Treaty of Versailles

Ruhr Germany was where France invaded in Germany to get coal.

Bread rose in price

The Mark soon was worth almost nothing

I find it very interesting that the German people placed more hope in their military than they did the Reichstag (194). I also find it interesting that the German army did have the capability to organize a country to make it able to conduct a total war, which requires total mobilization (195). To my understanding the closest thing that could happen like this in the United States is if Congress were to declare a war without the president’s consent. This happened during World War II and has yet to happen since. Hence when the Allies announced their condition on May 7, 1919 to diminish the army to more of something that resembled a police force there was uproar of disapproval (203). The people of Germany did not want the one thing that they respect and follow to be broken down and become weak and unable to defend them. Germany refused to diminish their army and this just put them and their allies in disagreements going back and forth which finally got resolved by the National Assembly declaring their willingness to sign the Versailles treaty. The National Assembly signed the treaty to help Germany to keep hostile activity out of there and to lift the blockade of food supplies (203). With this treaty Germany had to deprive their military power (204). Had I been a citizen of Germany at this time I would have been frantic. To know that the one thing that people respected and listen to would be have their powers be diminished and the army would shrink was a huge concern. If I were in Germany at this time I would also agree with the people of Germany and be unable to accept the form of democracy. They tried to create it during the Great War and it did not help them since they ended up losing and signing the Treaty of Versailles. I would also be concerned when Germany had to reduce the strength of their armed forces (205). Having had followed them previously and then watch them fall apart would have been hard enough but since many people followed them more so than the Reichstag. Since this was a fragile moment in Germany’s history I understand that the people of Germany were unsure about what different government to follow and start to doubt it as soon as it showed signs of weakness (207). I would have done the same especially in such a moment of vulnerability of the mind. I would have constantly been unsure about who to vote for and had to make sure of people’s views constantly. Especially with the changing of powers and different government succeeding the German people would have to constantly keep track of who is still available to vote for. There was a span of 11 years (136 months) when there was a constant decline of one government every 8 ½ month (207). To add to the stress of finding a stable government that would not drop out Ruhr was being taken by the French. While neither Germany nor France gained anything from this it hurt Germany way more than the French (210). It got to the point where German currency would not buy anything so more money had to be printed. This caused the cost of everything to rise. One example in the book was the price of a 2 lb loaf of bread. In December 1919 it cost 2.80 marks. This price skyrocketed in December 1923, 4 years later, to 399,000,000,000 marks (212). If I were part of the German population this would be uneasy to accept. Not only did the German Government print so much money but then they also had to get it out of circulation at a certain point to allow the price of a 2 lb of bread to go back down to 30 mark in January of 1924, just a month later after it cost 399,000,000,000  marks

Chapter 3-5

Napoleon Bonaparte

Ernst Moritz Arndt

Where Napoleon was from

One thing that I find interesting is that Germany was helped into nationhood by Napoleon Bonaparte. This happened when Napoleon marched his French army through Prussia and involved them in a war which began on October 14, 1806 (101). I am aware that to gain independence there is often some sort of battle, but the manner of which this happened especially sparked my interests. When Prussia lost against Napoleon it put them in a situation that was financially burdening. This could be shown with the oppressive financial burdens which were imposed because Prussia lost against Napoleon’s Army. Along with losing the battle against Napoleon the cost of living increased. This financial burden came into effect because now they were under French rule (102). As French armies marched through Prussia they squeezed as much out of the land as they could. Not much was left for people to survive off of (102). Fichte, a philosopher, knew that Prussia needed to gain its own identity from the French military and he made this clear in his “Address to the German Nation” speech in the winter of 1806-1807 (104). He believed that if the Germans fought for their independence from the   French military they were doing their job. I also find it extremely interesting that this speech was given approximately 2 months after Prussia was taken under the control of the French. I am somewhat shocked that this speech did not happen sooner than it did. I would have imagined that it if happened too soon people would be afraid to follow in fear of the consequences but if this speech would have happened too late the major points would have already have been spoken about. Not only did the people know that they did not want to be controlled by someone else but they also did not like what the French imposed on them. I also find it especially interesting that Ernst Moritz Arndt, a popular writer, stated “Let unanimity be your church! Make hatred of the French your religion, and let freedom and fatherland be the saints to whom you pray!”(105). I am taken aback by what Arndt says while he himself is under control of the French. If I were Napoleon I would not have taken much of this from Arndt especially since he could have caused a huge upheaval not even to put it past Napoleon to revolt against Arndt.  An official Prussian Declaration of War to France was issued on the 16^th of March in 1813. These wars lasted April 30, 1813-October 31, 1813 which a total of 23 battles were fought. Out of the battles that were fought Russia/Prussia won 4, French won 9, the Allied powers won 9, and there was one battle that was undecided. Although these attempts to gain freedom from France failed to happen Europe did renegotiate the boundaries as what happened in 1648 (107). These boundaries were similar except for Prussia, who gained a lot of area along the Rhine along with some parts from Saxony. While this was going on Austria withdrew from Belgium and the Upper Rhine which helped end the century-old confrontation of France and Austria (107). Prussia now stretched from Aachen on the French border to Tilsit on the Baltic. This new territory now linked East and West Germany. I believe that it was an extremely smart move to redraw boundary lines to settle disputes. When I read this I understood better how much of a conflict there was that a changing of boundaries was needed. I do not see this type of problem solving technique used now over in the Midwest where there are many little wars and discrepancies put into action every day.

