PAN-SLAVISM VERSUS PAN-GERMANISM
Russia’s Part in the Servian Issue—Strength of the Russian Army—The
Distribution of the Slavs—Origin of Pan-Slavism—The Czar’s
Proclamation—The Teutons of Europe—Intermingling of Races—The Nations
at War
Pan-Slavism against Pan-Germanism was the issue which was launched when
the Emperor of all the Russias took up Servia’s quarrel with
Austria-Hungary. Russia, if she wanted a ground for war, could have
found no better one. The popularity of her aggressive big-brother
attitude to all the Slavs was quickly attested in St. Petersburg. It
had been a long time since war had appealed with the same favor to so
large a part of the Czar’s people. Slavs there were in plenty to menace
the allied German Powers, even if there were not allied French arms, on
Germany’s other flank, and Britain’s naval supremacy to cope with.
Slavs in past times had spread over all of eastern Europe, from the
Arctic to the Adriatic and the Aegean Seas. Their continuity was long
ago broken into by an intrusion of Magyars. Finns, and Roumanians,
leaving a northern Slavic section composed of North Russians, Poles,
Czechs, and Slovaks, and a southern section comprising the main body of
the Balkan people. For over a thousand years these Slavs have peopled
Europe east of the Elbe River. And for centuries they kept the hordes
of Cossacks, Turks and barbarians off Europe. Russia in those days was
called “the nation of the sword.” And over a hundred years ago that
sword was drawn for Servia. After 400 years of vassalage to Turkey, the
Serbs rebelled in 1804, and then only Russian intervention saved them
from defeat. In later wars oppression of the Slavs was a prominent
issue.
RUSSIA’S PART IN THE SERVIAN ISSUE
What rendered the Russian menace so formidable at the opening of the
1914 war was the unusual enthusiasm which was displayed. Ordinarily,
the huge population of Russia has been rather apathetic toward the
purposes of the Emperor. But in the case of Austria’s injustice to
Servia the Czar, judging from the demonstrations in St. Petersburg,
could reasonably count upon having behind him possibly 100,000,000
Slavs among his subjects. Moscow and Odessa gave similar demonstrations
of good feeling, and it seemed as if, in the event of the Czar’s
assuming command as generalissimo of all the forces, the wave of
enthusiasm would sweep over the whole empire. Who knows that is the
strength of the Russian bear, once he is roused to sullen fury? In the
ten years following the Russo-Japanese War Russia had greatly added to
her army and navy, and materially cut down the time required for the
mobilization of her forces by eliminating many of the difficulties
attendant upon transportation and equipment of troops. Her quiet
advances toward becoming a Power to be feared by the most formidable
European Nation had come to be recognized even if in a vague way.
In considering the potential strength of the armies which Russia, in
the course of a long war, might put in the field, it may be pointed out
that military service in that empire of more than 160,000,000 people is
universal and compulsory. Service under the flag begins at the age of
twenty and lasts for twenty-three years. Usually it is proportioned as
follows: Three or four years in the active army, fourteen or fifteen in
the Zapas, or first reserve, and five years in the Opolchenie, or
second reserve. For the Cossacks, those fighters who are a conspicuous
element of Russia’s military strength, there is hardly a cessation in
discipline during their early manhood. Holding their lands by military
tenure, they are liable to service for life. Furnishing their own
equipment and horses—the Cossack is almost invariably a cavalryman—they
pass through three periods of four years each, with diminishing duties,
until they wind up in the reserve, which is liable to be called into
the field in time of war.
STRENGTH OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY
Russia’s field army consists of three powerful divisions—the army of
European Russia, the army of Asia, already referred to, and the army of
the Caucasus. The European Russian field army consists of twenty-seven
army corps—each corps comprising, at fighting strength, about 36,000
men—and some twenty-odd cavalry divisions, of 4,000 horsemen each. With
the field army of the Caucasus and the first and second reserve
divisions of the Cossacks, the total would be brought to nearly
1,600,000 men. With the Asiatic army, the grand total, according to the
latest figures, would give the Russian armies a fighting strength of
1,850,000 men, of whom it would be practicable to assemble, say,
1,200,000 in a single theater of war. With respect to the armies which
could be put in the field in time of urgent demand, there are
conflicting estimates. It seems certain that Russia’s war strength is
more than 5,500,000 men, but, of course, the train service and the
artillery for such a force is lacking. Two and three-quarter million
men could probably be mustered at one time.
In the event of a prolonged war, in which the tide of affairs should
put Russia strictly on the defensive, she would be less easily invaded
than any large country of Europe. The very extent of her empire,
protected by natural barriers at almost every side save where she
touches Northeast Europe, would present almost insuperable difficulties
to the invader. Napoleon paid dearly for his fortitude in pushing his
columns into Moscow. The only conditions under which a repetition of
such a feat is conceivable were not likely to be found during a general
European struggle.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE SLAVS
To make matters worse for the Austrian or German invader, there are
conflicting relations between their own people and the Russians. The
Polish provinces, for instance, however unfriendly toward Russia, as
one of the dismemberers of the Polish kingdom, are strongly bound in
blood and speech to the Russian nation. The Poles and Russians are
brother Slavs, and are likely to remember this in any conflict which
approaches an issue between Pan-Germanism and Pan-Slavism. The Poles of
East Prussia have an ingrained hatred of their German masters and have
been embittered by political oppression almost to the point of revolt.
