Heinrich
von Treitschke, the son of an army officer, was born in Dresden, Germany,
on 15th September, 1834. He studied at Bonn, Leipzig, Tubingen and
Heildelberg and taught
at Freiburg (1863), Kiel (1866), Heidelberg (1867) and Berlin (1874).
As
a young man Treitschke
held liberal views and wanted to see the introduction of a parliamentary
democracy. However, as he grew older he became a strident nationalist.
This included the desire for a united Germany under Prussian leadership.
In 1871 he was elected to the Reichstag.
Treitschke's
right wing political opinions was reflected in his history writings
and the editing of the monthly journal, Preussische
Jahrbucher (1866-1889). Later
he became editor of Historische Zeitschrift.
As
a strong advocate of colonial expansion Treitschke
was
also a bitter enemy of Great Britain and was to a large extent responsible
for the anti-British feeling in Germany.
Treitschke
passionately admired Otto
von Bismarck. He
was also strongly anti-Semitic and influenced German politicians such
as Adolf Hitler. He also passionately
admired Otto von Bismarck.
Treitschke
was
a highly patriotic historian. His
most important book was the History of Germany
in the 19th Century. The first volume was published in
1879. In this book he argued that Germany should develop a powerful
empire. He also insisted that war would be necessary to achieve and
control this territory. He wrote: "War
is elevating, because the individual disappears before the great conception
of the state... What a perversion of morality to wish to abolish heroism
among men!"
In
1886 Treitschke was
appointed the official historiographer of Prussia. Other books by
Treitschke include the Origins of Prussianism
and Political Lectures.
Heinrich
von Treitschke died
in 1896.
(1)
Heinrich
von Treitschke,
History of Germany in the 19th Century (1879)
War is elevating, because the individual disappears
before the great conception of the state. . . . What a perversion
of morality to wish to abolish heroism among men!
(2)
Heinrich
von Treitschke,
History of Germany in the 19th Century (1879)
God will see to it that war always recurs as a drastic
medicine for the human race.
(3)
Heinrich
von Treitschke,
History of Germany in the 19th Century (1879)
Without
war no State could be. All those we know of arose through war, and
the protection of their members by armed force remains their primary
and essential task. War, therefore, will endure to the end of history,
as long as there is a multiplicity of states.
(4)
Heinrich
von Treitschke,
History of Germany in the 19th Century (1879)
Millions
must plough and forge and dig in order that a few thousand may write
and paint and study.
(5)
Heinrich
von Treitschke,
Political Lectures (1896)
If it is stated that the emigration of Germans to
America is beneficial for Germany, then this is stupid statement.
What was the benefit for Germany in thousands of its best sons, who
could not make a living in their home region, to turn their backs
on their fatherland? They were lost forever... Almost a third of the
North American population is of German ancestry. How many of the most
valuable forces did we lose due to emigration, and do we continue
to lose day by day, without even the most minute compensation. Both
their labour and their capital are lost to us. What immeasurable financial
advantages would these people offer us as colonials.
So any colonization which
preserves the original nationality has become a factor of immense
importance for the future of the world. On it it will depend in how
far every nation will join in the white race's rule over the world;
it is very well imaginable, that once a land without colonies will
not be ranked any more among Europe's powers, no matter how powerful
it may be otherwise. So we may not fall into the condition of paralyzation,
which is the consequence of a foreign policy exclusively oriented
on the continent, and the result of our next successful war has to
be the acquisition of any colony.
(6)
Encyclopedia Britannica (1911)
As
an historian Treitschke holds a very high place. He approached history
as a politician and confined himself to those periods and characters
in which great political problems were being worked out: above all,
he was a patriotic historian, and he never wandered far from Prussia.
His great achievement was the History of Germany in the Nineteenth
Century. The first volume was published in 1879, and during the next
sixteen years four more volumes appeared, but at his death he had
only advanced to the year 1847. The work shows extreme diligence,
and scrupulous care in the use of authorities. It is discursive and
badly arranged, but it is marked by a power of style, a vigour of
narrative, and a skill in delineation of character which give life
to the most unattractive period of German history; notwithstanding
the extreme spirit of partisanship and some faults of taste, it will
remain a remarkable monument of literary ability. Besides this he
wrote a number of biographical and historical essays, as well as numerous
articles and papers on contemporary politics, of which some are valuable
contributions to political thought.
(7)
Rudolf
Steiner, The Story of My Life (1924)
Among
the visitors to Weimar was Heinrich von Treitschke. I had the opportunity
of meeting him when Suphan included me among the guests invited to
meet Treitschke at luncheon.
I received a deep impression
from this very controversial personality. Treitschke was quite deaf.
Others conversed with him by writing whatever they wished to say on
a little tablet which Treitschke would hand them. The effect of this
was that in any company where he chanced to be his person became the
central point. When one had written down something, he then talked
about this without the development of a real conversation.
He was present in a far
more intensive way for the others than were these for him. This had
passed over into his whole attitude of mind. He spoke without having
to reckon upon objections such as meet another when imparting his
thoughts in a group of men. It could clearly be seen how this fact
had fixed its roots in his self-consciousness. Since he could not
hear any opposition to his thoughts, he was strongly impressed with
the worth of what he himself thought.
The first question that
Treitschke addressed to me was to ask where I came from. I replied
that I was an Austrian. Treitschke responded: “The Austrians
are either entirely good and gifted men, or else rascals.” He
said such things as this, and one became aware that the loneliness
in which his mind dwelt because of the deafness drove him to paradoxes,
and found in these a satisfaction.
Luncheon guests usually
remained at Suphan's the whole afternoon. So it was this time also
when Treitschke was among them. One could see this personality unfold
itself. The broad-shouldered man had something in his spiritual personality
also through which he impressed himself upon a wide circle of his
fellowmen.
One could not say that
Treitschke lectured. For everything he said bore a personal character.
An earnest craving to express himself was manifest in every word.
How commanding was his tone even when he was only narrating something!
He wished his words to lay hold upon the emotions of the other person
also. An unusual fire which sparkled from his eyes accompanied his
assertions.
The conversation touched
upon Moltke's conception of the world as this had found expression
in his memoirs. Treitschke objected to the impersonal way - suggestive
of mathematical thinking – in which Moltke conceived world-phenomena.
He could not judge things otherwise than with a ground-tone of strongly
personal sympathies and antipathies.
Men like Treitschke, who
stick so fast in their own personalities, can make an impression on
other men only when the personal element is at the same time both
significant and also interwoven deeply with the things they are setting
forth. This was true of Treitschke. When he spoke of something historical,
he discoursed as if everything were in the present and he were at
hand with all his pleasure and all his displeasure.
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