THE LITERATURE OF PANGERMANISM
The Literature of Pangermanism (I)
In my former article on "Pangermanism and the Eastern Question" I confined myself to an uncontroversial statement of the chief aims of the Pangerman movement and of the main lines of its historical development. A more complete treatment of the subject, however, would demand some reference to the principal writers and thinkers who have contributed to the formation and growth of that movement.
The literature of Pangermanism is one of enormous proportions. It treats of the past history and the future reorganisation of the whole world; it is tantamount to a philosophy of history and politics, a theory of nations and states, a treatise on the significance and value of man's whole evolution. When the range is so vast and all-embracing, it is not surprising to find that among the chief exponents of Pangermanism there are differences of opinion, not merely upon the details, but also upon the broad principles of policy. In my former article these differences of opinion were necessarily passed over, and only the main substance of the question was retained. The present article will be in the nature of a supplement or a bibliographical index, but only those books will be mentioned which are readily accessible to the general reader.
A general review of the doctrines laid down by the chief leaders of Pangermanism is given in Professor Charles Andler's "Les Origines du Pangermanisme (1800–1888)" and "Le Pangermanisme Continental sous Guillaume II (1888–1914)," 2nd edition, 1915. The Pangermans dealt with include Dietrich von Bülow (1757–1807), Ernst-Moritz Arndt (1769–1860), Friedrich-Ludwig Jahn (1778–1852), Friedrich List (1789–1846), Hellmuth von Moltke, Bismarck, Heinrich von Treitschke (1834–1896), Paul de Lagarde (1827–1891), Constantin Frantz (1817–1891), and a number of still living writers. M. Andler's method is to give a short account of each author's life and work, and then to expound his leading ideas in detail.
M. Andler correctly begins with the history of Pangermanism in the 18th century. It is noteworthy, however,
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