Sean Cronin

9/30/15
German Nationalism

Germany has had a long history of war influenced by nationalism. From Napoleonic rule
to the beginnings of World War II, nationalism has been the most prominent catalyst in sparking
world conflict within and outside of the German nation. Nationalism has influenced the German
people to start a world war, and commit unspeakable atrocities. Nationalism in Germany first
appeared before the first Napoleonic War, and appeared again before and during World War II.
Although the Nationalism during the 30s and early 40s turned into fascism, Nationalism still
had a profound effect on the German people, and the different countries which they waged war
with. Romanticism, which has a connection to early nationalist thinkers, had a large effect on the
German intellectuals during the period, art and thought flourished even under an oppressive
french rule.
Nationalism was first defined by a German philosopher by the name of Johann Gottfried
Herder, who propagated the ideology as romantic, which the Germans adopted when they
rebelled against Napoleon and his French Empire. Because of the strain that Napoleon's empire
began to show, countries under its rule began to rebel against the Empire. German Nationalists
in the Confederation of the Rhine, a collection of German states not directly controlled by
France, fought against French rule, as well as French intellectual ideals. Romanticism was deeply
rooted in the early Nationalist ideologies of the Confederation of the Rhine. The idea of being
intellectually superior to France, as well as being a unified nation influenced by knowledge and

education greatly appealed to the German Nationalists1. Although Germany had suffered under
french domination for many years, art and thought flowered in the German people, with
numerous philosophers and artists rising to meet intellectual challenges2.
German intellectuals such as Goethe, Schiller, and Herder rapidly adopted the ideology of
Romanticism, challenging every aspect of French Rationalism. French Rationalism was deeply
ingrained in the French Empire, principles that had been established during the enlightenment
had remained unchallenged for a number of years, only the appearance of Romanticism had even
thought of challenging such established ideas. Napoleon's domination of Germany had fueled
flames of political and intellectual growth, causing Romanticism and eventually Nationalism to
become a dominant German ideology. Before french rule, Germany had no notion of either
Nationalism or Romanticism. Germany was essentially a loose group of states that were only
bounded by a common language and culture, as well as a loose affiliation with the Holy Roman
Empire. Many Germans emerged from both the rule of Napoleon and The Holy Roman Empire
with as distaste for the principles of both governments, and instead wanted a unified state3.
Nationalistic ideologies after Romanticism split, one being conservative, the other being
liberal. Conservatives wanted to return to the older traditions that were previously established, on
the other end of the spectrum, liberal nationalists wanted a true self-government. However,
although the ideology split, both sides worked together to oppose Napoleon, joining together
despite political and ideological differences. After the fall of the French Empire, Germany
1 Kohn, Hans. "Romanticism and the Rise of German Nationalism."Http://www.jstor.org/. Cambridge
University Press, 4 Oct. 1991. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.
2 SparkNotes Editors. SparkNote on Napoleonic Europe (1799-1815). SparkNotes LLC. n.d..
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/napoleonic/ (accessed September 30, 2015).
3 SparkNotes Editors. SparkNote on Napoleonic Europe (1799-1815). SparkNotes LLC. n.d..
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/napoleonic/ (accessed September 30, 2015).

stagnated after they could not find a suitable government body to governed by. I was not until
Hitler did true nationalist sentiments emerge again in Germany.

Hitler came to power in 1933 when he became chancellor of the Weimar Republic, the
leading political power in Germany at the time. However, Hitler had an active role in politics
before he gained any significant power in Germany. In 1924 Adolf Hitler gave speeches to the
Munich Court about Germany as a whole, and how they could be one of the strongest nations
ever conceived. During these speeches, he often ridiculed the Jewish peoples of Germany and
Poland, claiming that If the Jews were the only people in the world, they would be wallowing in
filth and mire and would exploit one another and try to exterminate another in a bitter struggle.
These anti semitic sentiments were strengthened by the growing Anti-Semitic movements in
Germany. Hitler also stated that What makes a people or, to be more correct, a race is not
language, but blood, he is referring to the German people, and how they are the true race of
Europe. Hitler had an understanding of the ethnic makeup of Germany, he believed in an idea
called a volkic, which is the conservation of the chosen characteristics of mankind4. He believed
that Germany itself was one of these Volkics, and that the German people were an embodiment
of the spirit of Germany.
Hitler inspired many Germans into adopting his political views based on Nationalistic
and Anti-Semitic principles. Germans felt that they had been mistreated by the French and the
Treaty of Versailles, Hitler promised to ignore the treaty, and reestablish Germany as an empire

4 Weaver, John Benjamin. "Adolf Hitler's Account of the 'Nation' and 'Nationalism'" EInternational
Relations. E-International Relations, 16 May 2011. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

that would last for one thousand years5. The German people believed in Hitler and the promises
that he made, with few questioning his motives and views. Germany had been oppressed for too
long, the German people wanted revenge against those they felt had wronged them. The German
people became both xenophobic and nationalistic in their views as they marched down the path
for war.
Germany has a had a flowering and bloody history associated with nationalism and
romanticism. From an oppressive French rule, to the gears of world war, Germany has held
nationalist sentiments that still linger today. Despite the atrocities committed by the Nazi party
during World War II, the Germans have had a history of intellectual innovation, whether the
means have been moral or not. Xenophobia and Racism may have dominated the minds of the
German people for a twenty year period, but Romanticism saw the growth of art, literature and
thought as nationalist sentiments grew.

Web Sites Used:

5 Staff, History Channel. "Nazi Party." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 12 May 2009. Web. 30
Sept. 2015.

German Nationalism and Romanticism under French Rule

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/napoleonic/section7.rhtml
Adolf Hitlers account of the Nation and Nationalism
http://www.e-ir.info/2011/05/16/adolf-hitlers-account-of-the-%E2%80%98nation%E2%80%99and-%E2%80%98nationalism%E2%80%99/
Romanticism and the Rise of German Nationalism
http://www.jstor.org/stable/1404884?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
The Nazi Party
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/nazi-party