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Military Profiles
Hindenburg: Icon of German Militarism
With his victory over the Russian army at the battle of Tannenberg in August 1914, Paul von Hindenburg became a German national hero. By 1916 he had parlayed an exaggerated reputation for decisive victory into near dictatorial powers. After Germany's defeat at Verdun and War Minister Erich von Falkenhayn's dismissal, Hindenburg, along with his chief of staff Erich Ludendorff, took over strategic direction of the war. The eponymous Hindenburg Program attempted with some success to mobilize Germany's economy for war. He also oversaw many of Germany's most important wartime decisions, including the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare. Berhmann-Hollweig's dismissal as chancellor, Russia's defeat and negotiation of the Treat of Brest-Litovsk, and the "Ludendorff Offensives" of 1918, which sought decisive victory on the Western Front but ended in Germany's catastrophic defeat. After the war, Hindenburg played a crucial role in creating the Dolchstasslegende (the myth that the German Army had been "stabbed in the back" by a Jewish-Bolshevik conspiracy on the homefront), in leading Germany as president of the Weimar Republic, and, most tragically, in acquiescing to Adolf Hitler's rise to power.
133 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2005
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About the author
Dennis E. Showalter
42 books29 followersA specialist in German military history, Dennis E. Showalter was professor emeritus of history at Colorado College. He was president of the American Society for Military History from 1997 to 2001 and an advising fellow of the Barsanti Military History Center at the University of North Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 11, 2022
Mythologies demand heroes and villains, with memory often reserved for the younger and louder. Obsessed with Hitler and his overpowering megalomania, the world overlooks the one who exploited the popular need for idolatry, sowed the seeds of anti-semitism, and set precedents for stubborn autocracy.
If you want to dispassionately assess Hitler, you have to know Hindenburg.
If you want to dispassionately assess Hitler, you have to know Hindenburg.
November 25, 2019
A fragmented Prussia was united under Bismark as the German Empire (1871-90. German imperialism began when Bismark was removed as Chancellor (the position of head of government is appointed by Kaiser/emperor). Germany then entered into “a more bellicose phase” and “a quest for Weltpolitik (world power). Working within a European mindset of “survival of the fittest,” Germany viewed itself as “surrounded by enemies, hemmed in and oppressed.” The Germany military “believed wars were prosecuted best through battles of annihilation, with Geist or patriotic spirit,” and “selfless action manifested in the motto Ich diem (I serve), superior military skills, and inculcation of a war-winning spirit.”
It was in this cultural context that Hindenburg played out his historic role for Germany. Domination, not compromise and finesse, was his mindset. That, along with his personal vanity and the projection of himself as the strong leader, eventually led to the “cult of Hindenburg." He was, the author writes, the “indispensable man – the unimpeachable savior of the fatherland. Across Germany he had become an icon – a man believed to possess the strength of character, commanding presence, and will to prevail.” Hindenburg rose through the ranks to lead the WWI German war effort, which included economic mobilization and mandatory public service. His strategy included Uboat attacks on neutral shipping and attempts to bring Mexico into the war, which backfired on Germany as this induced the USA to enter the war. The book’s author argues that while Hindenburg could have backed off and negotiated a peace agreement, he would have none of this. His goal was domination and annihilation that, ironically, became German’s fate with the Treaty of Versailles.
Even so, the author writes that Hindenburg found a way to avoid blame for Germany's defeat. The icon of German militarism,” he writes, “proved amazingly resilient – a testament to Hindenburg’s gravitas, as well as the German people’s need for a noble figure who could uphold the nation’s dignity in defeat.” Germany became “vulnerable to soothingly simplistic propaganda. Far easier to believe a big lie – that radical socialists and war profiteers (especially of Jewish extraction) had betrayed Germany – than to accept the disturbing truth that Germany’s betrayers were its most renowned and respected leaders.”
Responding to the needs of the country in the 1920s, Hindenburg came out of retirement to become President of the Weimar Republic. Believing that socialists and Marxists and liberals were a threat, and believing in some form of “monarchical restoration” after the 1918 abdication of the Kaiser, he stoked the forces of resentment, fingered Jews as scapegoats, and stirred up hopes for renewed national glory. Hindenburg in 1933 appointed Hitler Chancellor. With Hindenburg’s death in 1934, “the Nazis combined the office of president and chancellor into one person: Hitler.”
It was in this cultural context that Hindenburg played out his historic role for Germany. Domination, not compromise and finesse, was his mindset. That, along with his personal vanity and the projection of himself as the strong leader, eventually led to the “cult of Hindenburg." He was, the author writes, the “indispensable man – the unimpeachable savior of the fatherland. Across Germany he had become an icon – a man believed to possess the strength of character, commanding presence, and will to prevail.” Hindenburg rose through the ranks to lead the WWI German war effort, which included economic mobilization and mandatory public service. His strategy included Uboat attacks on neutral shipping and attempts to bring Mexico into the war, which backfired on Germany as this induced the USA to enter the war. The book’s author argues that while Hindenburg could have backed off and negotiated a peace agreement, he would have none of this. His goal was domination and annihilation that, ironically, became German’s fate with the Treaty of Versailles.
Even so, the author writes that Hindenburg found a way to avoid blame for Germany's defeat. The icon of German militarism,” he writes, “proved amazingly resilient – a testament to Hindenburg’s gravitas, as well as the German people’s need for a noble figure who could uphold the nation’s dignity in defeat.” Germany became “vulnerable to soothingly simplistic propaganda. Far easier to believe a big lie – that radical socialists and war profiteers (especially of Jewish extraction) had betrayed Germany – than to accept the disturbing truth that Germany’s betrayers were its most renowned and respected leaders.”
Responding to the needs of the country in the 1920s, Hindenburg came out of retirement to become President of the Weimar Republic. Believing that socialists and Marxists and liberals were a threat, and believing in some form of “monarchical restoration” after the 1918 abdication of the Kaiser, he stoked the forces of resentment, fingered Jews as scapegoats, and stirred up hopes for renewed national glory. Hindenburg in 1933 appointed Hitler Chancellor. With Hindenburg’s death in 1934, “the Nazis combined the office of president and chancellor into one person: Hitler.”
March 1, 2026
An excellent short introduction to a somewhat forgotten but pivotal military and political figure. Showalter and Astore provide a solid and scathing analysis of Hindenburg's many faults while acknowledging his chief virtue - the ability to project calm and certainty in all circumstances. This work is valuable both to military historians and those studying the rise of Nazism in Germany.
November 5, 2018
Hindenburg seems like an unpleasant character.
August 29, 2022
A lot of details behind this German General. He made HItler the leader of Germany more than I thought.
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August 31, 2010Excellent summary of Hindenburg and his influence on military and political events in early 20th century Germany
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May 9, 2011Excellent, concise history of the man.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews