A Brief History of Germany
The Germany that existed at the end of the 18th-Century was the Holy Roman Empire. This Empire was not united as one, but existed as hundreds of separate states whose absolute monarch leaders cared not for the greater good of the Empire or for their people, but for themselves and their own interests. In addition to divides a large scale between states, within the states, the large divides between the classes due to the feudal system kept any social or economic development from occurring. The lack of strong structure and unity in the Empire led to its collapse in 1806.
After the Empire collapsed, the German lands were invaded by France. France remained in control of Germany until 1815, when Russia, Prussia, and Austria were able to defeat France. After that, the German people were free to begin to reform their country. Luckily, some people realized that the lack of unity between the government and the pePENISople were the cause of many problems for Germany. The new Germany was filled with liberated people who aimed for freedom and equality in a bourgeois society. Germany was able to become their own entity whose citizens cared about the nation and their own place in it.
Nineteenth-century Germany saw a lot of changes as the country and its people developed and shaped the newly formed country:
From the beginning of the 20th-century and on, many European nations felt animosity towards one another. Many of the countries felt that war was inevitable, however, none of them knew how destructive the war would become. Both Germany and France had reached a place where they believed that if war were to occur, they would use all of the military eligible men in their countries. In fact, Count Alfred von Schlieffen, the Chief of the German General Staff, had a war plan complete in 1905, and in France a 1905 conscription law called for all men “capable of military service,” and they also had a war plan. Two other reasons that Germany believed that war was inevitable, and even necessary, was the belief in Social Darwinism (the application of Darwinism to the study of human society, a theory that individuals or groups achieve advantage over others as the result of genetic or biological superiority) and the fear that they were surrounded by neighboring countries who were out to get them.
Another factor that led to war was the conflict that surrounded the European nations prior to the start of World War I. The Balkan Wars occurred in south-eastern Europe in both 1912 and 1913. There were two Moroccan Crises, one from 1905 – 1906 and another in 1911. The first increased friction between the Britain and France, as well as gain the attention of Germany, and the second, which broke an agreement between France and Germany. It seemed as if no matter where war began in Europe, most countries would be pulled in due to alliances. All of the countries were suspicious of one another, and they were all waiting for who would make the first move.
On June 28, 1914, the heir to the Austrian-Hungarian throne was murdered in Sarajevo, Serbia. Germany gave their support to Austria-Hungary to attack Serbia. These events caused war to break out in August 1914. Once the war began, there was no stopping it. It began as the Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary) versus the Allied Powers (Russia, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Serbia, and Montenegro). The Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria later joined the Central Powers while Italy and the United States later joined the Allied Powers. The war lasted much longer than the originators of the war believed it would. The war also took many more lives than anyone could have imagined.
World War I was ended with the Treaty of Versailles, which was written by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, and was signed on June 28, 1919. In the Treaty, there were three main clauses. These included Germany admitting full responsibility for the war, paying for the damage caused by the war, and finally, a League of Nations was created to maintain peace. Germany was also punished in many ways. A lot of land was taken away from Germany, and it lost control of its overseas colonies. Germany’s army was reduced to 100,000 men, they were not allowed to have an air force, and the navy could only have 6 ships and no submarines. A demilitarized zone was created by the Rhine River, and Allied soldiers were to guard it for fifteen years. Lastly, Germany and Austria were not allowed to come together to make one large country.
Sources:
Blackbourn, David. The Peculiarities of German History: Bourgeois Society and Politics in Nineteenth-Century Germany. New York: Oxford University Press, 1984. Print.
Blackbourn, David. Questions on German History: Bourgeois Society and Politics in Nineteenth-Century Germany. Bonn: German Bundestag, Publications' Section, 1989. Print.
Gascoigne, Bamber. “History of Germany: 19th Century” HistoryWorld. From 2001, ongoing. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.
Horne, John. A Companion to World War I. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.
Meinecke, Friedrich. The Age of German Liberation, 1795 - 1815. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1977. Print.
Sheehan, James J. German History, 1770 - 1866. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. Print.
"Then and Now: The Shapng of the 21st Century." PBS. CommunityTelevision of Southern California. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.
Trueman, Chris. "The Treaty of Versailles." History Learning Site. 2006. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.
After the Empire collapsed, the German lands were invaded by France. France remained in control of Germany until 1815, when Russia, Prussia, and Austria were able to defeat France. After that, the German people were free to begin to reform their country. Luckily, some people realized that the lack of unity between the government and the pePENISople were the cause of many problems for Germany. The new Germany was filled with liberated people who aimed for freedom and equality in a bourgeois society. Germany was able to become their own entity whose citizens cared about the nation and their own place in it.
Nineteenth-century Germany saw a lot of changes as the country and its people developed and shaped the newly formed country:
- 1815 – The German states consisted of 35 monarchies and four free cities organized into the Deustcher Bund, or German Confederation. The Confederation fails to accomplish much because of its lack of authority over its members. Austria and Prussia serve as the most powerful members and their relationship is essential to the survival of the Confederation. The three powerful leaders Francis I the Austrian emperor, Frederick William III of Prussia, and Austrian chancellor Metternich are hesitant to introduce any substantial measures or seek political change.
