Nationalism in Germany. country's history. Nationalism was used in the establishment of the Weimar Republic in

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1 Jang 1 YeaLim (Elsie) Jang Ms. Shana Barnett AP World History 24 April 2017 Nationalism in Germany Nationalism united, revived, and reunited Germany in three critical points in the country's history. Nationalism was used in the establishment of the Weimar Republic in It was also used by Adolf Hitler, 1933 to 1945, to mobilise citizens and revive the economy after the devastating World War I and Versailles Treaty. Furthermore, nationalism supported the reunification of East and West Germany in Nationalism was used, in all cases, to elevate Germany's status in the world. Germany wanted to gain power and legitimacy in the global imperial competition through the establishment of the Weimar Republic and Hitler's revival of the country's economy. The reunification of East and West Germany allowed the nation to reclaim its voice within international organisations. Nationalism was used in the establishment of the Weimar Republic in The process of German nationalism that led to the Weimar Republic was a prolonged struggle that started in In 1789, Germany did not exist as a unified political state, and instead divided into 314 states. Nationalism in Germany was first inspired by Napoleon's invasion of German territories, which brought about a sense of common cause. Document 1 is Johann Gottlieb Fichte's Address to the German Nation in Fichte, a philosopher, argued that Germans--people who speak the German language--are by nature bound together as an inseparable whole. His statement to the German public solidified and promoted the idea of nationalism and a German state. And later, Otto von Bismarck, a charismatic individual and the first Chancellor of Germany, engineered a series of wars that unified the German states by Document 2 is Otto von Bismarck's Address to the Reichstag in In this

2 Jang 2 speech, Bismarck stressed how other countries have been exploiting the German economy because of "German good nature." Bismarck was an influential figure who united the German states in His speech emphasised a German "us" against a bad-natured "them." This was because he had to convince his audience, the legislature, of the importance of a stronger economy--a stronger Germany. In 1919, elections for the German National Assembly were held and Friedrich Ebert was elected first president of the Weimar Republic. The Weimar constitution gave the German people liberty, equality, and rights. It also instilled national pride in Germans through a flag, coat of arms, anthem, and more. Document 3 is Das Lied der Deutschen, the national anthem of the Weimar Republic in It put Germany "above everything in the world." The united Weimar Republic certainly brought more power and legitimacy to the nation. Imperial Germany had extensive war aims. An example of this is the initiation of the Septemberprogramm, a plan for Germany's territorial expansion from 1914 to The Septemberprogramm was not successful because France withstood the initial German attack in the beginning of World War I. However, the Septemberprogramm is significant because its suggestion and existence was possible through the support of a strengthened, nationalistic, and imperial Germany. Nationalism was also used by Adolf Hitler, from 1933 to 1945, to mobilise and revive the economy after the devastating World War I and Versailles Treaty. Adolf Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany in 1933, and then the Führer of Nazi Germany in 1934, through democratic means. The German public was devastated by economic ruin after World War I and the Versailles Treaty, and therefore welcomed a strong, nationalistic ruler who promised to restore financial stability and national pride. Document 4 is from Hitler's book, Mein Kampf. A key point under Hitler's nationalistic agenda was to increase German pride by shunning Jews. The purpose of Mein Kampf was to promote antisemitism. "It will be the task of the People's State to make the race the centre of life and of the community." In many

3 Jang 3 historical situations, humans find it hard to unite without a common enemy, so the Jewish were the Germans' common enemy. Document 5 is a Nazi propaganda poster from Its audience is the German youth, more specifically 10 year olds. Hitler targeted his propaganda to the youth because they would serve him faithfully later. It is also easier to brainwash the young. Adolf Hitler kept his promise to restore financial stability and national pride, which elevated Germany's status in the world. After World War I, Hitler brought about an economic miracle while other countries suffered from depression. Additionally, Hitler's Nazi Party supported an extreme form of lebensraum, a concept of settler colonialism that would increase German territory and give Germans more "living space." It is important to note, however, that although Hitler's nationalism brought about economic revival, it also resulted in the unfair deaths and torture of countless Jews. The Holocaust was the murder of six million Jews who were deemed racially inferior by Hitler's Nazi regime. Furthermore, nationalism supported the reunification of East and West Germany in This time, nationalism was developed during the Cold War by the National Democratic Party of Germany. The party gained public support, which led to the fall of the Berlin Wall along with parliamentary elections that supported the reunification of the two Germanys. Nationalism was again used to elevate German's status in the world. The new expanded Federal Republic of Germany inherited the old West Germany's seats in several international organisations as a strong nation. Such international organisations include the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Nationalism also united and revived Japan. The foundation of 18th century Japan's authoritarian regime was supported by nationalism. The government differentiated itself from other nations by identifying every Japanese citizen as the great Emperor's subject. Document 6, Cardinal Principles of the National Entity of Japan, was written by the Japanese Ministry of Education in This document was widely distributed in schools and homes around the

4 Jang 4 country, and therefore the audience was the entire nation. This document defined the uniqueness of Japan and justified Japan's military and territorial expansion. Therefore, it is similar to Hitler's anti-semitic propaganda that emphasised the superiority of the German race. Japan also used nationalism to elevate its status in the world, in establishing itself as a powerful East Asian imperialistic nation. Japan invaded central China in 1937 and conquered Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, among other nations. Japan exercised imperial control over Korea, Manchuria, and other lands until its defeat in World War II in 1945.

5 Jang 5 Works Cited Epstein, Klaus. "German War Aims in the First World War." Cambridge Core. Cambridge University Press, 01 July Web. 22 Apr Farmer, Alan, and Andrina Stiles. The Unification of Germany and the Challenge of Nationalism th ed. Access to History: Hodder Education, Print. Illmer, Andreas. "The Vote that Set the Course for German Reunification." DW.COM. Ed. Susan Houlton. Deutsche Welle, 18 Mar Web. 22 Apr "Introduction to the Holocaust." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, n.d. Web. 24 Apr "Japan's Quest for Power and World War II in Asia." Asia for Educators. Columbia University, Web. 22 Apr Layton, Geoff. Democracy and Dictatorships in Germany nd ed. Access to History: Hodder Education, Print. Snyder, John. "German National Anthem (Deutschland Lied)." Great Valley Middle School. Blackboard, n.d. Web. 22 Apr Weber, Mark. "How Hitler Tackled Unemployment and Revived Germany's Economy." Institute for Historical Review. Institute for Historical Review, Feb Web. 22 Apr Strayer, Robert, and Eric Nelson. Ways of the World: A Global History with Sources. 3rd ed. N.p.: Bedford/St. Martin's, Print.