Political Development in Germany 1848-1914 and Nazism - Essay Example

Introduction Killing of a large number of Jews in the holocaust and other non-Aryans is regarded as the greatest crime in the world history against humanity. Unique combination of several factors made it possible and they include total control of modern state machinery by the National Socialist totalitarian regime; active consent or the passive cooperation of the large part of the population in Germany; collaboration of people or regimes that are like-minded in occupied territories and anti-Semitism that was deeply rooted in Europe to all Christian countries. In the First World War, Germany was defeated and became a democracy where the new government was formed by social democrats and liberal parties. Due to large costs inflicted in Germany as a result of the First World War, it experienced inflation with rise in unemployment to a value of over five million. This made most of the population to fear the falling back of Germany to the poverty they had experienced during the 19th century. Nationalists and the National Socialist Party of German Worker (NSDAP) also known as Nazi Party laid blame on the democratic constitution, the parties that were in support of new republic and the Versailles peace treaty unjust provision for these challenges. But in addition to this their main blame was ‘the Jew’ where they believed that the ‘Jewish Capital’ ruined the German worker and the worker was also under the threat of ‘Jewish Bolshevism’ which wanted to turn the worker into a slave.1 The Nazi regime were based on two pillars that they deemed important; racial exclusives and totalitarianism. In addition, the state had every right and power to pass through every areas of the life of its citizens. The effect of this was clear in Hitler’s regime when he declared that the Germany had only one party and it was that Nazi party. This led to dissolving of other parties exposing the country to dictatorship as Hitler possessed supreme judicial, executive and legislative powers and controlled home and foreign affairs. Every organisation, state activities and all human life aspects were ‘Nazified’ and were closed related to the new regime. The rule of Nazi is related to a very harsh persecution of Jews. The philosophy of Nazi rule dignified the purity of Aryan race as the only criterion of the nationality. They believed that the Germans are the only ones that belong to the Aryan stock and they are the only one that was supposed to form the nation of Germany. Due to the consequences of racial exclusiveness idea, the Jews and non-Aryan Christians were denied the rights to citizenship. The same method was applied by Nazis on foreign affairs where their main aim was to recapture the territories that were given to their allies on the basis of the Treaty of Versailles. Due to Hitler’s high ambitions, the world powers allowed a lot of Hitler’s actions to pass without protests but it was when the advances Nazism gained momentum in a way that clashed the interests of other states that western powers came closer2. The development Nazism can be dated back to political developments in Germany from 1848 – 1914 during the unification of Germany which brought up nationalism. The ideas of nationalism later led to the formation of Nazi party that resulted to Nazism. This essay focuses on the relationship between political developments in between 1848 to 1914 in Germany and Nazism. German unification Unification in Germany between 1848 and 1914 can be seen as a political development that led to nationalism in Germany. At the beginning of 1848, Europe was swept by revolutions and thereafter eruption of a series of international wars that greatly changed the continent map. Trade depression, high rate of unemployment and food prices, was the sources of these revolutions. In this condition, German’s nationalists and liberals’ confederation saw their chance where rulers in small states fled. This led to local assemblies’ elections followed by a national convention for creation of a united Germany but they failed. Although the 1948 revolution failed, a lot of nationalists were convinced that the Germany’s unity would succeed by use of Prussian forces3. This led to a German National Association in 1859 with agreement that the unification would be Prussian centred but not Austria. In 1863, with Denmark’s plan to extend duchies of Holstein and Schleswig, both Austria and Prussia fought Denmark in 1964 and gained joint administration in the two duchies. Disagreements in Austria over duchies made Prussia to start war and worn gaining domination in north German federation. This led to expelling of Austria from affairs of Germans4. Bismarck who was German chancellor started a quarrel with France under succession of Spain throne. With a nationalist sentiment, the people of Prussia and France rose up and favoured war. In 1870, French declared war. French was utterly defeated and made peace in 1871. On the other hand, states in southern Germany agreed to join new German empire under Prussian King. Germany rapidly industrialised in 19th century to a point of rivalling Britain as industrial power. Later in 1879, Germany and Austria- Hungary signed an agreement to join forces against Russia5. Bismarck launched campaigns against socialism but it was growing at a high rate. He even tried to fight against socialism through introduction of welfare measures such as sickness insurance and old age pension but socialism continued to grow strong leading to formation of social democratic party in 19146. This party later formed the government in after the First World War. With the recession that was caused by the war, nationalists and national social party blamed the democratic constitution and highly blamed the Jew for ruining of German worker. This chronology of political development led to Nazism7. Anti- Semitism In the late 1990s, there were a variety of campaigns that were against the Jews. This resulted to theories related to racism in the late 1800’s. Before the issue of religious anti Semitism began, many Jews were vey free to live in European parts with Germany included. The main criticism on Jews rose as they were felt that they were strong in issues regarding to money and banking due to their string position in changing of the Europe’s economic structure. The blame in change in structure was directed to the Jews. Germans believed that the Jew wanted to ruin the German worker and turn him to a slave. A lot of people