An Insight to Peter Fritzsche's "Germans into Nazis"

Many historians form their opinions of why and how dates cause dramatic historical events over the course of many centuries. For example, most historians believe Nazism began when the German military was defeated in 1918 which caused the uprising of Nazis in Germany. One historian however believed that this was not the case of how Nazism began in Germany. Peter Fritzsche states his argument in his book “Germans into Nazis,” he describes how Germans became Nazis on their own accord.
Fritzsche pin points in his argument that Nazism began precisely in August 1914 when Germans are clearly unified for the first time. This moment was referred to as “August Days” when the declaration of war caused a huge unity within the nation or “Volk” in Germany. Fritzsche states in his book how Hitler was among the Germans uniting for the war during 1914. “As Hitler himself reported, the declaration of war produced a sense of Germanness that filled him with ecstasy. … In his eyes the summer of 1914 was truly historic because it has created a new historical subject in world history—the German Volk—one unencumbered by the past history and past inequities and finally unified to claim its imperial destiny.” (Fritzsche, 07) Fritzsche further discusses that as the war effort continues for a couple years and the once unified nation begins dividing through politics. “… wartime censorship laws were relaxed and vigorous debates on war aims, unrestricted submarine warfare, and suffrage reform followed, revealing more clearly the political divisions of the German people, but also enlarging the parts they played in the political process. From Left to Right citizens mustered themselves in politics….” (Frizsche, 63,64) I feel that Frizsche’s argument is partially true. The “August Days” when Germans are unified for the first time and supporting the war effort could be considered the beginning influence of Nazism, but not necessarily the defining moment of Nazism.

Regulation of Prostitution and Cause of the War

Regulation of Prostitution
I found Richard Evans’ article entitled “PROSTITUION, STATE AND SOCIETY IN IMPERAL GERMANY”, had an interesting perspective about the interrelations between prostitution, state and society. The concept of regulating something such as prostitution during the nineteenth century is much like “trying” to regulate illegally downloaded music today. Meaning it is simply impossible to keep up with whom is doing what in every city. Evans’ article discusses how most cities attempted to regulate prostitution by registering the prostitutes under two specific clauses from the Imperial Criminal Code. “Clause 361/6 empowered the police to arrest and subject to a medical examination anyone the suspected of being a prostitute. Clause 180, whose implications were in contradiction to Clause 361/6, decreed that anyone who provided through his own agency an opportunity for the exercise of prostitution and so countenanced and furthered it, would be imprisoned.” The police were monitoring the prostitutes under Clause 361/6 and prostitutes could continue this lifestyle as long as they were registered and in the so called “red light districts.” On the other hand, according to Clause 180 procurers were to be imprisoned if they were caught providing opportunities for prostitution to occur. This is why I think that regulating prostitution is simply impossible, because most prostitutes are not willing to register. Many of these women were trying their best to maintain their households not making a living through prostitution. Therefore, the police were exposed to a partial view of the prostitution in Germany during the nineteenth century.
Cause of the War
I found David Kaiser’s article entitled “Germany and the Origins of the First World War”, had another interesting perspective about who really caused the First World War. Kaiser mentions how other historians believe the First World War was caused by Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg because he had ordered that the war should occur. It is true that he did order that the war should occur after being opposed to it prior to 1914. Kaiser argues that it was society’s actions which led to the war. Bethmann’s actions were actually the aftermath of society not participating in earlier elections. Kaiser describes that Bethmann’s actions were last resort and the people of Germany “needed” a war. I agree with Kaiser’s argument and feel that if society does not work together to make a country unified then the society will suffer with struggles such as war.