German Culture and Civilization
Historic Overview from the beginnings
· Only those aspects are stressed that have a bearing on the 19th and 20th century
2 migration waves of Germanic tribes:
1. Indo-Germanic 1200 BC
2. Indo Germanic 120 BC –400 AD
Germany partially occupied by Romans : Romans tried to include Germany into empire: attempt failed
Hermann der Cherusker(=Armenius) united various Germanic tribes to fight Romans
9 AD battle in the Teutoburger Wald
Hermann beat 3 Roman legions = 1/1oth of Roman army; Augustus Roman emperor
Augustus decided to exclude Germany largely, still settled along the Rhine (Colonia Agrippina = Cologne = Koeln)
Fortifications against Germanic tribes pushed against borders
“Limes” (frontier fortification between Main und Donau) several 100 years kept Romans out of Germany and its culture
Result: German remained Germanic Language and not Roman language (Latin)
German has few Latin stemmed words
Linguistically: Deutsch , Germanic tribes were called “Teutonen” in Latin
Unique that name is derived from language and not tribe or territory
Dialects: reason- mixture of Germanic tribes marked language
Mid 3rd Century Roman Empire crumbles. Reasons:
· Decline of Roman virtue
· Spoiled, wealthy
· Middle eastern immigrants, infiltration of religion
· 395 Christian religion state religion
· infiltrated by Germanic tribes
· settlers broke through Limes to Roman territory for land (Bavarians, Vandals)
· Roman empire sub-divided in East and West
486 End of Roman Empire, last west Roman emperor Syagriusdefeated
North Germanic is King of Francs : Clovis from the Merowingian dynasty
Becomes absolute ruler of Germanic kingdom of mixed Germanic-Roman population
Became baptised in 496 – result: Christianity entered Germanic areas
German areas became catholic
7th Century Franconian Kingdom the largest, most powerful among Germanic territories
Successor of Merowingian dynasty: Carolingians
Most famous: Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse; 768-814)
Large empire ruled from Aachen
Pushed for christianization of entire empire
Establisehd colonies in the East with soldiers
Karl der Grosse = Charlemagne ruled over vast Empire Germany, France, Italy
800 Charlemagne crowned emperor by Pope in Rome on x-mas day
-beginning of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations (800-1806)
Roman: dignity of the Emperor: he felt as the successor of the Roman Emperor
German: a German King is emperor of empire
Holy: Christians
After Charlemagne’s death divided among grandsons, empire falls apart
West =became France
East = Germany
Constant struggle between pope and emperor for supremacy
Crusades: attempts to free the holy lands = Jerusalem back into Christian hands
1273 important year for future of German empire: Rudolf von Habsburg became Emperor (Vienna home)
Habsburgers ruled til 1806
By 1400 limited to Austria and Germany
Complicated socio-political system: fiefdom (Lehensystem)
No longer tribal, new system of feudalism developing
System of service, fidelity, protection and support
Dukes, Earls, Kings
Emperor’s relationship to princes – feudal vassals = received their land for services
inherited land
became powerful
result: territorilization (fragmentation)
independent principalities
Germany late in its development
Renaissance = rebirth of classical antiquity
Discovering the beauty of life and the body (Michealangelo, Petrarcha)
Rediscovery of classical learning: Humanism – philosophy of Greek, esp. Plato = ideal man: harmony of body and spirit
Modern art of printing; Johann Gutenberg Movable type printing (1440)
Pamphlet printing = pre-requisite for the Reformation
1517 Martin Luther nails his 95 Thesis on door of castle church of Wittenberg protesting mainly against idulgence letters
translates bible = beginning of a standardized German language
Religious wars determine next century
Princes determined religious denomination catholic or protestant until 17th century
=Reason for 30 years war (1618-1648)
Counterreformation: Habsburg Empire wanted to reinstitute Roman Catholic church
Became power game
Other foreign nations like France took part
Destroyed country, often 80% of people killed
Result: splintered into over 300 sovereign states
Political and economic disaster: cities and towns destroyed