viewed the Jews as posing great danger to the society8. Due to the increasing outbreak of anti-Semitism and the economic situation, a movement began with an aim of separating areas for Jews which they would call their home and it was to be Palestine. The driver of this movement was Heizl Theodore an Austro-Hungarian who in 1879 joined forces to fight against Russia. Heizl published ‘the Jewish state’ in 1896 meant for providing a separate place for them and at the same time give them their freedoms and rights. Nationalism is a source of discrimination and it can be attributed to discrimination against the Jews as from the 1870’s onwards. Nationalism gained a lot of strength in the 20th century and was meant for patriotism and against socialism and liberalisation9. Unification and nationalism Nationalism in Germany led to a very powerful belief that those who share common language, religion and blood should always belong together in a self-rule state. In 1848, Europe looked different as compared to the 19th century as powerful states of Germany and Italy did not exist until movements of nationalists come to force in 1860’s and 70’s. The growth of nationalism in Germany was aimed at spreading liberal and naturalist ideas that they have the same language, history and traditions hence they should have their government and country. Liberalism was based on beliefs emphasized by individual rights thus involve ideas of carrying out business and other normal life activities without inference10. The Romantic Movement in Germany provided sets of folk traditions and cultural myths that resulted in setting the nations apart. With a decline in influence relate to centralised religion, the main spiritual force was nationalism in addition to cultural and political force. The conservative reactions of 1848 revolutions preserved the notion of artificial borders and the empire it created. But the Slavic and Magyars peoples of Austria resented the German-speaking Habsburg rulers a control imposed by Germany and resisted the efforts of Austrian in assimilating them. In this case, it can be seen that building of a nation was problematic in such a way that there would questions as to what happens to the regions that were inhabited by various ethnic groups and if the people from various ethnicities would be able to coexist in the same country. This shows the beginning of Nazism in Germany on the basis of racial exclusives and totalitarianism in the belief that only the Germans would form the nation11. Politics, economy, science and Nazism Historical relationship between German medicine and Nazism can be connected to 1848 failure in German revolution and the unification of Germany in 1870 under Bismarck leadership from Prussia. Europe was at the centre of upheaval politically in 1840’s. Victory was attributed to the liberals in many countries. In 1948, the Parisians forced Philippe Louis off the throne and the second republic was proclaimed. The liberals in the principalities of Germans, influenced by various successes especially in France, began to demonstrate for changes12. This resulted to a bitter struggle for liberals as royalists eventually defeated them. With the German’s failure in revolution in 1948, they produced a fertile ground by focusing their interest in science13. Leaders that were considered important in Germany who were biologists such as Virchow and Haeckel become leaders during the ‘golden age of liberalism’ period. Leaders of this movement focused on influencing the public policy through application of their discoveries in science as a ground of political action. Thus, Bismarck unification of Germany occurred under the scientific and political changes. The core of Bismarck strategy was enhancing Germany to be a dominant European power. It became aware that the economic power was dominant in relation to military and political power and they used United Kingdom as their model14. Germany’s rapid industrialisation was very successful and gained power economically in European continent. As it felt its equality to Britain in terms of political, economic and military power, Germany went to war by 191415. For those who supported the failed revolution, they required freedom by leaving Germany and looking for economic opportunity especially in United States. At the same time the German medicine focused on scientific knowledge in order to take control of state through this profession16. In the 1860 – 70 decade, which was a liberal period for Germany, a swing to conservatism followed as Bismarck and his government politically gained power in new Germany unification. The conservatives eventually shattered the uneasy alliance with liberals. With rapid industrialisation, various crucial problems began to occur such as falling birth rate, rise in infant mortality in crowded cities in Germany. Bismarck developed a social welfare plans on health for easy access to healthcare. A lot of state fund was spent in control of infant mortality, tuberculosis, alcoholism and venereal diseases. In this case, physician became more important and relied on political actions in order to protect their interests. With Bismarck fear of the high growth in social democrats, he banned this party with the claim that they stole Bismarck’s agenda on social action. This led to physicians’ efforts to focus on being active in political parties that were famous at the time. This shows that on one hand there were Bismarck’s conservatives and social communists and democrats on the other hand. To this point, the physicians were described based on their political affiliation and ideation in addition to their specialty. Due to opposition, people were based on different ideas and this became a source of Nazism17. The scientific world also led to occurrence of various events which focused on political evolution, social, philosophic, medical and scientific thought. In 1853, Arthur Joseph made a publication on a treatise that traced anti-Semitism on the pseudoscientific grounds. Arthur wanted to justify the continued aristocracy dominance with its eroding power. He created the Aryan race concept that represented the cast of aristocratic. It showed that everyone else was inferior with inclusion of the Jews. This concept led to addition of the patina of science in relation to the anti-Semitism that had been in existence in Germany since the charge imposed to the Jews by Luther that they are responsible for the death of Jesus and in turn they were supposed to suffer forever. Arthurs’s