The Evolution Of Germany

Originally published in 1955, this book concisely charts the development of the states of Germany backwards, from the post-war partition into two republics, through the ruthless unification imposed by Hitler and the efficient federation created by Bismarck to the acute disunity of the 400 separate sovereignties existing in Germany after the Peace of Westphalia. The book also covers regional and geographical differences, natural resources, the class system and population problems.

“The West” is a central idea in German public discourse, yet historians know surprisingly little about the evolution of the concept. Contrary to common assumptions, this volume argues that the German concept of the West was not born in the twentieth century, but can be traced from a much earlier time. In the nineteenth century, “the West” became associated with notions of progress, liberty, civilization, and modernity. It signified the future through the opposition to antonyms such as “Russia” and “the East,” and was deployed as a tool for forging German identities. Examining the shifting meanings, political uses, and transnational circulations of the idea of “the West” sheds new light on German intellectual history from the post-Napoleonic era to the Cold War.

Excerpt from The Evolution of Modern Germany Although the writing of this book was begun several years ago, unavoidable circumstances have delayed its completion. Yet the delay has not, to the writer at least, been a disadvantage, since it has extended the perspective of his subject, and has made it possible to base many opinions and conclusions upon a wider survey and a larger generalisation than would otherwise have been possible. The title of the book sufficiently describes the aim which the writer has had in view: that of tracing the transformation of the Germany of half a century ago into the Germany which we know to-day. That transformation has been essentially economic; hence economic questions largely occupy tho following pages. At the same time several other problems which closely affect the internal and external development of tho Empire have been passed in review. It may be desirable - though it should not be necessary - to say that the book is not intended to have any hearing whatever upon the economic issues which exercise the British public at the present time. The chapters have been made as little technical as possible, though several of them are necessarily occupied by a recital of facts and figures illustrative of industrial and commercial progress. This book is not intended to be either a glorification or a disparagement of Germany from the standpoint of industry and labour. It seeks to show the Germans as a trading nation just as they are; to describe their efforts, energies, successes; to tell British readers what they ought to know, and must know, if they would understand how it is that Germany has gone ahead so rapidly during recent years, not, however, by way of discouraging but of reassuring them. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.