that targeted Catholicism (95 Thesis). One thing that I did not fully understand before watching the documentary was that Luther was much more; his influence stretched across cultural and political grounds and set a strong example for future reform across the world.

His religious influence was that of huge proportions. Luther's ability to write well carried his insights and across lands like wildfire. His study of Catholic and Christian doctrine led him to discover flaws in the Church which played a huge role in the German way of life. Luther argued that the road to salvation in Christianity was only through the relationship between God and the individual, thus minimizing the Church's role as an intermediary between the two. Another one of Luther's arguments was against the idea of the seven sacraments that were practiced by the Catholic Church. Through his study of the Bible, he discovered that the sacred book only recognizing two sacraments: Baptism and the Last Supper. These two arguments that Luther posed were at the center of the Church's doctrine and practices. His "95 Theses" and other writings gained support throughout Europe and the Church met him with intense retaliation including verbal attacks, threats, and finally excommunication which threatened Luther's life and his future in the afterlife, all for standing up for something he believed. The Church put him under so much stress that he had to go into hiding and if it was not for Frederick the Wise who helped hide him, he would not have been as successful in spreading his agenda. Not only did Luther speak out against Catholic doctrine, but he also translated the Bible into German, which was huge development in the spreading of Christianity to all of the common people, especially in Germany. This translation made the Bible accessible to almost everyone in Germany.

Roman Emperor Charles V who
agreed to meet with Luther and allow 
him to speak at the Diet of Worms

Diving deeper into Luther's story, one will realize that his actions caused a cultural revolution and set precedent for future reformation. At the heart of it, Luther was simply a man, who stood up to one of the most powerful forces and cultural influences at the time: the Catholic Church. To think that a man with an opinion and witty style of writing could summon the attention of the most powerful people in Europe such as Roman Emperor Charles V was astonishing.

 Not only that, but he was one of the first people to utilize the printing press to gather an extensive audience to view his work. Some might even consider his writings some of the first examples of propaganda ever used in history. He portrayed the Church as a financial drain on the people of Germany and Europe, such that the Church was using all the money for their personal "indulgences." His case eventually brought him to "Diet of Worms" where he argued his case. The individuals at the hearing only asked that he denounce all of his writings but he refused. The refusal to give-in and trust in his own beliefs is an ideal that I believe is incorporated into our American society today. We are told from a very young age that "we can be anything and do anything we want to" which translates to characteristics like confidence and perseverance in whatever one may believe in, practice, dream, etc. Luther's influence stretched beyond religion, and even convinced violent uprisings from peasants and other groups to take radical, often violent action. Luther's impact stretched even farther than he could have imagined and it revealed that his words could have huge repercussions in the world around him. Regardless of the side effects, Luther's success in pursuing his ideals and under such powerful duress demonstrates that one ordinary voice has the power make a difference.

Martin Luther at the "Diet of Worms" where he voiced his
concerns against the Catholic Church in front of the major
powers of Europe at the time

Personally, after seeing the documentary and learning more about Martin Luther, I see him as a sign of courage to stand up to such powerful authority even with risk of death and losing everything he had. Even if someone may disagree with Luther's beliefs, one cannot deny that his perseverance is something that all Germans, Americans, and all people can look up to.


WORD COUNT: 630

German History: Not So Different

From chapter two of Germany: A New History, there were various topics that were fairly important, however, I had a heightened interest in two very different images on page 34 and 35.

Jewish moneylender (on right)

One image that struck my interest was the "Jewish Moneylenders". Similar to the photo on the right, the picture in the book depicted various Jewish individuals who lent money and performed financial transactions because it was one of the few ways for them to make a living in the Middle Ages. This caught my eye because it is a stereotype that still is around today. I have heard jokes before regarding Jewish people being trustworthy with money and in financial discussions and this image makes me wonder if this is where the stereotype began.

Regardless of this observation, the way that Jews were persecuted at these early times foreshadows later patterns that developed in Hitler's period of power. Germany often receives a great deal of attention to this area of its history because of persecution and discrimination. However, these discriminatory elements are found in  American history with African Americans suffering through slavery. Even after slavery, African Americans struggled with acquiring equal rights and the same may even be said about women as well. These similarities demonstrate that as civilizations develop, whether it be America or Germany, groups of people are often treated differently, resulting in discrimination and unequal rights.

Another image that drew my attention was the picture on the very next page. The image (found below) is a snapshot of the picture titled "A Village is Founded," which portrayed colonization of German territory that occurred during the late middle ages. The interesting point about this colonization process was that it was primarily peaceful where the native people (e.g. Slavic) were not driven out of their homelands, but rather participated in the process and allowed for the settlement. These native people still gave up parts of their land and lost much of their language influence, but it is described as nonviolent.

German colonization during the Middle Ages

This then made me think about American history in regards to our colonization process which may have been a bit more difficult comparatively. History books inform us that many of the native people were largely treated unfairly when first settlers came to America. Early settlers of our country called natives "savages" and often the main focus of these settlements was the attainment of gold and land. Even today, there continues to be questions about land rights for natives in America, but not so much in Germany.



The story that these two different images tell about German history is that it is not as different from American history as it may seem. The main assumption that may come from old images such as the "Jewish Moneylenders" is that Germans have a tainted history of persecution of Jewish people but when one looks at American history, Americans have committed similar patterns of discrimination. The second image might even suggest that Americans had an ethically questionable approach to early settlement and interacting with native people. Germans might be the more civilized settlers in that area of history. These points just exemplify how important it is to look at all the different sides of the story when trying to understand a different group of people, whether it be nationality, race, religion, or financial background.

WORD COUNT: 544

Looking Forward to Germany

When choosing a D-term trip, I did not want simply a two-week vacation or a tour of a country. I wanted to truly experience the life and culture of the location I planned on visiting  and the German trip fit right into that category. I heard great things about the program from previous students, so that's what pushed me. Even disregarding the fact that my roommate and good friend is joining me on the trip, I definitely felt confident that I was going to learn a great deal about the culture while also having a tremendous amount of fun.

Budestag Government Building in Berlin

I have to be honest and state that I really do not know a whole lot about Germany at all and have no family history or anything like that... which makes this trip a great opportunity to learn! Everything on this trip sounded interesting so far; from the model concentration camp in Sachsenhausen to the Wittenburg monastery, there seems to be plenty of opportunities to really experience what life is really like in German culture. I also am not any expert on architecture, but the buildings we took a look at in our first meeting really caught  my eye. Despite my usual disinterest in government, I am really excited to visit the Budestag government building in Berlin. The description of the design such that visitors can view the parliament room from above is fascinating and intrigues me on what the reason behind this design might be. 

Another aspect of the trip that I am excited for is the lengthy meals. I have always heard about various cultures in Europe and how meals can often last 5-6 hours or more which sounds insane compared to the United States' fast-pace lifestyle. Sometimes, the American way of eating can be very impersonal and rushed. Something tells me that we might have a thing or two to learn from the Germans. The idea of sitting down and being able to enjoy the discussion and socializing is something I am looking forward to. 

Scenic picture of Berlin

I also simply have to mention how excited I am to have those opportunities to explore the city sites such as Berlin and Dresden. The fact that there will often be opportunities where we have the freedom and responsibility to navigate ourselves through some of these locations makes me feel that this trip was the right choice. Some of the most unique experiences I had on my D-term trip to China were simply from walking around downtown. I am curious what types of things I might see and learn exploring coffee shops, breweries, and city life in general. I believe this trip will provide us all with an opportunity to grow and learn and I hope that we can all bring a bit of German influence back with us. 

View of Dresden

WORD COUNT: 544