When it comes to the modern history of Germany, most people will think of the two world wars for the first time. To be sure, the two wars of the first half of the 20th century profoundly changed the landscape of Europe and the world. Perhaps this will give the Germans negative labels such as "militant" and "fascist".
However, after an in-depth understanding of the historical development of Modern Germany, you will understand that this war, which affected all of Europe and even the whole world, was bound to be inevitable from the moment Bismarck proclaimed the establishment of the Second German Empire at the Palace of Versailles in 1871.
On 18 January, the German Empire was established, and King Wilhelm I of Prussia was crowned Emperor of Germany in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
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Except as a geographical name, Germany ceased to exist; When you talk about the German Empire, you can only faintly hear the echo of a once-powerful name.
In the Middle Ages, the Holy Roman Empire nominally ruled the entire German-speaking region, but was incapable of controlling local affairs. The Empire was just a hat on top of this union, and underneath it were the various political organizations that had autonomy. The Empire's three-tier parliaments were unable to agree on major events, let alone decide on issues that would determine the course of the Empire as a whole. Because the political demands of the interest groups represented by different classes and sects are in conflict in many cases, the territorial disputes between local princes are intertwined. The lack of parliamentary dispute resolution laid the groundwork for the "Thirty Years' War" that followed.
After a protracted war, much of Germany was devastated and in ruins. In 1648, the Protestant and Catholic Leagues signed the Treaty of Westphalia, which further weakened the control of the central government over the localities, and the Holy Roman Empire was now in name only. In the 17th century, against the background of the formation of a unified nation-state in Britain, France and other countries, the division of Germany was further intensified, which greatly hindered the development of German industry and commerce. In cities such as England and France, handicrafts were booming, while in Germany a large number of people were still firmly bound to their lands as tenants by feudal lords.
Nevertheless, division is bound to lead to reunification, and this is an immutable law. Within the loose reich was quietly nurturing a force that would later promote German unification.
Confirmation ceremony of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648
Germany's backwardness in Europe was not only reflected in its non-centralized form of government. The development of the German language was also in a state of relatively lagging behind for a long time, and the German aristocracy, without exception, communicated and wrote orally in French. However, the development of national languages is essential to enhance national cohesion and cultivate national concepts. The Restoration Movement in Israel, for example, presupposes the resurrection of the ancient Hebrew language. Mention must be made here of the "Harvest Society", founded in Weimar in 1617, the first and largest German language society, whose members covered almost all the cultural figures of the German-speaking community. The Society aims to preserve as much of the original face and character of High German as possible, and to further develop the German language and protect it from the erosion of foreign languages.
The symbol of the "Harvest Society"
In fact, the attempt of the "Language Society" was not pioneered in Germany, but followed the example of the "Bran Society" founded in Florence during the Renaissance. Academics classify German and Italian nationalism as cultural nationalism, as thinkers in both countries inspire patriotism by emphasizing national culture. And after the two countries completed their reunification in the second half of the 19th century, they successively embarked on the fascist road in the 20th century, which has to make people pay attention to the shaping of a country by cultural nationalism. Of course, these are all later words, and will not be repeated here.
Germany's national conception is gradually taking shape, but what is really catalyzing this internal change is pressure from the outside. When the people of the German-speaking regions were generally aware that their survival was at stake, they decided to unite out of a desire to take charge of their own destiny... (To be continued)