Chapter 2: Church and Empire Co-dependence

While I was reading chapter two, I found it very interesting that the church and empire were co-dependent.  At first this was new to me.  I have grown up my whole life learning that the church and state should be separate. Yet after thinking about it I figured it could not be all that terrible.  There could be some difference in judgment calls that might have caused some trouble between the two but nothing major.

The Church and Empire worked hand in hand.

I find this fact very interesting because here in the USA we are against the church getting into politics and vice versa.  The Government got into a bind when they finally discovered that kids have been saying “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.  This caused the Pledge to be taken out of schools for a while yet it returned. Even to this day parents can ask to have it banded in their school.  To see an example of a nation that managed to intertwine these two is amazing and at the same time mind boggling.  It really makes you wonder if all decisions were made for the good of the people or off of the basis that it was “Gods designed plan”. I wonder if Martin Luther’s religion would have taken effect if church and empire were separate. 

There has been attention brought to the Pledge of Allegiance with how students say "under God". Some parents believe that the Pledge should be removed from schools while others see it as harmless.

 Due to this fact I wonder how Germany could have turned out differently.  I believe that this intertwining of church and the empire shows that Germans are highly religious and that the people wanted these two powers to join together to help make where they live.  If the church was not as involved with the empire, Germany could have been less religious and Luther would not have to had voiced his opinion and create his 95 Thesis.

I believe that this is important to the German history and culture because this could reveal that some of the choices they made might not have been the best for the people but more to please God and the higher powers. 

Martin Luther

Martin Luther

Culture:  Luther believed that “to build you have to demolish.”  He believed that to change the people to see the wrong doings of the Catholic Church, he had to attack the 7 sacraments: baptism, eucharis, reconciliation, confirmation, marriage, holy orders, and anointing of the sick.  Luther tried to make people understand that the Bible only mentions two: baptism and The Lords Supper.  Belgium, Germany, Netherlands and France soon followed Luther’s beliefs. When Luther was invited by Charles to speak at the most influential gathering in Europe, he saw how much his work was appreciated. He was approached on his cart and given gifts and was told not to attend for fear of his death.

Castle in Wittenberg where Luther posted his 95 Theses

Political: The more the church tried to silence him the more he wanted to be heard.  He published his writings into books that were readily available to the public so his ideas could spread.  He tried to get people to see that the money they were giving to Rome was going to the Pope and having him carried around instead of more important causes.  This was not what the people wanted their money put to thus helping add flame to the fire.



Luther's 95 Theses

 Religious Revolution: 95 Theses attacked higher up authorities showing them that they are doing wrong and that there does not need to be a middle man between the people and God.  His theses also attacked the Pope and the church at the time when they were telling the people what they had to do to be saved and end up in heaven.   Luther did not believe that the church should be able to take advantage of people by doing this.   Luther refused to dissolve his 95 Theses and when he was unimpressed by the Cardinal sent by the pope he was charged with heresy  This idea eventually fell through when people on the committee believed in his beliefs and wanted to see where he could go with them.

How/Why was Luther important to German-speaking lands: Luther is so important to the Germans because he translated the Bible into German.  Now the people of Germany could see, and try to understand, what the priests were saying.  This also helped Luther by showing the people that the 95 Thesis were valid points and should be followed. 



Guten Tag!

Hallo. My name is Jessica and I am a sophomore attending North Central College. I am studying Elementary Education with a minor in Reading, Special Education and Psychology. I have been wanting to go to on a D-Term trip so when I found out about this trip to Germany I did not waste any time. This would be the first time I have traveled to Europe and I look forward to the new experiences I will encounter.