Those along Austria’s eastern border are little less bitter.
The estimate is made that Europe contains in all about 140,000,000
Slavs, this being the most numerous race on the continent, the Teutons
ranking second. While the great bulk of these are natives of Russia,
they have penetrated in large numbers to the west and south, and are to
be found abundantly in the Balkan region, in the Austrian realm, and in
the region of the disintegrated kingdom of Poland.
According to recent authoritative statistics the race question in
Austria-Hungary is decidedly complicated and diversified. In the
kingdoms and provinces represented in the Reichsrath in Vienna there
are nearly 10,000,000 Germans and 18,500,000 non-Germans. Of these
nearly 17,500,000 are Slavs. Among these Slavs, the Croats and Serbs
number 780,000, chiefly in Dalmatia, while there are in all 660,000
Orthodox and nearly 3,500,000 Greek Uniats.
In Hungary, with its subject kingdoms of Croatia and Slavonia, there
are 8,750,000 Magyars, 2,000,000 Germans, and 8,000,000 other
non-Magyars. Of these, 3,000,000 are Roumanians and well over 5,000,000
Slavs. The Croats, or Roman Catholic Serbs, number 1,800,000, and their
Orthodox brothers are 1,100,000 in number. All told, Hungary has nearly
11,000,000 Roman Catholic subjects, 2,000,000 Greek Uniats, and
3,000,000 Orthodox. In this connection it should be remembered that the
Patriarchate of the Orthodox Serb Church has been fixed at Karlowitz,
under Hungarian rule, for over two centuries.
In Bosnia there are 434,000 Roman Catholic Croats, 825,000 Orthodox
Serbs, and over 600,000 Bosniaks, or Moslem Serbs. Thus it will be seen
that the Emperor Francis Joseph rules over more than 24,000,000 Slavs
and 3,225,000 Roumanians, of whom nearly 4,500,000 adhere to various
Orthodox Churches and 5,400,000 are Uniats. Of this Slav mass 5,000,000
Poles, mostly Roman Catholics, are not particularly susceptible to
Pan-Slav propaganda, as that is largely Russian and Orthodox.
Within the boundaries of Germany herself there are over 3,000,000
Slavs, chiefly Poles, the Slavs of Polish descent in all being
estimated at 15,000,000. To these must be added the Bulgarians, Serbs
and Montenegrins of the Balkan region, constituting about 7,0000,000
more.
ORIGIN OF PAN-SLAVISM
The term Pan-Slavism has been given to the agitation carried on by a
great party in Russia, its purpose being the union of the Slavic
peoples of Europe under Russian rule, as an extensive racial empire.
This movement originated about 1830, when the feeling of race
relationship in Russia was stirred up by the revolutionary movement in
Poland. It gained renewed strength from the Polish revolution of 1863,
and still survives as the slogan of an ardent party. The ideals of
Pan-Slavism have made their way into the Slavic populations of Bohemia,
Silesia, Croatia and Slavonia, where there is dread of the members of
the race losing their individuality under the aggressive addition of
the Austrian, German or Hungarian governments. In 1877–78 Russia
entered into war against Turkey as the champion of the Balkan Slavs. A
similar movement was that made in 1914, when the independence of the
Servian Slavs was threatened by Austria. The immediate steps taken by
Russia to mobilize her forces in protection of the Serbs was followed
as immediately by a declaration of war on the part of the German
emperor and the quick plunging of practically the whole of Europe into
a war.
THE CZAR’S PROCLAMATION
In this connection the proclamation made by the Russian Czar to his
people on August 3d, possesses much interest, as indicating his Slavic
sentiment. The text is as follows:
“By the grace of God we, Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of all the
Russias, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland, etc, to all our
faithful subjects make known that Russia, related by faith and blood to
the Slav peoples and faithful to her historical traditions, has never
regarded their fate with indifference.
“But the fraternal sentiments of the Russian people for the Slavs have
been awakened with perfect unanimity and extraordinary force in these
last few days, when Austria-Hungary knowingly addressed to Servia
claims unacceptable to an independent state.
“Having paid no attention to the pacific and conciliatory reply of the
Servian Government and having rejected the benevolent intervention of
Russia, Austria-Hungary made haste to proceed to an armed attack and
began to bombard Belgrade, an open place.
“Forced by the situation thus created to take necessary measures of
precaution, we ordered the army and the navy put on a war footing, at
the same time using every endeavor to obtain a peaceful solution.
Pourparlers were begun amid friendly relations with Germany and her
ally, Austria, for the blood and the property of our subjects were dear
to us.
