Analysis Of Germa German Nationalism: Germany By Stefan Berger

Even though Germanic tradition stems back to the 14th and 15th centuries, the German nation is relatively young. During its brief history, Germans were faced with the question of what constituted their own identity. Nationalism became a tool for the major players during the creation of the German State, and would later become deeply entrenched in the cultural mind. Nationalism served many masters, and could be used for the greater good, or sheer destruction. Nationalism storied past in Germany makes the modern state cautious when confronting national sentiments. Germans dark past has created a movement of Europeanization today. But in oder to better understand the modern German state, it is important look to how nationalism lead to its creation, and the ultimate affect it would have on the German people.

In his work, Berger looks to five major themes such as gendering, creation of enemies, exclusion, war, and economic standing to have played a crucial role in the creation of the German State. All of these themes have a nationalists undertones. Berger works these themes into the main watersheds of German history. He traces their development from the 15th century, the creation of the State, the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, and the German partition. This paper will examine each of the themes major themes separately, and following them though the various watersheds of Germany history. But before a deeper examinations of the themes presented in Germany can be examined, it is important to gain a better understanding of how nationalism played a role in the creation of the German state. This will better help to center the complex idea of Berger’s