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From a perception of time, a major league baseball season is only eight months in
duration; however, somewhere in the course of that season a team reaches specific
moments where they're decisions will determine the outcome of their desired goal. The
same pattern can be applied to nations of the world, except the moments that they face do
not lead to World Championships; they decide not only the fate of the people inhabiting a
particular land, but also that of their neighbors. Whether it be a game in June or one in
September, it is possible to pick out certain sections of a season and point out how those
segments led to the outcome of a term. These parts are referred to as turning points and
they play a big part in the duration of a baseball season. The same can be said when
discussing nations. Whether it is 1800 or 1900, one is able to identify instances that
drastically shaped the outcome of a people. This can be illustrated when looking at
German history during the periods of 1871, 1890, and 1929. It will be occurrences in
these years that can be recognized as turning points during a tumultuous season for team
Germany.
The first turning point occurs in 1871 with the Franco/Prussian war. This event was
crucial because its outcome led to the establishment of the German empire under the
leadership of Wilhelm I as well as empires foreman, Otto Von Bismarck. In order to
completely understand this even and its implications, it is important to comprehend
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the situation in the German region prior to the event. It was surely a time of monarchs,
and it was Frederick The Great that put Prussia on the map. Frederick would set in
motion a trend that was stapled into German leadership; he had to make Prussia militarily
powerful due to its global position as Prussia was forever surrounded by great powers.
He would succeed in his endeavors, but he would rule as an icon of political paternalism.
This led to an authoritarian form of government that made Frederick and his apparatus
(military) a father type figure. This is crucial because Bismarck would continue this
tradition, where regions of the empire were like strong fathers that looked over its
children (citizens) in return for their obedience.
Combining political paternalism with a failed revolution in 1848 allowed the concept of
democracy to be alien to the German people. The empire, after all, didn't come from the
people, but from political strategy put together by Bismarck. It would prove crucial for
Bismarck to establish a united German state because he needed to assure the dominance
of Prussia. He succeeded in doing so through shrewd strategic brilliance. Bismarck
knew that before he turned his attention to the people, it was necessary to give them
something to flock towards. His opportunity arose when Kaiser Wilhelm I was
vacationing in 1870 at Elm at the same time as a French ambassador; the ambassador
asked for Wilhelm's assurance concerning the chosen monarch of Spain. Wilhelm
telegraphed Bismarck soon after about the occurrence and Bismarck cleverly made the
message appear as an insult directed towards the Kaiser and Germany. Once news of the
telegraph reached France, officials became insulted; combining their humiliation with an
economic crisis the French decided to declare war on Germany.
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Bismarck knew that this act would drive the French to war, because the French were
seeking one due to their previously mentioned dilemmas. This was a chance for French
military to prove their worth in battle and an opportunity to get back on top as a major
power in Europe. France believed it was a shoe-in to be victorious; meanwhile, Bismarck
received a chance to defeat a historic power while fighting under the flag of self-defense.
The result was a one-battle war. France was no match for the rapid movement and great
guns possessed by the Prussian military. A great industry and army (France) was
defeated by the blood and iron of Prussia. All Southern Germanic states rallied to
become part of Germany and the unification as well as the birth of an empire was born
due to the Franco/Prussian feud.
With Bismarck behind the wheel, Germany grew into a major power in Europe and it was
his ejection as Prime Minister in 1890 by Kaiser Wilhelm II that would be Germany's
next turning point. It was this ejection that slowly paved the way for World War I. It is
unknown whether or not Germany could have avoided its future course if Bismarck had
been allowed to keep running Germany in his vision, but it is a fact that Wilhelm II
wouldn't allow it, as the two had conflicting ideas pertaining to the potential Germany.
Bismarck believed it key for Germany to stay out of the colonial game where
European powers decided to acquire as much territory as possible in a greedy sweep of
imperialism. He was bent on creating a strong German state that could compete with all
Europe, but he desired to reach this goal from within. In the German icon's view, his
nation needed to rely on the strong industry and blood of the people that it would take to
make the Empire stand up and succeed.
