Thread by @WolfgangHutter2

This is the newest overview/synthesis on modern Germany from Helmut Smith (who has written at least one really good book, "The Butcher's Tale"). I am going to try and look it over and see if it is good or not and do a thread or write an actual long form review on it.

I have not read many overviews of modern Germany that I think are very good (other than more focused ones on imperial Germany or just the 19th cent. Hopefully this one might be worth reading for anyone who wants to find a good place to start on modern Germany .

So far, this book is pretty good. Will go into more detail in a few days. Its is not just an overview of modern Germany. Its pretty focused on this issue of how Germany understands itself as a nation. The entire first several chapters focus alot on early maps and attempts to

geographically define the "German nation". Of course the author is generally pretty skeptical about any historical coherence to German nationalism outside of linguistic grouping. And, at least so far, this is not a terrible argument.

For people, like myself, who find some of modern Germany's greatest virtues in a mixture between its elite high culture and its everyday "volk" culture, it seems that German nationalism in certain ways cheapens this transnational/regional linguistic culture of art, science,

philosophy, literature, etc. There is a great quote about this, that I could never find, Something like to the Russians go the land, and to the British go the seas, and then some allusion to Germany as a floating culture of dreams and ideas, etc.

If anyone knows what quote I am talking about I would be seriously indebted to you if you could find it for me. It actually might be Heinrich Heine, but I could never find it outside of the grad seminar I attended that it was quoted in.

Interesting map: The number of times the Emperor Maximillian I visited different parts of HRE.

"Celtes" seems to be an important Renaissance era artistic/poetic visionary for German cultural and linguistic unity and an expansive, but still amorphous, nationhood (a similar vision to what Heine was trying to get at in that quote about the "land of dreams").

Some more interesting maps/images: routes to Rome for pilgrimages, general map/depiction of "Germania" proper, and cities described as "German" in a text by Johannes Cochlaeus. Also, earliest woodcut depiction of Nuremberg.

The second section of Smith's book focuses on the development of "sacrificial patriotism" (and something that resembles modern nationalism) in 17th/18th century Germany, except this is entirely focused on a "nationalism" that was entirely loyal to regional states within old Reich

(i.e. Saxony, Prussia, Wurttemberg, Bavaria) Images posted above lay this out. Genuinely interested to dig into these chapters because I am almost completely unfamiliar with German nationalism expressed through loyalty to the regional states and, I assume in this context, any

regional monarchy, princes, nobility, etc (in 19th cent, you still see this in a place like Bavaria, but I am not familiar with how this developed in 17th/18th cent).

More from Smith on origins of German nationalism found in 18th cent territorial states. He seems to be lining up with Anderson in terms of underlying conditions leading to nationalism. However, because many of the technological aspects of modernity that Anderon sees as partially

(or mostly) responsible for nationalism don't exist or are still in infancy. Instead, he seems to emphasize socio-poli or econ dynamics that were consciously manipulated by monarchy/ruling class in specific territorial sates. Also, an extremely detailed map of 18th cent Germany

Logical transition from "patriotism" in context of monarchies to republicanism/democracy. Also, a simple, but illustrative graph for explaining the rise of Austria and Prussia as the most powerful states within the Reich (beating out any contenders like Hannover or Bavaria)

Interesting excerpt on Bavarian nationalism in the second half of 18th century. Never read about Bavarian nationalism in this early of a period. Not exactly what I thought it would be (thought it would have more a distinct monarchist tinge).

The growth of travel memoirs within Reich and growing awareness of Germany as a distinct geographic whole (even a single "volk"). This greater awareness of "Germany" through travel also gives birth to first generation of nationally conscious German writers.

Some info on two such early German "national" visionaries and their travel writing, Nicolai and Herder. This was by far the worst chapter in the book, a complete rehashing of something that's been written about a million times. Hopefully, next one is better.

Early debates on how to reorganize the flailing HRE during the French revolution and the military conflicts that came thereafter. Obviously, Prussia/Austria step up, but wasn't familiar with how central the "Palatinate" was to certain conceptions of a newly organized Reich.

I don't know how common this argument is,. German resistance to French army in 1790's was driven by the criminal behavior of French troops. In the "Ancien Regime" days, French troops were more disciplined, forced to stay in garrison towns.

New French army was more criminal (looting, robbing, raping). Author also asserts that there is no serious evidence that south German resistance to French was driven by new sense of "nationalism".

This is where it really all starts . Napoleon was a catalyst for German nationalism(s) in a number of ways. 1806 and the official destruction of Germany's ancient political structure - at least for Schiller and many like him - was actually liberating, a new beginning.

If anybody knows the title for the published journals of Ernst Arndt, I would appreciate some help. Seems to capture the mood of Germany in the Napoleon years - a sense of decay, loss, tragedy, but also birthed sentiments that would be utilized for future nationalist project.

New "nationalist" tone of Kleist. Early nationalist sentiment in art during Napoleonic wars/occupation. Also, was not familiar with the "German Table Society" small, elite, secretive group of creative German minds that met to discuss advancement of and prospects for German nation

Summary and some analysis of Heine's "A Winter's Tale". Btw, if you are a Germanophile or just a fan of German literature and overall creative expressions of "Germaness" (particularly in 19th cent), you sort of have to read Heine's "A Winter's Tale".

Some stats about literacy, reading, general education, and book publishing in the "Biedermeier period" of German history (roughly, 1820 to 1850). This is at the origin of many popular notions of Germans as a particularly educated, or even philosophical people.

This is something I wasn't super aware of. Declining importance of military in Prussia and Germany in general. Due to extended peacetime, possibly the culture of Biedermeier period in general had an effect on this?

Some background and analysis on the work of German "nationalist" economist Friedrich List. Internal economic reforms advocated by List were one of the more important factors in preparing the groundwork for the German nation-state and its rise to prominence on 19th cent Europe.

Smith brings up a German academic by the name of W.H. Riehl and explores his critiques of the modern, nationalist direction that Germany was heading in by mid-19th century (and why it was robbing Germany of certain deeply rooted social structures) If you haven't heard of him,

I would definitely read the above excerpts. I have never heard of him, but his primary work, "Civic Society", that Smith analyses, seems really interesting. The only other major historical text that analyzes Riehl and his work is Mosse's "The Crisis of German ideology".

Reminds me of some early German sociologists like Frederick Tonnies, but slightly, even unconsciously, more "volkisch" and more steeped in a mythology about the German lands and the nature of its social structure . Interesting, will have to look into him some more.

Some interesting details about German unification and the new Imperial constitution (1871). Was this new "Germany" truly a "nation-state" or an "empire"?

Excerpts on Heinrich Treitschke's travels through the new unified German empire. Germany as a unique bearer of civilization, particularly in the eastern border regions. We can begin to see the transition from German nationalism into German racialism in his comments on Jews, etc.

A map of the number of nationalist monuments in any given part of German empire. Also, apparently there was a monument commissioned and built for Heine, but had to be scrapped because of his Jewish background, was sent to NYC (apparently German Americans liked it).

Can anyone tell me which Kantorowicz book this is? Will look at footnotes later, but if you know, let me know (is it that "Kings Two Bodies" book?).This is a very interesting thesis that Smith opens with for his final chapters. I have yet to read Kantorowicz, but I will get to it