A German Identity

For all of its existence, Germany has fought for an identity.  In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire crumbled around what is now Germany and “up to this point “Germany” had been inconceivable without the surrounding mantle of the empire” (Hagen 102).  The mix of states didn’t know what to make of themselves without the identification that the Holy Roman Empire gave them.  Although the Holy Roman Empire only gave these states a loose identification, they felt lost and embarrassed without the title.  In this way, the initial loss of an identity is what led to the search for a German one.

Some of the difficulties in creating this desired identity were financial burdens, devastation left over from previous wars, and the overall shock and embarrassment felt by many Germans (Hagen 102).  The people of these loosely identified states knew they wanted to form an identity; however, they were unsure of how they could accomplish it. 

What followed was a flurry of different political ideologies and governments which never quite settled down.  Negotiations concerning land and politics were made ultimately resulting in the German Confederation, which was simply a weak mock of the Holy Roman Empire.  The upside to this was that it gave Germans an identity.  

However, this loose identification did not stick very well.  Religion was debated over as many Protestants and Catholics desired their faith to be present during the Wars of Liberation.  The government was still constantly debated as Germans had not yet discovered one that truly worked for them.  The people of Germany were working hard for an identity but “up to this point the shape of a future German national state had been visible only in the barest outlines” (Hagen 116).  

At this point in history, it seems that the largest challenge for finding German identity was not only discovering and making it work, but fighting for what a German identity should stand for.  The people not only wanted an identity, but a name that they could be proud of.  After 1840, nationalism surfaced strongly again.

More identity problems surfaced as it was debated which states should join the German nation.  The unique and once separate states that form Germany today are a central part to the German identity.  It proves that they are united as a nation, but also still unique in culture. At the point of these negotiations, Germany was still fairly divided as not all of the states were interested in joining the German nation.  However, what resulted was powerful as it created a unity in difference.

A few decades later, Kaiser William I entered the picture as the first emperor of the German nation.  Up to this point, Germany had been working hard to form an identity.  With the entrance of Kaiser William, the German identity was sealed.  Finally a strong leader was present who was able to stand up for Germany as a nation and help to unify and conquer the remaining German states.  

Kaiser Wilhelm was also helped greatly by Otto Von Bismarck, the first Chancellor of Germany.  Although sneaky, Bismarck was able to ally the smaller German states behind Prussia to create a stronger force.  This move was deemed deceitful by some, but they could not deny it helped in unifying the German states in order to finally create a German identity.

Germans fought for an identity in many ways.  They fought for a government, states, and religions that they would be proud of.  By 1871, Germany was considered its own nation, and a strong one.  The process was long and full of arguments, but Germans were eventually able to decide on a German identity.  

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