German History: Some New German Views

Description

Originally published in 1954, this book presents the view of nine liberal German historians in reconsideration of the dominant concepts of German political and cultural history in the immediate post-war years. They review critically not only the rise and rule of National Socialism, but also the strength of authoritarianism and militarism, the weakness of democracy and liberal attitudes in 19th Century Germany. The essays were published in German periodicals and pamphlets between 1945 and 1952 and collected in this volume (and translated into English) they represent a survey of one of the most important intellectual movements of reconsideration and of political and moral readjustment after World War II. PREFACE CONTENTS INTRODUCTION I RETHINKING RECENT GERMAN HISTORY II THE VIA DOLOROSA OF THE CIVILIAN SPIRIT IN GERMANY III THE BISMARCK PROBLEM I. BISMARCK AND OURSELVES II. HISTORIANS AND HISTORY V. MILITARISM IN MODERN HISTORY VI. GERMANY AND THE EPOCH OF WORLD WARS VII. RANKE AND BURCKHARDT VIII. THE GLORIFICATION OF THE STATE IN GERMAN HISTORICAL WRITING IX. MODIFICATION OF THE GERMAN-POLISH RELATIONSHIP X. TOWARD A REVISION OF THE GERMAN CONCEPT OF HISTORY XI. MISFORTUNE AND MORAL DECISIONS IN GERMAN HISTORY BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX