The German Empire: A Short History

by Michael Stürmer

In a remarkably vibrant narrative, Michael Stürmer blends high politics, social history, portraiture, and an unparalleled command of military and economic developments to tell the story of Germany’s breakneck rise from new nation to Continental superpower. It begins with the German military’s greatest triumph, the Franco-Prussian War, and then tracks the forces of unification, industrialization, colonization, and militarization as they combined to propel Germany to become the force that fatally destabilized Europe’s balance of power. Without The German Empire ’s masterly rendering of this story, a full understanding of the roots of World War I and World War II is impossible.

Genres: History, Germany, Nonfiction, European History, World War I, World History, School

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 14, 2000

Reviews

[Lauren Albert · Rating 2 out of 5]

These Modern Library books are clearly supposed to be introductions to the topics--hence the short length. Someone clearly didn't explain this to Dr. Sturmer. For instance, he doesn't stop to lay out the different political entities and their relationships to each other even though this is the most confusing part of the topic. He uses words like "Junker" without explaining them--they were the landed nobility--as well as using foreign phrases without offering interpretations. He also makes connections without explaining them. For example, at one point he says that though the wealthy didn't want the Navy to be expanded, they were happy because of increased protective tariffs. Does he mean that they still didn't want the expansion but looked the other way because of a "bribe" or was there some other connection between the navy and tariffs? Altogether a more confusing than enlightening experience.

[Emmanuel-francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for its taut and masterful narrative. I could ask for no better short introduction. The fate of the Second Reich is worthy of reflection as it gives us our most recent example of the transition between rising powers. It is often assumed that Britain was in decline while Germany was rising. That idea is not examined here, but I am less inclined to accept that view. I daresay that the real contest was between Germany and a Russia about to supersede her. Britain, France, Italy and the United States were sideshows to events. Those two were the protagonists. If they had retained their amity, World War I might very well not have happened. I am surprised that their mutual reliance was not more obvious to Germans and Russians. Those whom the gods would ruin they first make mad. Thus the Russians and Germans took turns being better friends with the British than each other despite their common interest in undermining British power.

This book makes clear the importance of a well-ordered near abroad to the preservation of State power. Vital reading in fraught times.

Longer review: https://knowledgeworks.quora.com/Sieg...

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I opened this book, the only names I knew were Bismarck and the Kaiser. And my knowledge of those two was, to be generous, vague. Sturmer's book is an excellent introduction to the German empire. For such a brief book, Sturmer does a commendable job of giving clarity to a period too often only hazily understood by readers in the U.S. Maybe the most intriguing part was a brief sketch of the hapless Caprivi, who succeeded Bismarck. A reasonable case can be made that had Caprivi not been forced out, Germany could have become a peaceful pillar of a stable Europe into the twentieth century, instead of becoming an uncertain power with an unclear purpose.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highly informative but very dry. I really had to slog my way through it. The writer presents the bare facts, which is fine, but I can't really get into a history unless the historian can bring the characters from history alive. I did find that I wanted to know more about Bismarck after reading this history.

Also, the writer's account of the lead up to WWI and the aftermath was thorough and interesting. For the rest, though, it was a slog.

[Kevin Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

For almost 50 years there was a German Empire. Most forget that. When we think of Germany and it's history, most think about 1930's & '40's. Or the Holy Roman Empire. This was a good reminder that history is a report on a continuing flow of time. You just have to focus on it at different times. To learn and remember other times as well. Just think of the peace that Europe experienced during the 40 plus years between 1872 and 1914. Also think about how it could have continued if they all had just taken a step back... very enjoyable and recommended.

[Erik Ryberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual with this series, there is a good deal of information condensed into a quite readable text. This one gives a good overview of early German nation history which will interest the reader as the discussion of German unity, arts and industry as well as politics is briskly covered. A good idea for someone going to visit or live in Germany to help investigate further. Also, helpful for the student seeking to have context of Germany in the early 20th century and to make connections today.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learnt a lot from this small work although having access to Google helped as the author assumes more basic knowledge than I had. Overall a good introduction to understand the formation of modern Germany and the political and social changes that lead to it.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with one of the other reviewers that it was dry.

[Chris Jemanji · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good into to German history mid 1800s to WW1. Mis-treats communism and socialism, but otherwise solid.