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Wilhelm II was keen on Germany having its place in the sun and since Bismarck as an
opponent of this ideology he was fired. Wilhelm II desired more power by expanding the
empire to Africa as fashioned by his neighbors. This occurrence would indubitably lead
to competition between the European powers and it was that fact that led Bismarck to
implore Wilhelm II to stay away. In order to attain imperialism it was essential for
Wilhelm II to dangerously militarize, and he would do so when he tried to build his great
naval fleet. In fact, it was his intention to out match Great Britain. The decision to take
the opposed Bismarckian route led to the first arms race in history between Britain and
Germany.
As if it were necessary to make matters worse by angering powerful neighbors, Wilhelm
II refused to sign a re-insurance pact with Russia that was initially set up by Bismarck to
allow for the greater protection of Germany. This refusal pushed Russia to form the
Triple Entente in 1907 with France and Britain, which posed an obvious threat to
Germany as the three members encircled the Germans. It is obvious that Wilhelm II
knew the eventual outcome of the ongoing hostilities would end in conflict because he
had his military form a plan in advance for a war on two fronts with Russian and France
(Schlieffen Plan). If it were left up to Bismarck, Germany would have never looked to
Africa, which meant that they probably wouldn't have angered England by their
development of a larger navy. Furthermore, Bismarck would have re-insured the pact
with Russia whom in turn would probably not have joined the Entente and kept the
balance of power at a peaceful stalemate.
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The eventual war would have consequences that Germany was not able to overcome.
After losing the war, Kaiser Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate his throne and Germany
was tossed into a frenzied Republic. The Weimar Republic was forced to suffer the harsh
repercussions of a failed World War. The treaty of Versailles would dictate a peace that
unfairly placed the blame of war on the first democratic government in German history.
France was devastated from the war and along with England, wanted security; however,
revenge was also at hand in the eyes of the allies. Germany had to deal with Article 231 -
The war guilt clause. This clause stated that Germany was guilty for World War I and
they were responsible for paying back thirty three billion dollars in reparations. This is
not the sort of cramp a brand new government needed, especially after losing a war. It
must not go unsaid that Germany did deserve blame for the war, but to throw it on
officials who were trying to right a nation seems somewhat unwarranted.
When the Great Depression hit in 1929, Germany would come across another turning
point. At this moment in time, Germany's new democracy was in a tumultuous decline
due to a few factors. First of all, the presence of the empire's old elites (military
personnel, Junkers, and leading industrial figures) was still a strong factor in government.
This was problematic because the old elites would undermine the new republic as they
were still in favor of monarchy.
Just as important, Germany was going through a terrible period of inflation,
unemployment, and labor disputes. Due to the economic unrest, a growing number of
people turned away from the republic and focus their attention on other parties. The
transition from a wartime economy to that of a peace economy was too much to bear.
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Germans were used to developing excess military equipment and couldn't seem to reverse
the flow, which led to a case of crippling hyperinflation. Mixing this element with that of
the constraints placed by the Treaty of Versailles we can see a powder keg ready to blow.
This keg would receive its match with the crash of the New York Stock Exchange in
1929. Due to this crash, about forty percent of Germans found themselves out of work.
There was so much discontent that Germans became fed up with the Weimar Republic
and began to look for options. The government failed to find a solution to this dilemma
due to constant squabbling. The Republic had split into two parties because of different
ideologies; the USPD wanting socialism inspired by the Russian revolution while the
SPD will be more moderate.
The crash in 1929 of the stock market paved the way for people to make another choice.
The Nazi party promoted themselves as a group that could stop the constant squabbling
as well as return Germany to its glory. The Nazi's fed off of the instability and claiming
Germany looked like a botched amusement park; they claimed that could set it straight.
They offered the people political, moral and more importantly, economic stability in a
time where nearly half its population was jobless, starving, weary and living in
dissatisfaction. The crash in 1929 was the final straw for a failing Republic and it caused
the German people to lose faith, paving the way for the birth of Nazi Germany.
Turning points in any event (be it a baseball season or national history) are always
resolved by choices. These choices, when examined carefully, allow us to understand
end results and what implications they have had on future events. It is this paper's belief
that the events noted were most crucial in the outcome of the on-going German season.
