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Title: The German Empire, 1870-1918 (Modern Library Chronicles) by MICHAEL STURMER ISBN: 0-679-64090-8 Publisher: Modern Library Pub. Date: 14 November, 2000 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.11 (9 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: The Germany that we never got to see!
Comment: A swift, lucid chronicle of the first Reich. Stürmer (History/Univ. of Erlangen-Nürnberg) is sympathetic to the German people, although not to most of their leaders in the years framing this study. Emperor William II comes off poorly (he displayed "unlimited banality of thought and action" in his years of exile). But the author notes that "history . . . has been kinder to Bismarck." He demonstrates that the lands that are now Germany have always "seemed to play the role of chessboard in peace and battlefield in war," offering snapshots of the Holy Roman Empire, the Napoleonic Wars, the revolutions of 1848 and 1849, and then segues smoothly into the Bismarck years, observing that as long as he "kept his influence over the King of Prussia and the German Emperor," he was "in all but name, the ruler of Germany." Stürmer reminds readers that in 1870 there was no "Germany"-at least not in the contemporary sense of a unified nation-state. The territory was highly fragmented, with wide variety in "bread and beer, in costume, language and local law." He expresses some regret at Germany's lost opportunities: its work force, technology, and natural resources could have made the last 100 years "the German century." Instead, Germany wrote the century's bloodiest chapters. When Bismarck exited the political stage, William II made some catastrophic miscalculations and adopted military policies that were "bound to lead to disaster." Stürmer questions the extent of Germany's responsibility for WWI. In a short work such as this (part of Random House's Chronicles series), the author cannot expatiate, but he does include some arresting details (an "enigma" is the German custom of carving hearts into the doors of outhouses). And he can turn a phrase: "For William II, the whole of Germany was nothing but a giant toy." At the close, he includes some very useful maps, a lengthy chronology, and a dramatis personae. Clear, concise, and compelling-a welcome corrective to the view that a principal task of historiography is to assign blame. (3 maps)
Rating: 3
Summary: Casts Away the shadow of Imperial Germany
Comment: For at least some people, the wraith of the Bismarckian German Empire is limited to "Germany was united by Bismarck, it started World War I and lost". There is, at least, more depth to the German Empire of the 19th century than that, and this book is probably the best way to learn about it.
The book itself is short and concise. From the Table of Contents to the epilogue, not counting the index and bibliography, the book is only 134 pages long, so it can be finished in two days easily. The author, Michael Sturmer, describes the political, economic, and military dominance of Prussia in the German Empire, and relates Bismarck's struggle to unify German states that had fought each other for centuries under the flag of Prussia, and how he disguised the Prussian military dictatorship of Germany as a federated empire with the Emperor as head of state. Sturmer also talks about the political and economic ramifications of a powerful, unified Germany in the crossroads of Europe.
But the book has some flaws. As mentioned in a previous review of this book, some political movements and slogans go unexplained, and a slight background in post-Napoleonic and pre-20th century Europe is helpful but not necessary. Some sentences drag on and new German terminology is incorporated into the paragraphs frequently. Reading the key-figures section and the timeline included in the book may be helpful for newcomers to the German imperial time.
Overall, the book is worthwhile for those interested in reading a 134-page article on the German Empire. It may not necessarily be enjoyable to read for some, but it is certainly interesting. As an introduction to the subject it may leave too many questions and for veterans it may not contain enough substance-probably, this book is best left for ones who only wish to refresh their memory on the subject of German imperialism. There are better books on the subject for veterans, but if you are a newcomer and plan on reading further into the topic it is certainly a good place to start.
Rating: 4
Summary: Good Book, but not for newcomers to pre-WWI German History
Comment: The German's first unified state, a compilation and tangled array of regional confederacies, unions, monarchies, duchies and principalities that after its unification Bismarck called the German Empire, is chronicled in this short book that covers in moderate detail the major economic, social, and political trademarks of the new state that formed the central pathway of Europe's crossroads.
But let it be known, this book might be geared toward two specific groups: Scholars and students who already know plenty about Germany and its empire, and only wish to refresh their memory about it, and those that know enough about Prussia and know enough German political phrases to understand the compact complexity that is generated by the author, Michael Sturmer.
But beside the fact, the book itself is extremely informative. Equilibrium in late-19th century Germany was only a political facade, and, in the words of the author, was used only to hide what Germany essentially was(a Prussian military dictatorship).
Heterogeneity dominated Germany at this time-people defiantly referred to themselves by their locality and remembering a time when they were one of however many hundreds of independent states that existed after the Peace of Westphalia. But Prussia was dominant in every aspect-population, economy, industry, and military.
The economic power base was split between tariff protectionists and free traders, and Sturmer covers this in detail. Colonialism helped to spread unity in the new Pan-German state(although the French provinces of Alsace and Lorainne were also included in the Empire). The new mediums of the 19th century's later industrial revolutions helped advance Germany to the frontline economically and industrially. Emigration was curbed slightly-no longer were desperate German workers flooding into America as they had before, despite Bismarck's anti-Unionist and anti-Socialist policies.
When it comes down to it, the book is ok. I recommend it, the subject matter is interesting whether you understand it or not, but everyone should at least know the author is German and some of the grammar in the book may not be the pinnacle of perfection. Read it, enjoy it, or don't.
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