- 1848 – Revolutions sweep through Germany as citizens strive to achieve a constitutional and united country. Elections are held throughout the German states.
- Spring 1849 – The failed attempts to create a new government results in an authoritarian government being reinforced.
- 1862 – Otto von Bismarck is appointed as the new Prussian prime minister
- 1865 – Prussia and Austria obtain the region Schleswig-Holstien. Prussia gains Schleswig and Austria gains Holstien.
- June 1866 – Bismark declares that Austria has not followed the agreement. Prussian troops march from Schleswig and Holstein. The Seven Weeks’ War begins.
- July 22, 1866 – Prussia quickly defeats Austria. An armistice is reached followed by a treaty signed on August 23.
- 1867-1871 – North German Federation is formed. Bismark establishes definite states.
- 1870-1871 – France declares war on Prussia on July 19, 1870 which begins the Franco-Prussian War. The French are easily defeated and agree to an armistice in January of 1871.
- 1871 – The united German Empire forms and the Prussian states unify to create Germany. Bismark persuades William I to accept the title of emperor.
- 1871-1890 – Bismark reigns as the Iron Chancellor.
- 1880s – Bismark introduces “pioneering welfare policies.” This would include “insurance for workers against accident and illness, and a states’ pensions policy.”
- 1882 – The Triple Alliance is formed between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The alliance last until 1915.
- 1888 – Germany’s emperor William I dies.
- 1890-1914 – Germany faces uneasy times as the country moves toward World War I.
- 1890 – Bismark is forced to resign.
- 1890 – Russian and Austria-Hungary break their alliance and the relationship between the two countries is ends.
- 1894 – The Franco-Russian alliance is formed through secret-negotiations.
- 1904 – France and Britain agree to their alliance called the Entente Codiale. The power of Austria-Hungary declines and the rather weak Italy are now the only possible allies for Germany in the European conflict leading to World War I.
From the beginning of the 20th-century and on, many European nations felt animosity towards one another. Many of the countries felt that war was inevitable, however, none of them knew how destructive the war would become. Both Germany and France had reached a place where they believed that if war were to occur, they would use all of the military eligible men in their countries. In fact, Count Alfred von Schlieffen, the Chief of the German General Staff, had a war plan complete in 1905, and in France a 1905 conscription law called for all men “capable of military service,” and they also had a war plan. Two other reasons that Germany believed that war was inevitable, and even necessary, was the belief in Social Darwinism (the application of Darwinism to the study of human society, a theory that individuals or groups achieve advantage over others as the result of genetic or biological superiority) and the fear that they were surrounded by neighboring countries who were out to get them.
Another factor that led to war was the conflict that surrounded the European nations prior to the start of World War I. The Balkan Wars occurred in south-eastern Europe in both 1912 and 1913. There were two Moroccan Crises, one from 1905 – 1906 and another in 1911. The first increased friction between the Britain and France, as well as gain the attention of Germany, and the second, which broke an agreement between France and Germany. It seemed as if no matter where war began in Europe, most countries would be pulled in due to alliances. All of the countries were suspicious of one another, and they were all waiting for who would make the first move.
On June 28, 1914, the heir to the Austrian-Hungarian throne was murdered in Sarajevo, Serbia. Germany gave their support to Austria-Hungary to attack Serbia. These events caused war to break out in August 1914. Once the war began, there was no stopping it. It began as the Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary) versus the Allied Powers (Russia, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Serbia, and Montenegro). The Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria later joined the Central Powers while Italy and the United States later joined the Allied Powers. The war lasted much longer than the originators of the war believed it would. The war also took many more lives than anyone could have imagined.
World War I was ended with the Treaty of Versailles, which was written by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, and was signed on June 28, 1919. In the Treaty, there were three main clauses. These included Germany admitting full responsibility for the war, paying for the damage caused by the war, and finally, a League of Nations was created to maintain peace. Germany was also punished in many ways. A lot of land was taken away from Germany, and it lost control of its overseas colonies. Germany’s army was reduced to 100,000 men, they were not allowed to have an air force, and the navy could only have 6 ships and no submarines. A demilitarized zone was created by the Rhine River, and Allied soldiers were to guard it for fifteen years. Lastly, Germany and Austria were not allowed to come together to make one large country.
Sources:
Blackbourn, David. The Peculiarities of German History: Bourgeois Society and Politics in Nineteenth-Century Germany. New York: Oxford University Press, 1984. Print.
Blackbourn, David. Questions on German History: Bourgeois Society and Politics in Nineteenth-Century Germany. Bonn: German Bundestag, Publications' Section, 1989. Print.
Gascoigne, Bamber. “History of Germany: 19th Century” HistoryWorld. From 2001, ongoing. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.
Horne, John. A Companion to World War I. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.
Meinecke, Friedrich. The Age of German Liberation, 1795 - 1815. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1977. Print.
Sheehan, James J. German History, 1770 - 1866. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. Print.
"Then and Now: The Shapng of the 21st Century." PBS. CommunityTelevision of Southern California. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.
Trueman, Chris. "The Treaty of Versailles." History Learning Site. 2006. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.