Prostitution

Prostitution never fails to create riveting conversation.  The most ancient documented human career, the occupation of selling one’s body has seen increases and decreases with the evolution of society.  Following unification, accompanying a rapid rise in industrialism, imperial Germany has a drastic national increase in prostitution. This commonly viewed decay in morality cause much outrage from German citizens as they sought to tear prostitution from the conditions that so promoted it.  

In 1850 London and Paris were the only cities in Europe with a population exceeding half a million.  Both of these cities had prostitution on a large scale.  With the growth of German cities like Hamburg and Berlin, it is no surprise that they too had a boom in prostitution.  In our article on prostitution a stat is given that there no less than 330,000 prostitutes in Germany at the time of the first world war.  How did this occur.

Middle class anxiety throughout the 19th century, while composed of multiple factors, had roots in changes among sexual attitudes.  A more casual attitude towards sex was appalling to the vastly conservative generation.  By the end of the century revolutionary views on sexuality were being postulated by the incredibly influential German doctor Sigmund Freud.  His bold theories mark a paradigm shift in human reflection upon sex.

Industrialization undoubtedly led to an increase in prostitution.  A mass movement to the cities occurred in the late 19th century.  With an abundance of labor, and an increasing standard of living, a sizable supply and demand was created for this market to function.  This crude capitalism, vied by the Social Democratic Party as the epitome of what needed to be overthrown by revolution, was linked with Bourgeois values and seems likely to have added strength parties in opposition to the liberals.

The authorities were not fond having their cities filled with highly active brothels.  On the heels of unification, legislation was passed, under Clause 361/6 that allowed police to take captive and medically inspect anyone accused of being a prostitute.  Legislation like this was common reflection widespread distaste for this profession.  Unfortunately for the legislators they police authorities simply did not have the practical manpower or organization to keep a strict control on this immorality.

Changing attitudes towards sex, an intense period of urbanization, and a burgeoning capitalist market all helped to foster a prostitution in Imperial Germany.  Interesting is the response of the government and legislators as almost all forces united against this change in society.  The rise of the moral pressure groups is also of note.  I couldn’t help thinking of right winged groups in Washington pressing for stronger moral legislation.  The story of this period of prostitution is a lesson to be learned in human nature.  The negative backlash from the masses is an indicator to positively evolving moral compass ingrained in society, a society in which prostitution is now undeniably less acceptable than a century ago.

Kultukampf

Religion has been the most common identity among Western Europeans for the last several millennia, particularly Catholicism.  After its adoption, the Roman empire, with an abundance of brutality and a lack of respect for foreign beliefs, set a tone for a pattern of conversion.  This mindset determined the fate of the Western world.  As a result of the this mechanistic and hierarchical movement, organized religion in the 19th century had a prominent role in everyday life.  Pitted against one another philosophically, Catholic and Protestants lived had for centuries in strife.  With the unification of a Protestant German empire it is not surprising that Catholics received political backlash resulting in stifled individual liberties.  What remains interesting is how and why this change occurred in a newly founded constitutional state.

Flaunting his popularity, Bismarck led the way in the persecution of the Catholics.   The Catholics, as pointed out by Margaret Anderson, were a fairly liberal group of people.  She tells us that a distinct link between Catholicism and conservatism would be a complete misinterpretation of the actual scenario.  If the Catholics were believers in a political ideology shared by so many Protestants, why the persecution?  I find the answer in a simple, and subtle fear.  

With Rome’s secular influence over the world at an all time low, I ironically see this coupled by an increase in international political power. This political power lies in the relatively new European concept of the vote.  While the newly unified German empire did disproportionately represent its citizens, I would imagine that the sheer number of Catholics did not sit well with Bismarck and the ruling Protestants. 

Anderson’s approach to the discerning clerical influence on the vote appears to be less dangerous than those in strict Catholic opposition would liked to have believe.  Anderson does say that “pastors had sometimes conveyed their support for a candidate from the pulpit...hung around the polls.”  I believe that in this period in Germany people overwhelmingly, as is human nature, voted for socio-economic reasons.  However, being raised in a Catholic church I have been present at multiple homilies where a well respected priest has thrown his support behind a candidate, even to the point of insinuating mortal danger of the soul pending on the vote.  My personal experience, in much more secular world than could ever have been dreamed of 150 years ago, is the  incarnation of the Catholic’s struggle for power in the modern world.  Any institution composed of a substantial portion a nation’s population has inherent power.  Bismarck cleverly used the masses to exert tyranny against the German minority.   

I hypothesize that this fear inspired a sort of paranoia in Bismarck that comes so often with great power.  As a diplomat of his stature, he had little trouble exerting his will to see the growth of the Kulturkampf.  Unfortunately, this complex did not die out.  The ability of the German majority to have extreme prejudices fostered by the conservative national leaders eventually led to historical tragedy. 

Bismarck

Easily one of the most intriguing personalities I have ever crossed in my study of history, Otto Von Bismarck plays a most crucial role.  With about as legitimate a claim as would exist as the “father” of German unification, Bismarck changed Europe, and in turn the world, forever.  

Pegged in hindsight as a Bonapartist, Bismarck the Junker came from a highly privileged class.  While his political tactics may have been debated as controversial, it is undeniable that he had an uncanny vision.  His vision was crossed with the conventions of the time for a member of his status.  This cross was the byproduct of his “realpolitik,” a philosophy that has carried significant influence in Western society.  

Brought in as an answer to the rising liberal movement, Bismarck began by appeasing the majority, lulling them under his influence in his effort to create a successful “white revolution.”  His revolution from the top down materialized in 1863, with Prussia’s invasion of Denmark.  Regaining the duchy of Schleswig, a surge of nationalism arises, and his master plan moves along.

How I would have loved to have been present in a meeting with Bismarck and other Prussian officials as he architected a plan for innocent imperialism.  The brilliance of his plan is nothing short of awesome.  As I’m sure he would have expected, Austria declares war on Prussia, and also according to his plan, Prussia proves vastly superior on the battle field.  Nationalism again surges.

The created war with the French was one of aggression, built from years of animosity towards past empire, and one that morally and philosophically I totally disagree with.  With that being said the brilliance displayed in Bismarck’s cunning is nothing short of spectacular.  In an era of an emerging media, he successfully manages to manipulate not only the German states, but the French as well.  Once again the facade is created that the Germans are merely on the defensive, innocent in effect.

With the crushing defeat of the French, and the proclamation of the German empire, Bismarck etched his place in history.  The man behind the unification created the most powerful state in Europe, and most importantly an industrialized Europe.  Not wishing for a two sided war, Bismarck architected an intricate system of treaty’s. While preserving peace throughout his political career, diplomats of lesser skill would live to see these agreements deteriorate into the bloodiest conflict in human history. 

I would assert that no one character was more influential in the creation of the two world wars than Otto Von Bismarck.  The creation of an unnaturally powerful state, and a German identity had long reaching consequences that proved to be very severe.  My purpose in this summary of events is not to analyze what happened after Bismarck, but merely to state my awe to his political ability and his the almost unbelievable manner in which he changed the world.  Never again may the world see a character fill a role quite Bismarck, for better or for worse.