Germany Post World War 2

The changes that took place after both World War 1 and World War 2 are very significant.  These changes reshaped the entire makeup of Europe as a whole, and arguably made Europe what it is today.  After World War 1 the German public felt very taken advantage of by the Treaty of Versailles.  This treaty left Germany mostly crippled economically as well as emotionally.  However Germany during the 19^th century always seemed to get up every time they had been knocked down.  Post World War 1 Germany slowly but surely rebuilt itself and its production began to boom.  Once rebuilt the German economy became a major player in the world market.  During this time a democracy was formed and struggles for power from within gave it trouble and it was not as stable as it would have liked to be. These changes affect the Germans badly at first, but through perseverance they slowly became more confident in themselves as Germans.  It was through all of this time between the aftermath of the Great War and the beginning of World War 2 that Germans still held a grudge because of what happened to them from the allied sanctions. 

            These resentments provided a pristine opportunity for Adolf Hitler to rise through the ranks and emotionally sweep Germany off their feet.  He isolated what had been done to Germany economically as well as culturally and convinced masses of people that under his leadership Germany would rise once more.  “Hitler played to the emotional needs of the masses, which the established parties ignored” (Hagen 231). This quote is important because it really shines light upon the idea that one man took advantage of what many other leaders didn’t, the German population.  With this support Hitler really began to rise to power quite rapidly.  Throughout my education I have always had something for history.  However I have always specifically read and researched all phases of the time period leading up to and the ending of World War 2.  It was always fascinating to me how the opportunity for such a radical leader to rise to power and take over most of Europe through the use of military.  It reminds me of the campaigns of Napoleon, it is truly remarkable. 

            With the break out of World War 2 the German Third Reich was in a very prominent position as far as territory goes.  However in 1943 after the Russian stop at outside of Moscow the German offensive soon became a defensive.  “But after the German Sixth Army capitulated in Stalingrad o February 2, 1943, it became very clear even to the German population at home that the chances of victory were receding rapidly, and from then on one defeat followed another” (Hagen 277).  This quote is important because Germany reinvented under Hitler began to once show weakness much like the end of World War 1.  It is almost as if the cycle of defeat was repeating itself over and over again.  All attempts to make Germany a world power feared by everyone had repeatedly failed. 

            Eventually Germany did unconditionally surrender in May of 1945.  This set up the occupation by Allied forces of what was once the great Third Reich.  This hurt Germany very badly it split its culture completely in two.  The eastern half was controlled by Stalin’s Soviet Union.  The Western half’s were split among the Americans as well.  Obviously Russia at this time brought its communist influence over Eastern Germany, and the Allied brought democracy to the Western half.  These differences really amplified conflict between the two and would be a reason the Cold War took place to begin with.  Altogether I think that Hagan does a wonderful job describing and explaining in great detail the events that took place inside of Europe in the 19^th century.  These events are what shaped Germany to be what we know it as today.  I must say that I am very excited to visit parts of history in Germany that are from this era!  

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 (Hitler, leader of the Third Reich)

  (German citizens in the aftermath of World War 2)

  (Germany post World War 1)

Blog #4 German History

In Schulze novel he really shines light upon the idea that throughout Germany’s history they struggled to form a national government and remained untied together as separate factions of Germany.  The Germans of the 18^th century did not come together to form a national political union, however they did begin to advance and become one as a culture.  The language that all printers began to write in was that of German, this is important because although they did not have one central government they did have one central language.  Not having a central government also gave birth to many scholars and intellectuals, because not many citizens were involved in running the central government there was a strong importance set on education.  From this the German region saw the formation of many doctors, poets, civil servants, and clergyman, in other words a more elite group of educated citizens.  Also during this time many of the smaller factions during times of unrest aligned with the two biggest factions in Germany at the time, Prussia and Austria.  “When terms such as “nation”, “fatherland”, or “patriotism” cropped up, they could refer equally well to some vaguely defined Germany, to the specific political unit in which one lived, or both at once” (Schulze 102).  This quote really highlights how there was a loss for a central identity to Germany.  The citizens who lived in the area were loyal to their leaders of their specific houses.  It was only through the development of the arts, and the educated elite that Germany began to acquire a population that was more tightly knit.

            When comparing the United States and Germany in the way they were unified there are many similarities, but also some differences.  Both were made up of different colonies, and both managed themselves separately.  For example New York had different ways of running their colony compared to Virginia.  This is the case as well with Prussia and Austria.  However where they are different is how they unified as a whole.  The American colonies came together with one common goal, and set up a political platform that everyone in America stood for.  Germany on the other hand did not have political issues at the forefront of their unification; rather they used their culture to form what we know as Germany today.  It’s quite ironic as well because in Germany today there is still great divide between citizens on social issues such as religion.  Since the country wasn’t founded on key principles, and fundamental rights, the emphasis on Germany's cultural background is highlighted more in the Germany we know today.

            Another key ingredient in the formulation of Germany as a whole was the industrialization of its society.  Rather than prosper because of political revolution and unique structure of government Germany’s economy create a massive amount of jobs.  By creating jobs, making technological advances in transportation, and a massive migration to urban areas Germany transformed itself into a nation with an identity.  Something that we talked about in class that I found very interesting was how Germany is not built around one city much like France and England were.  This helped in balancing the power between city-states, which helped make up for the lack of governmental organization.

            At the very end of chapter 5 the unification of Germany can be seen, however it is also an ironic sight.  Never before had both legislators, and general’s lead together.  This is exactly what was about to happen parliament had voted for the unification of Germany as well as the nobility of Germany.  This read was very interesting because it provides a gateway from the beginning of the German lands to what we know Germany as today. The time period between these events are pivotal in how Germany was formed. If it wasn’t for the events that took place in the 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th century’s Germany may still be a clump of city-states or not exist at all.

 (Bismark Great German General)

 (A picture of the German confederation during the Napoleonic Wars)

 (A picture of Prussia one of Germany's powerhouses)