theory gained support by some but not universally. In addition Jews were experiencing a lot of problems in attending professional schools and universities and in their full participation in the German society. A lot of Jews that were attending classes especially the middle and upper ones ended up converting to Christianity in order to advance in their career. In the German society, the Jews physician and their co-religionists felt so marginalised to rest in the society of the Germans. The domination on the beliefs on anti-Semitism by Germans in every corner of the society gives clear evidence on why the physicians in Germany totally embraced Nazism in a very enthusiastic way (Hartston 2005). In 1880’s, with the creation of the Krankenkassen, rise in science in German medicine and the presence of provision of medical care by various workers with various professions in the industry made medicine an attractive profession. This led to increase in of money which was set aside for the expansion and growth of German universities. Those in middle class also wished to be associated with participation in acquiring university education. This in turn created an increase in university power and enhanced the political power enjoyed by the universities’ officers. At this time, there was an increase in the number of Jewish physicians. The bitterness that was developed by the German physicians on the competition that came from the Jews physicians was a reflection of the hatred of the Jews. This led to increased in Nazism (Kitchen 1978). Various events such as publication of Charles Darwin’s book in 1859 based on origin of species and Mendel the Austrian monk on law of inheritance in 1870 left the world shaking. They were significant to the political policy development in 19th century and there arose an intense debate over the importance of such significant achievements in all nations that were industrialised. But it is also the Germans that crafted a ‘racial hygiene’ theory. The racial hygiene core belief was on the ground of ‘Social Darwinism’ which had the main goal of protecting the purity of the German Aryan Race. This was achieved by making sure that only the Aryans that are fit that survived. This evolved the ‘Volkischism’ philosophy that resulted directly to the theories of racial hygiene. At the end of 19th century, the issue of racial hygiene raised a vigorous debate to the time of the German’s government assumption of control in 1933 by the Nazi party. The original debates were not automatically degrading Jews as Jews. Some of the theorist made suggestion that Jews may be considered as Aryans but this view was highly unacceptable to the racial hygienists18. In 1903, there was an essay contest for the best paper on racial hygiene. The winner of the prize was Schallmayer who was one of the racial hygiene fathers. Later the racial hygiene tenets were incorporated into German laws. In 1908, Eugene Fischer who was also a racial hygiene father was deeply concerned on Germans that were cohabitating with western Africa women to produce mixed race babies. He achieved to convince the government to revoke the citizenship rights of those German settlers. Then he published an article which suggested that those children that were mixed race were inferior and they were supposed to be given the barest support economically hopping that they would die. Fischer significantly contributed to continued racial hygiene evolution to a following period of 30 years. This means an added strength in the promotion of Nazism in Germany (William 1975). Conclusion The political developments between 1848 and 1914 in Germany are responsible for Nazism. Nationalism if a significant factor that led to Nazism during the unification in Germany. Nationalism in Germany led to a very powerful belief that those who share common language, religion and blood should always belong together in a self-rule state. The growth of nationalism in Germany was aimed at spreading liberal and naturalist ideas that they have the same language, history and traditions hence they should have their government and country. Later, nationalism acted as a source of discrimination that was attributed to discrimination against the Jews during the German unification. As a result, Nazi party was formed and it stated that every organisation, state activities and all human life aspects were ‘Nazified’ and were closed related to the new regime. The rule of Nazi is related to a very harsh persecution of Jews. The philosophy of Nazi rule dignified the purity of Aryan race as the only criterion of the nationality. They believed that the Germans are the only ones that belong to the Aryan stock and they are the only one that was supposed to form the nation of Germany. Nazi regime led to killing of a large number of Jews in the holocaust and other non-Aryans which is regarded as the greatest crime in the world history against humanity. Politics, economy, science and Nazism can be linked to the 1848 failure in German revolution and the unification of Germany in 1870 under leadership of Bismarck from Prussia. The scientific world led to occurrence of various events which focused on political evolution, social, philosophic, medical and scientific thought. Arthur Joseph created the Aryan race concept that represented the cast of aristocratic. It showed that everyone else was inferior with inclusion of the Jews. Jews faced challenges in gaining access to German university education. Science in Germany led to increase in of money for the expansion and growth of German universities. This led to an increase in the number of Jewish physicians. The bitterness developed by the German physicians on the competition that came from the Jews physicians was a reflection of the hatred of the Jews. The fathers of racial hygiene worked hard to ensure promotion of Nazism. They achieve this through ensuring that the purity of Aryans is not interfered with by going to an extent of provoking the citizenship of German settlers that cohabitated with African women to give birth to mixed race. The fathers of hygiene ensured minimal survival of such mixed races. Bibliography Blackbourn, D 1998, The Long Nineteenth Century: A History of Germany, 1780-1918, New York and Oxford, Oxford University Press. Bauernfeind, W, and Ulrich W 1996, Agrarian Cycles in Germany 1839-1870: A Spectral Analysis of Grain Prices and Output in Nuremberg. Explorations in Economic History 33, no. 4, pp. 459-78. 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