HÖLDERLIN;3219979 said:
The summary I read sounded very promising, so I ordered it, thank you very much!
Apart from the content, which could possibly be the credo for an intellectual, if that role admits anything as restrictive as a credo, you may find the historical context of the book amusing. It was, after all, written in 1927.
HÖLDERLIN;3219979 said:
Because the thesis that the "mastermind" Bismarck seeked a war with Denmark since 1862 was refuted a long time ago. He didn't acted - but reacted to the entirely incompetent foreign policy and national hubris of the manic-depressive Danish primeminister Monrad and his mentally deficient minister of war Lundbye. Not too long ago, the Dansh historian Tom Buk-Swienty released an interesting book about the incredible incompetence of the Danish leadership at that time. In time of conflict, the residents of Schleswig and Holstein always predominantly chose the German side since the establishment of the diocese Schleswig by Kaiser Otto l. in 947. The first German-Danish war was a revolution of the people with the goal of home rule.
The point must be conceded that there was very strong feeling at least in Holstein, perhaps to a lesser degree in Schleswig, for various historical and ethnic reasons, about their relations with Denmark. Having said that, we must also remember that administrative and constitutional arrangements in both duchies, still organised by Estate, were significantly behind those prevailing in Denmark proper. It was not as much a victory for the people as a victory for the local rulers of the people.
It is also useful to remember that, technically, Holstein was part of the (Holy Roman) Empire, Schleswig was not.
In addition, what you have termed the 'incredible incompetence' of the Danish leadership extended to its military. The retreat from the Dannevirke reflected poorly on their commander, de Meza. The Danes, as always, fought well, but were forced to defend every position without the flexibility of manoeuvre (an ironic play-forward to the German military situation in the last days of WWII), and paid the price.
Since the discussion started with Versailles, you will remember that Danish anger against German conscription of their young men in Schleswig, and the slaughter of those young men in the trenches, remained potent as recently as forty years ago.
Still on the subject of Versailles, Schleswig-Holstein continued to receive attention; at Versailles, some ethnic Danish pockets in Schleswig were returned to Denmark. Another black mark for Versailles.
But in essence, on the subject of the support of civilian people, especially those in the two duchies,kyou are right.
I would like to comment on the passage below separately.
However, at great risk of sounding condescending, it was astonishing to encounter such a thorough, detailed, nuanced familiarity with recent European history.
HÖLDERLIN;3219979 said:
You are talking about the Prussian-German war, right? If so, yes, because prospects of victory now were promising. But it would be rather foolish to think Aust,oreign policy saber-rattling. When the Spanish royal family declared a Hohenzollern as heir to the throne, the French foreign minister von Gramont spoke out a barely veiled threat of war, whereupon the Prussian king and prince withdraw their candidature. This already was a great French diplomatic win over Prussia. But instead of considering themselves satisfied, Gramont and the French nationalists now demanded an apology by the Prussian king and a guarantee to never again accept a Spanish succession to the throne. That has to be understood as an untold affront in it's temporal context. Now we probably both know about the Ems Dispatch but you are still aware that the French were the ones who, due to domestic politcal pressure, thereupon declared war on Prussia?
That is an interesting, almost funny parallel but I don't really follow it.
I will broadly ignore the reduction of the German Golden Twenties as some kind of "sick" Sodom and Gomorra and the depiction of Hitler as a German patriot in favor of the people who stated them. Just keep in mind that there will be a comedown to every rush - political craze being no exception.
