Charly Liss

HIST 486

Exam 1

2-1-17

Following World War I, central- eastern Europe was thrown into a state of

instability, both socially and politically. The war, a loss for Austria, Hungary and

Germany, resulted in an embarrassment in their national pride. The combination of

losing the war and pride proved to be detrimental in the following interwar period.

The loss in World War I resulted in the defeated nations scrambling to create a

national identity that represented a stronger future—envisioning a homogenous

population, with no minorities. The need to create a nation of racial and religious

homogeneity in all three countries grew increasingly violent and unstable.

Immediately following the war, nations across Europe, specifically in Austria,

Hungary, and Germany experienced high inflation, leading to poverty and

malnutrition.1 Albert D., a doctor, had his practice following the war be effected by

inflation. He and other doctors experienced extreme delays in payment that once

they were finally paid, the money was worthless.2 The high inflation, caused by the

aftermath of the war, heightened new tensions and issues within the countries. High

inflation caused poverty. Many central- eastern Europeans became impoverished.

Maria K., an educated German, became a forager in search for food. Desperation ran

across Germany. What used to be taboo, illegal foraging and “hamstring” quickly

1
Mary Fulbrook, “Uncomfortable compatriots: Societal violence and the crises
of Weimar.” in Dissonant Lives, 52-95. Oxford, 2011.
2
Fulbrook, 61
became a societal norm. The war positioned people into surviving life, not living it. 3

Malnutrition and the Spanish flu pandemic occurred concurrently with the inflation

crisis. People did not have the means to buy food, becoming weaker, becoming

susceptible to illnesses like the Spanish flu. The immediate effects of World War I,

the loss of social class and the security it brought, added to the embarrassment of

being labeled losers internationally. The instability and shame felt continued into

the racial identity and its importance.

The dissolution of Austria- Hungary and Germany was destabilizing because

the central- eastern region of Europe became a zone of racial and religious violence.

Prior to World War I, three ideologies set the stage for violence. Socialism began as

a movement that would increase peace and harmony between people and

government. The original socialist platform transformed into a branch where the

state repressed against organized labor, becoming violent in the process. 4 Colonial

imperialism repressed people deemed inferior by the government. Imperialism

used force to subject people to their rule, for example, Germany’s involvement in

Scramble for Africa. The use of repression and force was again seen in nationalist

ideology. Nationalist ideologies attacked minorities within their borders. The three

ideologies set a dangerous precedent on the notion of superiority. 5 Superiority

equated to total subjugation of minorities and dissents.

Austria, Hungary and Germany focused their efforts post- war on creating a

national identity. No room for any minorities. People of a non- Christian religion
3
Fulbrook, 62
4
Ian Kershaw,"War and Political Violence in Twentieth-Century Europe." In
Contemporary European History 14, no. 1 (2005): 107-23.
5
Kershaw, 111-2
were targeted as well as people who identified themselves as homosexual, among

others. The three nations wanted to create their own identity with people deemed

worthy. People who represented what an ideal European looks and acts like.

The minority problem emerged in after World War I because of the

relationship between nationalism and borders. The distribution of ethnicities

across Eastern Europe was uneven and complex. Creating well- defined borders for

each ethnicity was near impossible.6 People like the Jews and gypsies did not have

the option of forming their own nation- state because they had no national land to

call home. Minorities’ disrupted attempts of creating a stable nation and national

identity.

Violence in attempts to purify their countries soon emerged. Forced

assimilation or forced emigration was working. Violence was the solution. Mary

Fulbrook made an analysis in her book, Dissonant Lives, that violence was bound to

happen after the war. Germany romanticized violence. War was seen as a beautiful

act to be involved in, it was their duty to serve, kill, and even die for their country.

The war- youth generation, the men who were too young to fight in the first war,

were heavily influenced and motivated by Germany’s loss.7 They wanted to avenge

their country and seek redemption in the eyes of the world. Violence was ingrained

in their minds as a way to seek their means.

6
Mark Mazower, “Empires, Nations, and Minorities.” in Dark continent: Europe's
twentieth century., 41-75, n.p.: New York : A.A. Knopf: Distributed by Random
House, 1999.
7
Fulbrook, 52-4
 The interwar period saw extreme prejudice and violence. “Ultra- violence”

was projected unto Jewish people the most.8 Jews became the scapegoat for all that

went wrong after the war. Judaism was evidence of a spiritual decay, because it

threatened the sanctity of Christianity. In an attempt to further separate from Jews,

Germans and other Europeans created a “Jewish conspiracy”. They conspired that

Judaism had strong ties to Bolshevism and Communism and that it justified “ultra-

violence” used against them.9

The loss in World War I was the start of the end of Eastern Europe. Austria,

Hungary and Germany lost hard. They faced global embarrassment and immediate

instability following the war. The dissolution of Austria- Hungary and Germany was

devastating in Europe and globally because of the extreme violence that followed.

The violence did not remain in its ill- defined borders, instead effecting nations

everywhere. The violence following the dissolution proved to be a roadblock to ever

achieving stability. The glamorization of violence in Germany and mass hatred in

Austria, Hungary, it was impossible to ignore. Minorities, who had the means to, fled

to bordering countries that would take them in. The violence in Eastern Europe

grew to a point where it was no longer ignorable. The hatred felt by Germany,

Austria, and Hungary after losing was projected onto minorities. They made it

impossible for their government to find stability. The interwar period became a

crisis period.
8
Paul A. Hanebrink, “The Redemption of Christian Hungary, 1919-1921” in In
the defense of Christian Hungary: religion, nationalism, and anti-Semitism, 1890-
1944”, 77-107. Ithaca, 2006.
9
Robert Gerwarth, The Central European Counter-Revolution: Paramilitary
Violence in Germany, Austria and Hungary after the Great War, Past & Present,
no. 200 (2008): 175-209.
Bibliography

Fulbrook, Mary, “Uncomfortable compatriots: Societal violence and the crises of

Weimar.” in Dissonant Lives, 52-95. Oxford, 2011.

Gerwarth, Robert, The Central European Counter-Revolution: Paramilitary Violence in

Germany, Austria and Hungary after the Great War, Past & Present, no. 200

(2008): 175-209.
Hanebrink, Paul A., “The Redemption of Christian Hungary, 1919-1921” in In the

defense of Christian Hungary: religion, nationalism, and anti-Semitism, 1890-

1944”, 77-107. Ithaca, 2006.

Kershaw, Ian,"War and Political Violence in Twentieth-Century Europe." In

Contemporary European History 14, no. 1 (2005): 107-23.

Mazower, Mark, “Empires, Nations, and Minorities.” in Dark continent: Europe's

twentieth century., 41-75, n.p.: New York : A.A. Knopf: Distributed by Random

House, 1999.