England, France, and Russia, unthreatened by Germany, go to war for
political reasons--Germany defends her independence and fights for her
very existence, for her future as a great power--How a peaceful people
were imbued with the spirit of war.
The last days of the month of July were days of anxiety and distress for
the German people. They hoped that they would be permitted to preserve
an honorable peace. A few months earlier, in 1913, when the centennial
of the war for independence from French oppression and the twenty-fifth
anniversary of Emperor William's ascent of the throne had been
celebrated, they had willingly taken upon their shoulders the great
sacrifice of the so-called "Wehrvorlage," which increased the peace
strength of the standing army enormously and cost 1,000,000,000 marks.
They considered it simply as an increase of their peace insurance
premium. Our diplomats worked hard for the maintenance of peace, for the
localization of the Austro-Servian war. So sure were the leading men of
the empire of the preservation of general peace that at the beginning of
the week which was to bring general mobilization they said to each other
joyfully: Next week our vacation time begins. But they were fearfully
disappointed. Russia's unexpected, treacherous mobilization compelled
Germany to draw the sword also. On the evening of the first day of
August the one word, Mobilization! was flashed by the electric spark all
over the country. There was no more anxiety and uncertainty. Cool, firm
resolution at once permeated the entire German folk. The Reichstag was
called together for an extra session.
Three days later, on the anniversary of the battles of Weissenburg and
Spichern, the representatives of the German people met. This session,
which lasted only a few hours, proved worthy of the great historical
moment marking the beginning of such a conflagration as the world had
never seen before. The railroad lines were under military control and
used almost exclusively for purposes of mobilization. In spite of all
such difficulties, more than 300 of the 397 Deputies managed to get to
Berlin in time. The rest sent word that they were unable to come. On the
evening of Aug. 3 the Imperial Chancellor called the leaders of all
parties, including the Socialists, to his house and explained to them in
a concise and impressive statement how frivolously Germany had been
driven to war. At the time of this meeting the unanimous acceptance of
all war measures by the Reichstag was already assured. In numerous
conferences the heads of the several departments explained the content
and meaning of the bills to be submitted to the Reichstag. The
participants of the conferences showed already what spirit would
characterize the next day. The session of the Reichstag filled the
entire German nation with pride and enthusiasm; the Reichstag maintained
the dignity of the German Empire and the German people.
In greater numbers than ever before the Deputies, high officers of the
army and navy and the Civil Government assembled on Aug. 4, first in
houses of worship to pray to God, and then in the Royal Castle of
Berlin. The military character of the ceremony at the opening of the
session showed under what auspices this memorable act took place. The
Kaiser entered the hall in the simple gray field uniform, without the
usual pomp, unaccompanied by chamberlains and court officials and pages
in glittering court dresses. Only State Ministers, Generals, and
Admirals followed him to the throne, from where he read his speech,
after covering his head with his helmet. His voice betrayed the strain
under which he was laboring. Repeatedly he was interrupted by
enthusiastic applause, and when he closed, a rousing cheer thundered
through the famous White Hall, something that had never before occurred
there since the erection of the old castle. Then came a surprise. The
Emperor laid down the manuscript of his speech and continued speaking.
From now on he knew only Germans, he said, no differences of party,
creed, religion or social position, and he requested the party leaders
to give him their hands as a pledge that they all would stand by him "in
Not und Tod"--in death and distress. This scene was entirely impromptu,
and thus so much more impressive and touching. And it was hardly over
when the Reichstag--an unheard of proceeding in such surroundings--began
to sing the German national hymn, "Heil Dir im Siegerkranz." The
magnificent hall, until then only the scene of pompous court
festivities, witnessed an outburst of patriotism such as was never seen
there before. To the accompaniment of loud cheers the Kaiser walked out,
after shaking the hands of the Imperial Chancellor and the Chief of the
General Staff, von Moltke.
One hour later the Reichstag met in its own house. The Emperor had
begged for quick and thorough work. He was not to be disappointed.
Without any formalities the presiding officers of the last session were
re-elected--in times of peace and party strife this would have been
impossible. This short curtain raiser being over, the first act of the
drama began. Before an overcrowded house the Chancellor described simply
and clearly the efforts of the Government for the preservation of peace.
He stated cold facts, showing unmistakably Russia's double dealing and
justifying Germany's beginning of a war which she did not want. The
Chancellor had begun in a quiet, subdued tone. Then he raised his voice
and when, in words that rang through the hall, he declared that the
entire nation was united, the Deputies and the spectators in the
galleries could sit still no longer. They rose, with them at first some
Socialists, then all of them, carried away by the impulse of the
moment; the members of the Federal Council, of the press, diplomats and
the crowds in the galleries joined them. The whole multitude cheered and
clapped its hands frantically. It reflected truly the spirit of the
whole nation. The Speaker, who under ordinary circumstances would have
suppressed the clapping of hands as unparliamentary and the
demonstrations of the galleries as undignified, let the patriotic
outburst go on to its end.
After a short intermission the business meeting began. Sixteen war
measures had been introduced, the most important of which was the one
asking for 5,000,000,000 marks to carry on the war. The leader of the
Social Democrats read a statement explaining why his party, despite its
opposition on principle to all army and navy appropriations, would vote
for the proposed bills. Without further debates all the bills were
passed, and shortly after 5 P.M. the Reichstag adjourned. At 7 P.M. the
Emperor received the presiding officers of the Reichstag to thank them
for their prompt and useful work. He signed the bills, which were
immediately published and thus became laws.
The resolute attitude and quick work of the Reichstag reflected the
unity and resolution of the entire nation. Sixty-seven millions of
Germans feel, think, and act with their elected representatives. No
party, no class, no creed is standing back; all are imbued with one
single thought: United Germany is unconquerable.
The entire German people are united as never before in their history.
Even 101 years ago, in 1813, the entire population cannot have been so
uniformly seized by the spirit of war as at the outbreak of this
struggle, which is the people's war in the truest sense of the word, and
which was predicted by Bismarck. All reigning Princes are going out to
fight with the army and have appointed their wives as regents. Instances
include the Kaiser's son-in-law, the Duke of Brunswick, who appointed
his consort, the only daughter of the Emperor, as regent. The Princes
call their people to arms, and they themselves all stand ready to
sacrifice all they have. This example from above carries the nation with
them. The Reichstag knew parties and factions no more, and neither does
the nation. The Emperor sounded the word which has become common
property from Königsberg to Constance, from Upper Silesia to the Belgian
frontier: "I know only Germans!" And yet how terribly is our nation
otherwise disrupted by party strife. Ill-advised persons across our
frontiers hoped that creed differences would make for disunion,
Frenchmen and Russians expected to weaken our empire with the aid of
Alsatians and Poles. This hope has been destroyed--we are a united
people, as united as was the Reichstag, the Socialists included. The
latter have for years voted against all army and navy appropriations,
have advocated international peace, and last year voted against the
bills increasing the army strength. In many foreign quarters strong
hopes were nourished that this party would help them. But those men did
not know our German people. Our civilization, our independence as a
nation was threatened, and in that moment party interest or creed
existed no more. The true German heart is beating only for the
Fatherland, east and west, north and south, Protestants, Catholics, and
Jews are "a united people of brethren in the hour of danger." When
Germany was so threatened by Russia, when the German "Peace Emperor" was
shamefully betrayed by the Czar of all the Russians, then there was but
one sacred party in existence: The party of Germans.
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