The Bismarck Myth - Weimar Germany and the Legacy of the Iron Chancellor (Paperback)

Few statesmen in history have inspired the imagination of generations of Germans more than the founder of the Kaiserreich, Otto von Bismarck. The archetype of charismatic leadership, the Iron Chancellor maintained his pre-eminent position in the pantheon of Germany's political iconography for
much of the twentieth century.
Based on a large selection of primary sources, this book provides an insightful analysis of the Bismarck myth's profound impact on Germany's political culture. In particular, it investigates the ways in which that myth was used to undermine parliamentary democracy in Germany after the Great War,
paving the way for its replacement by authoritarian rule under an allegedly 'Bismarckian' charismatic leader, Adolf Hitler.
As one of the most powerful weapons of nationalist agitation against the Weimar Republic, the Bismarck myth was never contested. The nationalists' ideologically charged interpretation of Bismarck as the father of the German nation-state and model for future political decision-making clashed with
rivalling - and thoroughly critical - democratic and communist perceptions of the Iron Chancellor. The quarrel over Bismarck's legacy demonstrates how the clash of ideologies, particularly between 1918 and 1933, resulted in a highly political fight for the 'correct' and universal interpretation of
the German past.
Essential reading for anyone interested in modern German history, this book sheds new light on the Weimar Republic's struggle for survival and the reasons for its failure.

General

Imprint:	Oxford UniversityPress
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	Oxford Historical Monographs
Release date:	October 2007
First published:	December 2007
Authors:	Robert Gerwarth
Dimensions:	234 x 157 x 14mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	230
ISBN-13:	978-0-19-923689-3
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > European history > General Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political structure & processes > Political leaders & leadership Books > Humanities > History > World history > From 1900 > General Books > History > European history > General Books > History > World history > From 1900 > General
LSN:	0-19-923689-5
Barcode:	9780199236893

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