GERMAN SITUATION

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 65, 14 September 1933, Page 11

GERMAN SITUATION

THE COURSE OF HISTORY

IDEA OF PATRIOTISM

Speaking to a large and appreciative W.E.A. audience at the Trades Hall on Tuesday niglit, in continuation of his short course of lectures on "The Present. Situation in Germany," Professor G. W. Yon Zedlitz gave an .interesting survey of the historical events which led up to the German Revolution and the dethronement of Kaiser Wilhelm 11.

In his opening remarks the speaker pointed out the necessity for those who wished to obtain a clear view of the position to understand the mental outlook of the German people, which differed considerably from our own. "The German's idea of patriotism," said the Professor, "is quite different to ours, and is more cultural thau national or political. They do not conceive of "the foreigner as we do, because they have always had peoples of other races on both sides ot their borders or havo been subject to their rule. For instance, they would not think of Shakespeare as a foreigner as we would Goethe. We look upon tho foreigner as an alien, and imagine that everyone else docs the same, and unless wo realise that the German has a different outlook we shall not be able to understand their present situation. The effect of a long historical tradition is not easy to suppress, and at the moment it is difficult to say whether the^German will be able to make a mental compromise which will enable Lira to have an outlook moro like tliat of the Englishman." The lecturer explained the difference between the French and German attitude towards the rest of Europe, and stated that it was the deliberate endeavour of the Nationalist Socialists to destroy this feeling and create a patriotism more like that of other nations. It was the policy of the Allies that had definitely directed the Germans into the path which they were now following. How unity among the German States was brought about mainly through the lesson taught by Napoleon was emphasised by the lecturer, who then gave an outline of the constitutional system between 1871 and 1914, stating that it was framed by Bismarck with an eye to existing institutions rather than to the future. Under this system Parliament degenerated into a mere talking-shop through which Democracy could strike no roots. While ho ruled, Bismarck's great nightmare was the fear of coalition, and his whole scheme was ruined by the: accession of Wilhelm 11. The mind of the new Emperor was the exact converse of his grandfather's. He became his own Chancellor, and his incredible blunders alone were responsible for the world coalition against Germany. During the war there was an ever-growing tide of dissatisfaction against Wilhelm's rule, and the Kussian Revolution had a profound effect upon Germany. The Emperor was incapable of holding the reins of Government, and the effect' of propaganda and America's entrance into the situation caused the German Empire to topple over. Throughout the whole period there was an increasing tendency to secure national unity, and since the war the experience of Parliamentary government has strengthened the desire among the majority of the people to have done forever with this form of government. These were the mainsprings of the Constitution of Weimar and brought ruin to Liberalism in Germany, An animated discussion followed the lecture. Next Tuesday evening Professor Yon Zedlitz will deal with "Position of Labour in Germany."