THREE THEORIES ABOUT HOW NAZISM "FITS
INTO" GERMAN HISTORY
- From Luther to Hitler: Things went wrong centuries ago,
Vansittart (1941): Roots of Trouble: The Black Record of Germany Past, Present
and Future
justification for unconditional surrender & long occupation
of Germany
variants: Fredrick the Great or Bismarck to Hitler
Hitler himself advocated this view!
William Shirer, Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (1959)
-
a) German historians, post-1945: Betriebsunfall="driving/factory
accident"
a kind of temporary insanity: things went wrong 1931-33
back on track in 1945
no need for a long occupation of defeated Germany
b) things went wrong 1900-1914
Fritz Fischer (1962), Germany's Grasp for World Power
in World War I
primacy of domestic politics in starting the war: distract
the workers
economic determinants of politics
Punch, 1913:
Once the land of poets, seekers and sages
Who enchant us with their deathless pages
Now the Prussian Junker, blind with fury
Claims to be God's counsel, judge and jury.
- Marxist/modernization theory: Things started going wrong in 1848
Hans-Ulrich Wehler (1973):
"the defense of inherited ruling positions by pre-industrial
elites against the onslaught of new forces"
failed democratic revolution in 1848
bourgeoisie coopted by unification of 1871
failed revolution in 1918
persistance of "traditional" elites (Prussian junkers,
military, bureaucracy)