The Kingdom of Württemberg and the Making of Germany, 1815–1871

Description

This book examines the 1871 unification of Germany through the prism of one of its ‘forgotten states’, the Kingdom of Württemberg. It moves beyond the traditional argument for the importance of the great powers of Austria and Prussia in controlling German destiny at this time. Bodie A. Ashton champions the significance of Württemberg and as a result all 38 German states in the unification process, noting that each had their own institutions and traditions that proved vital to the eventual shape of German unity. The Kingdom of Württemberg and the Making of Germany, 1815-1871 demonstrates that the state’s government was dynamic and in full control of its own policy-making throughout most of the 19th century, with Ashton showing a keen appreciation for the state’s domestic development during the period. The book traces Württemberg’s strong involvement in the national question, and how successive governments and monarchs in the state’s capital of Stuttgart manoeuvred the country so as to gain the greatest advantage. It successfully argues that the shape of German unification was not inevitable, and was in fact driven largely by the desires of the Mittelstaaten, rather than the great powers; the eventual Reichsgründung of January 1871 was merely the final step in a long series of negotiations, diplomatic manoeuvres and subterfuge, with Württemberg playing a vital, regional role. Making use of a wealth of primary sources, including telegrams, newspaper articles, diary entries, letters and government documents, this is a vitally important study for all scholars and students of 19th-century Germany. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Figures Maps Acknowledgements Note on Translation Abbreviations Maps Introduction The methodology of unification studies Why Württemberg? Intentions 1 States and the Nation in the Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries German nationalism before German nationhood The German balance of power The smaller states Revolution and war Delusions of grandeur under and after Napoleon Beginning a new German era 2 Independence and Early South German Particularism Saving Württemberg The Verfassungskampf of 1815–1819 The rise of South German regionalism The meaning of early political Third Germanism 3 Models of German Unification, 1815–1848 The origins of Württemberg popular nationalism Greater Germany and Württemberg’s relationship with Austria Collective security and the dangers of Austrian exceptionalism Prussia, Lesser Germany and Württemberg The Zollverein as a harbinger of unity Dashing nationalist hopes The third way 4 The Years of Prophecy and Change, 1848–1849 Warning signs before 1848 The advent of revolution Liberal emergencies and consolidations The National Assembly: Once as tragedy, twice as farce The end of a noble experiment 5 Counterrevolution, Reaction and Reappraisals, 1850–1859 The state of the nation after the National Assembly The Hesse-.Kassel emergency The resurgence of Third Germany and the rise of ethnic nationalism Repositioning Württemberg in European geopolitics The Second Italian War of Independence: Third Germany’s best hope The beginning of the end? 6 Six Years of Autumn, 1860–1866 Sovereignty and reality Renewed regionalist agitations: The Würzburg Conferences, 1859–1861 The necessity of Germany Competing models: The Nationalverein and pro-Prussian sympathies The end of Wilhelmine Württemberg? The Varnbüler ministry and the changing face of Germany Fighting for the heart of Germany 7 The Unification of Germany, 1866–1871 State and national decisions for war Württemberg at war Revival and opportunity: Third German regionalism in 1866 The belated rise and fall of Third Germany The end of South German independence and the rise of the French threat Endgame 8 Remembering and Forgetting Württemberg, 1871–1914 From Sedan to Versailles From Versailles to Berlin From Berlin to the world Conclusion Notes Introduction 1 States and the Nation in the Late Eighteenth andEarly Nineteenth Centuries 2 Independence and Early South German Particularism 3 Models of German Unification, 1815– 1848 4 The Years of Prophecy and Change, 1848– 1849 5 Counterrevolution, Reaction and Reappraisals, 1850– 1859 6 Six Years of Autumn, 1860– 1866 7 The Unification of Germany, 1866– 1871 8 Remembering and Forgetting Württemberg, 1871– 1914 Conclusion Bibliography Archival locations Berlin Darmstadt Esslingen Karlsruhe London Stuttgart Primary sources Newspapers Unpublished materials Published materials Secondary sources Index