New-York tribune., 1919-06-29
The Rise and Fall
of the
German Empire

With the treaty of Versailles the
meteoric career of the German Empire
comes to an inglorious end. The rise
Of Germany from modest beginnings to
supreme power on the European con-
tinent, and her catastrophe fall to de-
feat and quasi i-disolution present
curve sleeper than can be observed in
the history of any other state in mod
ern times, except the Napoleonic En-
pire.
In a. broader sense this tremendous
career may be traced from the year
1906, when Germany lay, broken and
humiliated, at the feet of Bonapartes
France, hitting the bottom of her ma
tlonal history. In more strict inter
pretation, Germany's upward flight
dates from December 10, 1870, the day
when William l, King of Prussia, was
acclaimed German Kaiser in the Hall
of Mirrors at Versailles by the as
sembly of German kings and princes.
In the summer of 1914 Germany was
recognized as the first military power
of the world, with her navy second only
to that of Britain. Her zenith is
marked by the peace of Brest-Litovsk.
in February, 1918. when Russias
breakdown left German power estab
lished from Antwerp to the Caspian
Sea.
Beginning of End
On March 21, 1918, began Luden-
dorff's final offensive to crush France
and England; the last phase of the
drive was entered on July Is. Three
days later, on July 18, Foch's counter
offensive started, and in the three
months that followed the entire work
of half a century crumbled to dust.
On November 8, 1918, the German
Empire of the Hohenzollerns ceased 20
exist; two days later the signing of
the armistice sealed the collapse, and
on May 8 of this year the anti-climax
was reached with the presentation of
the peace treaty in the same hall at
Versailles whence imperial Germany
started out on her career. If the line
OF ascent had been steep, the way down
hill was almost vertical
Strange to say, the man who more
than any other individual was respon-
sibfe for welding the centrifugal Ger
manic tribes and the scores of rival
states and principalities into a ma
tional unit was a Frenchman He bore
the name Napoleon Bonaparte The
terrible defeat inflicted On Austria and
Prussia in the years 1866 gave birth
to the three facts which became the
premises Of the modern German En-
pirc.
First of these was the dissolution of
the Holy Roman Empire. within the
loose framework of which, under the
more or less nominal overlordship of
the Hapsburgs, the German people
not yet a nation-had vegetatcd for
200 principalities. Secondly. the catas-
.rophe of 1906 called to life dormant
German nationalism, the faith that
German future could be made secure
only IN strong and centralized state.
The third factor was the enactment of
universal and compulsory military ser
vice in Prussia, subsequent to the
abolition of the old Prussian standing
army by Napoleon. This reform was
power, the centre around which the
German Empire was to crystalline.
The Congress of Vienna. in 1915,
instituted a Germanic Confederacy
with Austria as leading power Under
the regime of Metternich, Austria was
the mainstay Nof absolutism in all
Europe; and Austrian absolutism,
based on the doctrine OF the divine
right of kings, frowned upSn national
ism in general and German nationalism
in particular as the final challenge to
that doctrine. German nationalism.
imbued with the liberal creed of the
French revolution, conceived, therefore,
Austria as the arch enemy and turned
to her secular ri1fl, Prussia, as the
rcdeelner of her hopes.
But it was reserved for Bismarck
to exploit in full this national move
ment, originally democratic, and to
turn its fruits to the benefit Of Prus-
sian autocracy. The victorious war
against Denmark. in 1864 prepared the
way to the triumph in 1866, the expul-
sion Of Austria from Germany. Prus-
sla was now the leader Of the North
German confederacy; and four years
later, when Bismarck, with astounding
cleverness and lack Of scruples, con-
trived to play up the attack on France
as a war of national defence, German
unity was born. The title of German
Kaiser, conferred on King William /,
was made hereditary in the House of
Hohenzollern and Prusslan influence
relgned supreme and uncontested with
in the new German state
period of tremendous internal
progress was initiated. Prussian in
dustrial prosperity, with the ore de-
posits of annexed Lorraine for basis.
advanced in leaps and bounds; in
iterai sense blood and iron were the
foundation of German might With the
development Of industry and COM
merce, supported by governmental meas
uIeS on scale hltherIO Unparalleled
emigration, for a century constant
drain on the population, ceased; at the
same time the birthrate rose steadily.
BY the end of the century Germany
became the most populous European
country, next to Russia, leaving be-
hind Austria Hungary, with her larger
area.
In 1883 the Triple Alliance concluded
with Austria Hungary and Italy con-
Irmed Germany's position as leading
Continental power. In 1854 Germany
entered the ranks of colonial powers,
much against the better conviction of
Bismarck, who always emphasized Ger
manys character as Continental
power. But the founder of German
unity was, in 1890. eliminated by Che
youthful Emperor Wilhelm, II, who de-
cided to use his own Judgment. In
1894 he programme of powerful navy
was initiated. However, Germanys
ambitions to become a leading naval
as we'll as military power succeeded in
bringing together the ancient rivals.
England and France, and the two pow
ers presented solid front in the
colonial crises of 1906 and 1911. Later,