Pan-Germanism

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Pan-Germanism (German: ) was a political movement of the 19th century aiming for unity of the German-speaking peoples of Europe. Some radical German immigrants in America also sought a union with their German "brothers" back in Europe.

Contents

1 Origins
2 Prussia, Austria and Nationalism
3 Post WW1 developments
4 Post WW2 and Decline of Pan-Germanism
5 Austrian identity today
6 See also

Origins

Pan-Germanism's origins began in the early 1800's following the Napoleonic Wars. The wars launched a massive new movement that was born in France itself during the French Revolution, Nationalism. Nationalism during the 1800's threatened the old aristocratic regimes. Many ethnic groups of Central and Eastern Europe had been divided for centuries, ruled over by the old Monarchies of the Romanovs and the Habsburgs. Germans, for the most part, had been a loose and disunited people since the Reformation when the Holy Roman Empire was shattered into a patchwork of states. The new German nationalists mostly young reformers such as John Tillmann of East Prussia, sought to unite all the German-speaking and ethnic-German (Volksdeutsche) people.

Prussia, Austria and Nationalism

By the 1860's, Prussia and Austrian Empire were the two most powerful nations dominated by German speaking elites. Both of them sought to expand their influence and territory. The Austrian empire was multi-ethnic state where Germans didn't have absolute numerical majority; creation of Austro-Hungarian empire was one result of growing nationalism of other ethnicities. Prussia, under Otto von Bismarck, would end up riding on the back of Nationalism to unite all of modern-day Germany. The German Empire ("Second Reich") was created in 1871 following the proclamation of Wilhelm I as head of a union of German-speaking states. German-speakers living outside the new empire preferred living under its rule or in ethnically homegenous environment; this wish clashed with opposing wishes of other ethnicities. Regions like Austria and the Bohemia witnessed nationalistic controversies for decades.

Even some Austrians themselves began to resent their own diverse Empire. Identifying themselves as descendants of the Bavarians, who had conquered and expanded into the region, many Western Austrians supported a separation from the Habsburg Empire and unity with the new German Empire.

Post WW1 developments

Following the defeat in World War I, influence of German-speaking elites over Central and Eastern Europe was greatly limited. At the treaty of Versailles Germany was substantially reduced in size. Volga Germans living in the Soviet Union were interned in gulags or forcibly relocated, during the Great Patriotic War.

Post WW2 and Decline of Pan-Germanism

World War II brought about the decline of Pan-Germanism, much as World War I had led to the demise of Pan-Slavism. The Germans in Central and Eastern Europe were expelled brutally, parts of Germany itself were devastated, and the country was divided, firstly into Russian, French, American and British zones and then into West Germany and East Germany. The scale of the Germans' defeat was unprecedented. Nationalism and Pan-Germanism became almost taboo, because they had been used so destructively by the Nazis. However, the reunification of Germany in 1990 revived the old debates. The fear of nationalistic misuse of Pan-Germanism nevertheless remains strong. It is for this reason that many Germans themselves fear the idea of a united "Volksdeutsche". Today, there are still sizable populations of German-speakers outside Germany in Switzerland, Belgium, France, Italy, Central Europe, and the former Soviet Union. For economic reasons many German-speakers from Central and Eastern Europe acquired German citizenship after the collapse of the Communist bloc. Still today, the idea of a unified Germany and Austria strikes memories of Nazism. The very fact that Germanic unity would stir forgotten and fearful memories that most people on both sides would rather not remember, forestalls any such union in the future.

Please see German exodus from Eastern Europe

Austrian identity today

In Austria, only the extreme right still clings to Pan-Germanism. During most of the Second Republic, this part was represented mostly by the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) (founded in 1955 and led by the internationally notorious populist politician Jörg Haider from 1986-2000).

Even though the party ranks of the FPÖ are largely made up of members of Pan-German Studentenverbindungen, the old Pan-German wing is in a minority. At the very least, Pan-Germanism is not part of its official program or a seriously proposed policy, as it is not popular with the Austrian electorate today. Jörg Haider attempted to refashion the party more into chauvinistic Austrian patriotism, which was quite apparent after the so-called "sanctions" imposed the leaders of the other 14 EU member states in response to the formation of the coalition government with the conservative ÖVP after the 1999 elections.

Likewise, the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) party created by Haider in April 2005 does not promote pan-Germanism, although some of its prominent members (such as Herbert Haupt) have been known to participate in activities by right-wing Studentenverbindungen which can, at the very least, be called nostalgic towards Pan-Germanism.

Since the end of the War, and with the growth of newer generations, the self-image of Austrians has changed considerably. After the War, most still did not have any confidence in an independent Austria. With the passing of time and the consolidation of the state, and the passing of new generations, this attitude has changed to a more independent viewpoint. This change in attitude has been reflected in the way Austrian history is viewed. The rule of the Babenberg and Habsburg are seen as times, from which the country and its people can forge and build their identity.

To speak of a separate language though would be incorrect. The overwhelming majority of Austrians today are quite happy to be independent and enjoy their "Austrian",identity, except for a very few dwindling diehards.