Long before middle class could develop
Out on the top come: land aristocracy and military power
In the 18th century we see:
· A developing middle class
· Industry
· Intellectual elite develops
· German classisicm and romanticism
· Rise of Prussia - becomes foremost power not Habsburg
1713-1740 King Frederick William I = the Soldier King
frugal, economic, spartan leader with strong sense of duty (his father had nearly brought the royal household to bakruptcy with his extravagance and need for splendor)
brings Prussia to top military power
1756-1763 War: Prussia – Austria Frederick II the Great wins 7-year war against Austria/Maria Theresa
also against Russia and France
England on his side due to the English fighting the French over
Canadian colonies
Friedrich successful, Prussia establishes itself as the state
Frederick becomes a myth = III. Reich saw itself as following his legend
Frederick the Great Philosopher, pessimist, cultured, musical= enlightened despot, (Voltaire) benevolent and partriarchal, but still autocratic, absolutistic
Ruled for 46 years (1740-1786)
Some historians say that he lay the groundwork for Prussia and greater Germany
Some say he fed into the separation of Austria and Germany (see 100 years later)
provoked enthusiasm: ideas of enlightenment came to power
more liberal democratic state
repulsion:
turned so cruel
German intellectuals turned away
Brought Napoleon to power:
Conqucered Europe, Prussia, Austria (1806)
Emperor of the Holy roman empire of German nations was an Austrian Francis II,, he abdicated, end of first German Empire (1000 years = later Hitler’s propaganda)
Many progressive ideas come form France to Germany -=- equal rights for people
For the first time nationalism and democracy = liberalism
Liberation wars 1809 and 1814 = Wars of Independence
1814/15 Congress in Vienna, Austrian chancellor Metternich most important
old feudal system is restored
people felt deceived
promises for people disappointed
no liberalism or democracy
democrats often arrested and persecuted
systematic persecution of people with liberal ideas
high emigration to US
1806 no German emperor
loose connection of individual principalities and states
Austria and Prussia are dominant
1848 Publication of the “Communist Manifesto” by Karl Marx (1818-1883) and
Friedrich Engels (1820-1895)
1848 FebruaryRevolution in France
followed by March revolution in Germany involving almost all indiv. states
democratic element could not be suppressed
Young Germany – Vormärz
Kept the idea of liberty awake, led to revolution
Famous national anthem produced: Hoffmann von Fallersleben: “Deutschland, Deutschland über alles” (1841, while in exile, melody: Joseph Haydn, 1797)
Liberal professor, lost his position for his views, loved Germany
Now discredited as imperialist song, patriotic song 1870-1914
1922 official national anthem during Weimar Republic
after WWII allies (US, France, Russia, England) prohibited it
1952, first federal president Theodor Heuss declared it as national anthem again
only third stanza is sung officially
1848 first time a German parliament convened
lawyers, administrators, business men, farmers, workers
conservatives want monarchy
liberals want republic
elected new German emperor: Prussian king Frederick William IV, turns it down:
not by God’s grace – against his honor
1849 parliament collapsed
1862 Bismarck came to power in Prussia
Ministerpräsident, conservative deputy of Prussian parliament
Not a democrat, despised parliament
“Iron Chancellor”
smart diplomat, kept peace
gained preeminence in Germany
rivalry between Austria and Prussia
“Seven Weeks’ War” 1866 – Prussia wins
1870 war with France, France defeated
led to new German Empire
William I, new German emperor (1871-1888)
founded in Versailles
excluded Austria
Alsace Lorraine became German territory
Bismarck tries to keep balance of power in Europe
Alliances with Austria, Russia, Italy
Attempt to isolate France
Mediator role
Germany receives retributions from France
Rise of economy and German pride
Strong nationalist tendencies
Bismarck not democratic, but not unsocial
Introduced most progressive social legislation:
Workers protected with health/accident insurance/old age pension
Anti-Socialist Law after two attacks on emperor
1890 dismissed Bismarck (power struggle)