"German male drivers are the most aggressive in Europe, and this feeling of power behind a wheel, this desire to dominate in a fast car, is stronger than else where. It's not new. It goes far back into history and has been developed over many generations, this inherited internalized frustration of the German. Jung would have called it a based nation characteristic." Carmen Lakashus, Psychologist.
"The Germans make everything difficult, both for themselves and for everyone else." Goethe.
"The German soul has corridors and interconnecting corridors in it, there are caves, hiding-places, dungeons in it; its disorder possesses much of the fascinating and mysterious. The German is acquainted with the hidden paths to chaos." Nietzche.
"A bundle of strong and troubled instincts, born artists without taste, technicians who are still feudal, fathers of families who are warriors, oppressors who want to be loved, separatists who are strictly obedient, knights bearing garlands who vomit beer . . . a sublime green ocean where the net hosts a tangle of monsters and treasures." DeGaulle.
To the Social Democratic party congress after he fell from power: "The dry land belongs to the French and Russians, the sea to the British-but we are undisputed rulers in the empire of dreams." Helmut Schmidt quoting Heine.
The international marketing director for Deutsche Aerospace, subsidiary of Daimler-Benz, resigned following disclosure he flew the old German imperial war flag in his front yard. Neo-Nazis regularly brandish the First World War flag, with an iron cross and eagles at rallies where they chant "Foreigners Out." NYT 3De92, p.A12
Themes:
Adenauer Erhardt Kiesinger Brandt Schmidt Kohl
Themes:
Germany is important historically, especially for its role in changing the world over the last century. But its current importance stems from its role as the world's third largest economy (with only 62 million people + East Germany as the world's supposed former tenth economy with only 17 million) and the critical role of both Germanies in their respective economic and political alliances (EEC and COMECON, NATO and Warsaw Pact). Germany's present attempts to avoid inflation by raising its interest rates at the same time as it is running a large budget deficit are reminiscent of US experience in the early 1980s and are on the verge of destabilizing other European economies while also strongly affecting the rest of the world.
Today, the Federal Republic is, especially for Europe, a strikingly decentralized state. Its 11 Lander have important powers and were jealously independent of Bonn. It will be interesting to see what happens as the federal government functions are moved to Berlin. It is unusual also in that there is no really dominant city. Berlin (1.9 million) Hamburg (1.6 million) and Munich (1.4 million are the leaders but there are many cities in the half million range and 68 with over 100,000 people. This urban structure descends from Germany's history as a collection of independent states until the late 19th century, its diversity of landscapes and its physiography.
Germany became a nation late (1871) because of history and its
geographic situation and site characteristics. While the people
have been recognized as a culture group since before the Christian
era, it was only pulled together by Charlemagne. After him, the
rulers of individual territories jealously resisted actual central
authority. Martin Luther and his "theses" split Germany
into protestant and catholic territories and the 30 years war
(ended in 1648) solidified the fragmentation until the Prussians
succeeded in forming a nation in 1871. Its neighbors had long
feared the potential power of a united German people and succeeding
events seemed to justify those fears. Hitler's attempt to create
a Third Reich was only the most spectacular example of a "hunger"
for a greater Germany incorporating all Germanic peoples. In
the postwar era, the W. German desire for unity (symbolized in
the Basic Law of 1949 and provisions for assisted entry of "ethnic"
Germans from Eastern Europe) via reunification with E. and W.
Germany was a major cause of strain in Europe. Its recent economic
moves and assertiveness vis-a-vis Eastern Europe, especially Yugoslavia
are arousing strong (although official comment is muted) concern
and fear among its Western European partners.
800-843 Karle der Grosse (Charlemagne) last leader
of "united" Europe.
1241 Hanseatic League established. A chance to
pull Germany into a nation but path disrupted by feuding nobles.
1440 Gutenberg.
1517 Martin Luther
1555 Peace of Augsburg-Protestant and Catholic states
accepted.
1648 End of 30 years war.
1756 End of 7 years war establishes Prussia as great
power.
1830-1840 Beginning of industrialization and founding
of German Customs Union.
1867 Prussians beat Austria in seven weeks war.
Austria out of German Confederation.
1914 Germany along with Austria enter WWI with high
hopes
1928-1933 Start of economic recovery after horrendous
inflation sabotaged by great depression. Millions out of work.
Sets scene for Hitler's accession.
1945 Defeat-emphatic this time. Total and unconditional
surrender.
1949 Federal Republic and German Democratic Republic
created
1955 Federal Republic to NATO, GDR to Warsaw Pact.
1957 Federal Republic becomes founding member of
EEC. Rapprochement with France begins (especially with Adenauer
and deGaulle)
1970 Ostpolitik by Willy Brandt. Oder-Neisse border
accepted
News items and miscellany:
"Everyone a German," NYT 30No92, p.a15. Talks about an immigration policy as a necessity for Germany. Christopher Bertram, diplomatic correspondent for Die Zeit, notes it is very difficult for folk of non-German descent to get citizenship regardless of how long they've lived in the country. In 1990 only 20,000 of eight million foreigners in the country were granted citizenship. The problem is a result of an ancient law reflecting the old homogeneous German society.
"European treaty gets approval in Germany," AP 3De92. Overwhelming approval in the lower house of parliament for the Maastricht treaty on European unity.
"Offensive against neo-Nazis urged by German chancellor aid," AP 3DE92. This wire item story also reported that German soldiers beat up the owner and employees of a Yugoslav restaurant in a north German city. The seven soldiers who were drunk cursed the foreigners and shouted "Germany for he Germans!" and "foreigners go home."
"Germany bans a Neo-Nazi group in reaction to outcry on violence," NYT 28No92, pp 1 and 9. In addition to current bannings, at least seven far right groups were banned in the 1980s. This apparent violation of rights of free speech from an American perspective is due to German history, particularly the destabilization of the democratic Weimar republic by armed street gangs.
"Leather pants, golden beer (and bitter farmers)," NYT 17Oc92, p.2 talks about Bavarians, a proud tribe as the article puts it. "I have traveled everywhere...There is nowhere I haven't been. And I can tell you without any doubt, there is no place better or more beautiful than right here...can't shake a heritage that is this strong. ... They took away our Royal Bavarian Post and our Royal Bavarian Police and we survived that. We'll survive being governed by the Prussians, even though naturally I'd prefer it if we were still on our own."
"Voices of Europe: need for Germany far outweighs any fears," NYT 29Se92, p.a10. This is something you should read. A selection of European statesmen, artists, industrialists, politicians talk about Germany's role in Europe: "...they seemed to share a concensus that however great German economic power had become it was not to be wished away; indeed some thought it welcome. Neither was it free of potential peril. ...belief that an isolated Germany would represent far more of a threat than a Germany locked into European institutions, and that Germany's economic dominance was far less menacing than its military power had ever been."
"Medical care in Germany: With choices, and for all,"
NYT 23Ja93, pp. 1 and 4 discusses the social medicine system-which
dates back to Bismarck's policies of the 19th century.
It is provided by nonprofit, private "sickness funds"
legally mandatory for about 90 percent (all except the well off).
Spending is about 8 percent of GNP compared to 14 in the United
States. The money is paid by the government for poor people or
the unemployed and by a levy on wages ranging from 9 to 18 percent;
the average levy is 13.9 percent half paid by employee, half by
employer like our social security system. Germans are concerned
about rapid recent growth in outgoes just as we are in the United
States.