Keywords:
from perception time major league baseball season only eight months duration however
somewhere course that season team reaches specific moments where they decisions will
determine outcome their desired goal same pattern applied nations world except moments
that they face lead world championships they decide only fate people inhabiting
particular land also that their neighbors whether game june september possible pick
certain sections season point those segments outcome term these parts referred turning
points play part duration baseball same said when discussing nations whether able
identify instances drastically shaped outcome people this illustrated when looking german
history during periods will occurrences these years recognized turning points during
tumultuous team germany first turning point occurs with franco prussian this event
crucial because establishment german empire under leadership wilhelm well empires
foreman otto bismarck order completely understand this even implications important
comprehend situation german region prior event surely time monarchs frederick great
prussia frederick would motion trend stapled into leadership make prussia militarily
powerful global position prussia forever surrounded great powers would succeed
endeavors would rule icon political paternalism authoritarian form government made
frederick apparatus military father type figure crucial because bismarck continue tradition
where regions empire were like strong fathers looked over children citizens return their
obedience combining political paternalism with failed revolution allowed concept
democracy alien people empire after didn come from from political strategy together
bismarck prove crucial establish united state because needed assure dominance succeeded
doing through shrewd strategic brilliance knew before turned attention necessary give
them something flock towards opportunity arose when kaiser wilhelm vacationing same
time french ambassador ambassador asked wilhelm assurance concerning chosen
monarch spain telegraphed soon after about occurrence cleverly made message appear
insult directed towards kaiser germany once news telegraph reached france officials
became insulted combining humiliation with economic crisis french decided declare
germany knew drive french were seeking previously mentioned dilemmas chance
military prove worth battle opportunity back major power europe france believed shoe
victorious meanwhile received chance defeat historic power while fighting under flag self
defense result battle france match rapid movement great guns possessed prussian military
industry army defeated blood iron southern germanic states rallied become part
unification well birth born franco prussian feud behind wheel grew into major power
europe ejection prime minister kaiser next point ejection slowly paved world unknown
whether could have avoided future course been allowed keep running vision fact wouldn
allow conflicting ideas pertaining potential believed stay colonial game where european
powers decided acquire much territory possible greedy sweep imperialism bent creating
strong state could compete europe desired reach goal within icon view nation needed rely
strong industry blood take make stand succeed keen having place since opponent
ideology fired desired more expanding africa fashioned neighbors occurrence indubitably
lead competition between european powers fact implore stay away order attain
imperialism essential dangerously militarize tried build naval fleet fact intention match
britain decision take opposed bismarckian route first arms race history between britain
were necessary make matters worse angering powerful neighbors refused sign insurance
pact russia initially allow greater protection refusal pushed russia form triple entente
britain which posed obvious threat three members encircled germans obvious knew
eventual ongoing hostilities conflict form plan advance fronts russian schlieffen plan left
have never looked africa which meant probably wouldn have angered england
development larger navy furthermore insured pact russia whom turn probably joined
entente kept balance peaceful stalemate eventual consequences able overcome after
losing forced abdicate throne tossed into frenzied republic weimar republic forced suffer
harsh repercussions failed treaty versailles dictate peace unfairly placed blame first
democratic government history devastated along england wanted security however
revenge also hand eyes allies deal article guilt clause clause stated guilty responsible
paying back thirty three billion dollars reparations sort cramp brand government needed
especially losing must unsaid deserve blame throw officials trying right nation seems
somewhat unwarranted depression come across another moment democracy tumultuous
decline factors presence elites personnel junkers leading industrial figures still factor
problematic elites undermine republic still favor monarchy just important going through
terrible period inflation unemployment labor disputes economic unrest growing number
turned away focus attention other parties transition wartime economy peace economy
much bear germans used developing excess equipment couldn seem reverse flow which
case crippling hyperinflation mixing element constraints placed treaty versailles powder
ready blow receive match crash york stock exchange crash about forty percent germans
found themselves work there much discontent became weimar began look options failed
find solution dilemma constant squabbling split parties different ideologies uspd wanting
socialism inspired russian revolution while will more moderate crash stock market paved
another choice nazi party promoted themselves group could stop constant squabbling
well return glory nazi instability claiming looked like botched amusement park claimed
straight offered moral more importantly economic stability nearly half population jobless
starving weary living dissatisfaction final straw failing caused lose faith paving birth nazi
points event baseball national always resolved choices these choices examined carefully
allow understand results what implications future events paper belief events noted most
going
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