An enthusiastic german nationalist, he glorified the german state in his book cosmopolitanism and. Wilhelmine germany and the first world war 18901918. The german catastrophe, by friedrich meinecke, and journal in the. Other articles where the german catastrophe is discussed. Age of german liberation, 17951815 by friedrich meinecke and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. See all books authored by friedrich meinecke, including the warfare of a nation. Once an antisemite and apostle of treitschke, meinecke at 84, and after two disastrous world wars, had come to believe that germany, to resume her historic function in europe, must go back to the cultural and political ideals of the pre.
In the german catastrophe originally published in 1946, meinecke seeks to explain the degeneration of the german state under hitler. The german catastrophe, by friedrich meinecke, and journal. This little book, written in 1946 by the dean of german historians, is one of the most significant to come out of his country since the war. Friedrich meinecke october 20, 1862 february 6, 1954 was a german historian, with liberal and antisemitic views.
He was the editor of the historische zeitschrift, a leading german historical journal, from 1896 to 1935. Reflections and recollections beacon paperback on free shipping on qualifying offers. Friedrich meinecke the german katastrophe pdf the german catastrophe. Friedrich meinecke was born in salzwedel and educated in berlin. The question that anyone had to ask after world war ii was whether bismarck planted the seeds for hitlers later rise to power, and apparently friedrich meinecke an esteemed german historian whose life stretched from the creation of germany under bismarck to its downfall. Friedrich meinecke october 20, 1862 february 6, 1954 was a german historian, with. Friedrich meinecke october 20, 1862 february 6, 1954 was a liberal german historian, probably the most famous german historian of his generation. Meinecke, a clear distinction between positive and negative traditions was. The question that anyone had to ask after world war ii was. Like goethes faust and it is goethe whom he represents as the german spirit at its best, the genius of the old germany and the hope of the new, germany was the impetuous soul yearning for ideal self.
The german catastrophe work by meinecke britannica. I picked this book up because pflanze mentioned it in his biography of bismarck. World war one was the turning point for the german peoplemeinecke insists. Published immediately after the end of world war ii he sees modern history as the confluence of the rise of nationalism and the massive population growth leading to the decline of the aristocratic world. Reflections and recollections beacon paperback friedrich meinecke. His the age of german liberation, a study of the prussian response to the french revolution, appeared in 1906. Friedrich meinecke the german catastrophe pdf the german catastrophe. The german catastrophe the social and historical influences which led to the rise and ruin of hitler and germany by friedrich meinecke jan 1, 1969 5. His family belonged to the solid middle class which formed the backbone of imperial germany. Reflections and recollections beacon paperback friedrich meinecke on. Reflections and recollections 1946 here, the historian friedrich meinecke 18621964 reflects on the spirit of 1914, a transient sense of unity felt by germans during the initial stages of the first world war.
Posts about german catastrophe, the written by stevereads. In the shadow of nazi germanys defeat, the 84yearold meinecke sets out to discover and explain the longer roots of hitlerisms origins in germanys history. The question that anyone had to ask after world war ii was whether bismarck planted the seeds for hitlers later rise to power, and apparently friedrich meinecke an esteemed german historian whose life stretched from the creation of germany under bismarck to its downfall under hitler had asked this very. Reflections and recollections friedrich meinecke snippet view 1950. A state whose essence is organization will be indifferent, with the innermost distrust, toward the incalculable unfolding of life of the individual, from which alone german culture buds forth. Friedrich meinecke, the german catastrophe steve reads. Trivia about german catastroph friedrich meinecke, the german catastrophe. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no. Though meinecke remained in public a supporter of the nazi regimein private he became increasingly bothered by what he regarded as the violence and crudeness of the nazis. The german catastrophe represented two classic themes of antisemitism.
German catastrophe 1946, attracted wide attention and raised the issue of what the. Friedrich meinecke 18621954, germanys greatest historian in the period from 1890 to 1950, founded a school of the history of ideas and trained many scholars. With this translation, one of the classics of german historical literature becomes available in english. Meinecke is known as a liberalconservative historian, he is not known to be a main protagonist of nazi ideology as implicitly suggested in the header of the english article. Reflections and recollections beacon paperback friedrich meinecke on free shipping on qualifying offers.
Meinecke was a german historian of the late 19th and 20th centuries and author of many prestigious works. A meinecks whose essence is organization will be indifferent, with the innermost distrust, toward the incalculable unfolding of life of the individual, from which alone german culture buds forth. The question that anyone had to ask after world war ii was whether bismarck planted the seeds for hitlers later rise to power, and apparently friedrich meinecke an esteemed german historian whose life stretched from the. After world war ii, as a representative of an older tradition, he criticized the nazi regime, but continued to express antisemitic prejudice in 1948, he helped to found the free university of berlin in west berlin, and. After world war ii, as a representative of an older tradition, he criticized the nazi regime, but continued to express antisemitic prejudice. As a representative of an older tradition still writing after world war ii, he was an important figure to the end of his life.
Germxn first wave, socialism, sought to care for the needs of all members of society, to safeguard their standard of living. Friedrich meinecke october 20, 1862 february 6, 1954 was a german historian, with national liberal and antisemitic views, who supported the nazi invasion of poland. The german catastrophe paperback january 1, 1964 by friedrich meinecke author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Meinecke acknowledges that in order to combine nationalism and socialism, the firm power of the state is needed.
Friedrich meinecke cosmopolitanism and the national state. Wikimedia commons has media related to friedrich meinecke. Within a year the unity was shattered and the german people were again separated upon various paths. After world war ii he became the first president of the free university of berlin. Letters and documents, 19101977 studies in central european histories brill by gerhard a. Friedrich meinecke, the german catastrophe german history in. It is interesting to compare the content with the german wikipedia. A prominent german historian analysis of how germany allowed itself to come under the domination of hitler. The german catastrophe, meinecke criticized forces and entities such as the prussian state for preparing the groundwork for hitler and the nazis.
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