“Contrary to our hopes in our good neighborly relations of long date,
and disregarding our assurances that the mobilization measures taken
were in pursuance of no object hostile to her, Germany demanded their
immediate cessation. Being rebuffed in this demand, Germany suddenly
declared war on Russia.
“Today it is not only the protection of a country related to us and
unjustly attacked that must be accorded, but we must safeguard the
honor, the dignity and the integrity of Russia and her position among
the Great Powers.
“We believe unshakably that all our faithful subjects will rise with
unanimity and devotion for the defense of Russian soil; that internal
discord will be forgotten in this threatening hour; that the unity of
the Emperor with his people will become still more close and that
Russia, rising like one man, will repulse the insolent attack of the
enemy.
“With a profound faith in the justice of our work and with a humble
hope in omnipotent providence in prayer we call God’s blessing on holy
Russia and her valiant troops.
“Nicholas.”
Later than this was an appeal made by the Czar to the Poles under his
rule, asking for their earnest support in the war arising from the
cause above stated, and promising them the boon which the Polish people
have long coveted: that of self-government and a practical
acknowledgment of their national existence.
THE TEUTONS OF EUROPE
While the Slavs form the great bulk of the inhabitants of eastern
Europe, the Teutons, or people of Teutonic race and language, are
widely spread in the west and north, including the German-speaking
people of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Switzerland, the
English-speaking people of the British Islands (in a very far-away
sense), the Scandinavian-speaking people of Norway and Sweden, the
Flemish-speaking people of Belgium, and practically the whole people of
Denmark and Holland. Yet, though these are racially related there is no
such feeling as a Pan-Teutonic sentiment combining them into a racial
unity. Instead of community and fraternity, a very marked racial and
natural divergence exists between the several peoples named, especially
between the British and Germans. Pan-Germanism is not Pan-Teutonism in
any proper sense, being confined to the several German countries of
Europe, and especially to the combination of states in the German
Empire. It is the Teuton considered in this minor sense that has set
himself against the Slav, as a measure of self-defense against the
torrent of Slavism apparently seeking an outlet in all directions.
Prolific as we know the Anglo-Saxons to have once been and as the
Germans still appear to be, there are few instances in human history of
a natural growth of population like that of the Slavs in recent years.
They have grown to outnumber the Germans nearly three to one, and may
perhaps do so in the future in a still greater proportion.
This is a scarcely desirable state of affairs in view of the fact that
the Slavs as a whole are lower and more primitive in character and
condition than the Germans. The cultivated portion of Slavic
populations forms a very small proportion in number of the whole, and
stands far in advance of the abundant multitude of peasants and
artisans, a vast body of people who are ruled chiefly by fear; fear of
the State on one side, of the Church on the other.
INTERMINGLING OF RACES
There has long been an embittered, remorseless, and often bloody
struggle for supremacy between the Teuton and the Slav, yet there has
been considerable intermingling of the races, many German traders
making their way into Russian towns, while multitudes of Slavic
laborers have penetrated into German communities. Eastern Prussia has
large populations of Slavs and its Polish subjects in Posen have been
persistently non-assimilable. But only within recent times has there
arisen a passion to “Russianize” all foreign elements in the one nation
and on the other hand to “Germanize” all similar foreign elements in
the other. Austria-Hungary is the most remarkable combination of
unrelated peoples ever got together to make part of a state, and is
especially notable for its many separate groups of Slavs. Bohemia, for
instance, has a very large majority of Slavic population, eager to be
recognized as such, and there are Slavic populations somewhat
indiscriminately scattered throughout the dual-monarchy, especially in
Hungary.
These Slavic populations, however, differ widely in religious belief.
While largely of the Greek confession of faith, a considerable section
of them are Roman Catholics, and many are faithful Mohammedans. This
difference in religion plays a major part in their political relations,
a greater one than any feeling of nationality and racial unity, and
aids greatly in adding to the diversity of condition and sentiment
among these mixed populations.
THE NATIONS AT WAR
In the war which sprang so suddenly and startlingly into the field of
events in 1914 very little of this sentiment of race animosity
appeared. While the German element remained intact in the union of
Germany and Austria, there was a strange mingling of races in the other
side of the struggle, that of the Slavic Russian, the Teutonic Britain,
and the Celtic French. As for Italy, the non-Germanic member of the
Triple Alliance, it at first wisely declared itself out of the war, as
one in which it was in no sense concerned and under no obligation to
enter into from the terms of its alliance. Later events tended to bring
it into sympathy with the non-Germanic side, as a result of enmity to
Austria. So the conflict became narrowed down to a struggle between
Pan-Germanism on the one hand and a variety of unrelated racial
elements on the other. It may be that Emperor William had a secret
purpose to unite, if possible, all German-speaking peoples under his
single sway and that Czar Nicholas had similar views regarding a union
of the Slavs, but as they did not take the world into their confidence
no one can say what plans and ambitions lay hidden in their mental
treasure chests. In this connection it is certainly of interest that
three of the leaders in this five-fold war were near relatives, the
Czar, the Kaiser and the British King being cousins and all of Teutonic
blood. This is a result of the intermarriage of royal families in these
later days.