Otto von Bismarck and Germany Militarization (Legislative Formalization of the Military Reform in Germany in the 80s of the 19th century)

The history of Germany of the second half of the 19th century and the activities of Otto von Bismarck form an integral unit, provided we bear in mind the process of Germany becoming a centralized state. The author argues that the attainment of German unity could only be achieved on the paths of war with Austria and France. This implies why military reform in Germany has been given so much attention.

This study is focused on the second stage of military reform — the strengthening of the German army after the establishment of a centralized state. The author poses the question: if the “German issue” was resolved, what was the need for further armament? The Bismarck Government in 1874 and 1881 successfully sought from Parliament the adoption of septennat laws (seven years of funding for the army). But in 1887 the Parliament refused to extend the septennat. The author uses Bismarck’s collection of political speeches in the Reichstag as the main source of research. It is an important source of official origin, reflecting the approaches of not only of the subject of Bismarck’s legislative initiative, but also of Germany’s ruling elite.

A point of view about Bismarck as vehicle of Germanic militarism prevails in historical literature. As a result of the analysis of the debate on the draft law, the author concludes that Bismarck’s military policy was dictated not so much by the militaristic nature of his personality, but by the necessity of strengthening the military potential of Germany, surrounded by strong adversaries, to defend its sovereignty. For the further development of events, the Chancellor who had been removed from his office, cannot be held responsible. The tragedy of Bismarck-era Germany is expressed in the fact that he failed to prepare a successor capable of leading the country during a period of crisis.

1. Bismarck O. Mysli i vospominaniya [Thoughts and memories]. Moscow: State Socio-Economic Publishing House, 1940. Vol. 2. (In Russ.)

2. Veber M. Nasledie Bismarka [The legacy of Bismarck]. In: Veber M. Political works (1895—1919). Moscow: Praksis Publ.,: 2003.(In Russ.)

3. Vlasov NA. Voennoe zakonodatelstvo Bismarka posle obedineniya Germanii: 1871—1874 : avtoref. dis. ... kand. ist. nauk [Military legislation of Bismarck after the unification of Germany: 1871—1874: Cand. Sci. (Law) Author’s Abstract]. St. Petersburg; 2005. (In Russ.)

4. Yerusalimskiy AS. Bismark: diplomatiya i militarizm [Bismarck: Diplomacy and Militarism]. Moscow; 1968. (In Russ.)

5. Kostyaev EV. Vydelenie voennykh kreditov kayzerovskomu pravitelstvu v period Pervoy mirovoy voyny: lidery rossiyskoy sotsial-demokratii o pozitsii fraktsii SDPG v reykhstage [Allocation of military loans to the Kaiser government during World War I: leaders of the Russian social democracy on the position of the SPD faction in the Reichstag]. Bulletin of the Saratov State Socio-Economic University. 2009;2(26). (In Russ.)

6. Marks K., Engels F. Imperskiy voennyy zakon [Imperial Military Law]. Vol. 18. Pp. 482—490. (In Russ.)

7. Chuprova OV. Vzglyady O. Bismarka na rol i mesto zakonodatelnoy vlasti v Germanii vo vtoroy polovine XIX veka [The views of O. Bismarck on the role and place of the legislative power in Germany in the second half of the 19th century]. Gaps in Russian Legislation. 2009;4. (In Russ.)

8. Blanke H.-J. Deutsche Verfassungen. Dokumente zu Vergangenheit und Gegenwart. Padeborn—München— Zürich; 2003. (In Germ.)

9. Fürst Bismarck’s gesammelte Reden. Berlin: GlobusVerlag;1894. (In Germ.)

10. Haffner S. Von Bismarck zu Hitler. Ein Rückblick. München : Kindler Verlag; 1987. (In Germ.)

11. Puhle H.-J. Preußen: Entwicklung und Fehlentwicklung. Preußen im Rückblick : Geschichte und Gesellschaft. In: H.-J. Puhle, H.-U. Wehler. Sonderheft 6. Göttingen; 1980. (In Germ.)