[Nathaniel Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to the history of the German Empire

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some kind of wunderbar this ain't. And while I didn't hate this enough to put it down in disgust, I also came away underwhelmed. The best chapter is about the founding and almost immediate foundering of the Weimar Republic, which Sturmer bathes in an idealistic and quite interesting light. Bismarck is (of course) a main character; Hitler makes his expected cameo appearance at the end. But the personality was in short shrift - the Kaiser (a fascinating figure) gets barely any mention relatively speaking. I suppose the very nature of this type of book, named right from the beginning as "short history" means that many, many things of interest and importance, both major and minor, must needs be left out. But even short histories can be fascinating little studies (see Ronald Reagan). This fell short of fascinating by several notches.

[Seb Zein · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Frustrating" is the operative word. Brevity is a virtue, but the attempt to condense 60 years of history into 120 pages leaves too much unexplained for the unfamiliar reader, yet too little room for fresh insights to be enjoyed by the knowledgeable reader.

The little space there is isn't even made particularly good use of. Walter Rathenau's writings on achieving European peace through integration are fascinating, but do they really warrant as much space as Bismarck's unification wars?

Important topics that do receive the space they deserve, such as the evolution of German society and life, offer a glimpse of what could have been had the project been more fleshed-out. Sturmer's personal views about certain players are well-supported and expressed, but all too rare to add much value to an otherwise uneven effort.

[Brian]

A very long essay makes for a rather short book of history. If you don't have a bit of an overview of what happened during the time period covered, you'll quickly get lost. Stürmer offers loads of opinion, some of it rather witty, most of it rather interesting. Not being very well-read about this time and place, I can't say how much of it is novel. This is actually the second time that I've read this book. I breezed through it the first time and by the time I got to the end, I realized that I couldn't remember much of anything that I'd read. More of it has stuck this time. Quite good,but not sure that it's absolutely essential.

[Chase Parsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but not great summary of Germany's formative years (Bismarck to WWI). I would have preferred that Sturmer "dumbed-down" this account a notch; many other Modern Library Chronicles books I have read have done this far better. Many aspects of the book are explained while assuming the reader has a lot of previous knowledge.

Otherwise, Sturmer does a very good job in his account of the history of Germany during this era; Germany industrializes rapidly and becomes a formidable world power in a very short amount of time. Just be ready to look some things up on your own unless if you already have a very solid understanding of this era.

[Zepp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much 'Revolution from Above.' This reads like excerpts from a longer book, with certain themes (in emphasis and number of pages) way out of proportion. His section on the First World War was fantastic.
Check out Richie's chapters on Red Berlin, Imperial Berlin and the Road to the First World War for a better paced and wider-ranging, though less analytical, perspective.

[Zepp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much 'Revolution from Above.' This reads like excerpts from a longer book, with certain themes (in emphasis and number of pages) way out of proportion. His section on the First World War was fantastic.
Check out Richie's chapters on Red Berlin, Imperial Berlin and the Road to the First World War for a better paced and wider-ranging, though less analytical, perspective.

[doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides great insight onto the workings of the German Empire until the end of the first World War. It's a small book, and though I would have liked more information about certain events and periods, this is a great primer to the events and politics that lay before the Weimar Republic and Hitler's Third Reich.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not advised to one without some background on German History, if one has this background, this is wonderful concise review the rise and fall of the Second Reich. The book covers Bismarck-Wilhelm II-Weimar, while also covering a fair amount of social history. Also contains a helpful chronology, a list of key figures, and a number of black and white maps.

[Regitze Xenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I read this as part of my study and it isn't a book I would have picked up if I didn't need to. However, it was surprisingly interesting, although it seemed to me to jump a lot in time and place, thus making the reading a bit confusing. Only 2 stas, because again, it isn't a book I really read because I wanted to, but because I had to.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

is a magnificent book on the era of Bismarck(1871) as Prussia was the creator of the German Empire and became the main cultural , economic , scientific and military power in the world ,in the first decade of XX century.iIn my opinion is essential.

[Akrabar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, succinct and very well written account of the rise of Germany as a major technological and political powerhouse in the 19th and early 20th century. Strongly recommended for those who wish to understand the history behind the roller-coaster like rise, fall and rise of Germany.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly didn't think this would be so interesting. You can't understand 20th Century international relations without understanding Germany's rise to power. And Sturmer tells it well.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief history of the period. I enjoyed it.

[Peter Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong, concise history of German Imperial nationalism that goes deeper than the usual characterization of colonization and militarization.

[Marcus Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, short history of the German Empire. Detailed enough to be informative but fast moving so as to not get bogged down.