German History until 1933

Content

1. Between restoration and revolution

2. Between modernisation and persistence

3. Between democratisation and totalitarian threat

4. Focus on German democratic and constitutional history

5. Our offers and projects on the topic

6. Publications, events and media contributions on the topic

Central highlights of political, democratic and constitutional history since the early 19th Century are explored in the chapter on Germany history prior to 1933. The “wars of liberation” between 1813 and 1815 against Napoleonic France gave rise to the liberal middle classes’ desire for a united German nation state. At the same time, the liberals demanded political participation and the guarantee of fundamental freedoms. “Unity and freedom” then became the double political slogan of the bourgeoisie.

Between restoration and revolution: for unity and freedom

However, the princes gathered at the Congress of Vienna attempted to restore absolutist ruling structures of the 18th century. The desire for a German nation state also failed to be fulfilled and individual states were only loosely connected in the “German Confederation”. This led to protests, for instance in 1817 at the Wartburg Festival and in 1832 at the Hambach Festival. With the revolution of 1848, the goals of “unity and freedom” seemed to have been achieved. It was at the Frankfurt Paulskirche where an all-German parliament convened for the first time and drafted a constitution. Yet the revolution failed due to the resistance of monarchical forces and internal strife.

Between modernisation and persistence: in the German Empire

January 1871, albeit under different circumstances, finally witnessed the founding of a German nation state. This was preceded by the “wars of unification” against Denmark, Austria and France. The central political figure of those years was Reich Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. With a clever foreign policy, he succeeded in breaking down reservations abroad about the new power factor in the centre of Europe. A visible sign of the new international prestige was Germany’s role as host at the “Berlin Congress” in 1878. By contrast, it suffered domestic policy defeat in disputes with the Catholic church “Kulturkampf” and Social Democracy (Anti-Socialist Laws). Following the dismissal of Bismarck in 1890 by Emperor Wilhelm II, the German Empire developed successfully economically, but there were increasing tensions both at home and abroad. Defeat in the World War of 1914 to 1918, which Germany helped to cause, also spelt the end of the monarchy.

Between democratisation and totalitarian threat: the Weimar Republic

The Republic of Weimar came into being with elections to the National Assembly in early 1919, and the drafting of a democratic constitution. Despite being confronted with harsh provisions of the Treaty of Versailles and extremist hostility, it initially managed to defy challenges such as the Kapp Putsch in 1920 as well as the Ruhr occupation and hyperinflation in the “crisis year” of 1923. In terms of foreign policy, under Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann, the Locarno Agreements of 1925 even gave rise to a rapprochement with France. However, with the advent of the Great Depression as of 1929, the Weimar Republic once again found itself in a political and socio-economic emergency. With the establishment of National Socialist tyranny, the first German republic was brought to an abrupt end.

Focus on German democratic and constitutional history: an important part of our political education work

The foundations of German democratic and constitutional history in the 19th and early 20th centuries with the goals of equal rights and individual freedom, form an integral part of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftungs’s political education work, which is committed to a “living culture of remembrance” in its mission statement.

Our offers and projects on the topic

Selected projects

With publications, events and selected projects, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung commemorates and informs about important milestones of German history in the 19th and 20th centuries.

On the History of the German National Anthem

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August Heinrich Hoffmann gave himself the suffix “von Fallersleben” to stand out from the crowd of people with the same surname. The addition is a place name. He was born on 2 April 1798 in Fallersleben near Wolfsburg.

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Owing to inflammatory songs aimed against small-scale statehood, he lost his position as Professor at the University of Breslau, was expelled from Prussia and sought refuge on the then British Heligoland, among other places.

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It was on 26 August 1841 that von Fallersleben wrote the Deutschlandlied (German national anthem). The Hamburg publisher Julius Campe bought the song from him for four gold coins. Besides the German national anthem, he created a large number of children’s songs that are still well-known today. “Alle Vögel sind schon da” or “Ein Männlein steht im Walde” are only a few of the over 500 children’s songs written by von Fallersleben.

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Von Fallersleben drew on the melody of the Austrian imperial anthem in order to create a reference to the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. This was composed by Joseph Haydn between October and January 1797.

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The leadership of the Nazi state soon followed the example of the Storm Troopers, which combined the first verse with the Horst Wessel song. The National Socialists perverted the passage “Deutschland, Deutschland über alles” (Germany, Germany above all” to make it the motto of their expansionist policy. What was originally a passionate plea against small-scale statehood, thus became a battle cry of German fascism.

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An exchange of letters published on 6 May 1952 between former Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and the former Federal President Theodor Heuss, was intended to finally seal the reintroduction of the German national anthem. This was preceded by heated debates. In addition to Heuss’ rewriting, which was unpopular among the population, various new versions were written by many citizens. Yet, opinion polls clearly showed that the Deutschlandlied enjoyed the greatest popularity.

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The passage “Deutschland einig Vaterland” (Germany united fatherland) from the GDR anthem, was soon to become a thorn in the side of those in power. No later than by 1972, the GDR leadership had moved away from a policy of reunification. This meant that only the melody of “Auferstanden aus Ruinen” (Risen from ruins) was allowed to be played.

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In the course of reunification, the Prime Minister of the GDR, Lothar de Maizière, proposed combining the lyrics of the GDR anthem with the third verse of the Deutschlandlied. Another relatively popular suggestion was to declare Bertolt Brecht’s children’s anthem set to music as the national anthem.

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Even though there is still no formal law that defines the national anthem, it is now firmly anchored in the population. Since the 2006 summer fairy tale, at the latest, it has become indispensable at sporting events. Today, it is just as much a part of the population's self-image as the German flag.

Dealing with the “The Song of the Germans” at different times reflects the eventful history of our country with its ups and downs.

 

Learn more about the German national anthem.

On the History and Development of Christian-Based Parties

 

One of the origins of Christian Democracy lies in the emergence and development of Christian parties at the time of the German Empire.

 

Learn more about the emergence of Christian-based parties

Learn more about the development of Christian-based parties

On the History of the German Empire

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With the founding of the German nation state, a longstanding wish of many contemporaries came true. Between 1871 and 1918, the rise and fall of the German Empire took place during a period of change at the transition from the 19th to the 20th century.

 

Learn more about the German Empire

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