Quote:
Originally Posted by Seatco
Without the old Prussian system it is doubtful Germany will threaten Europe as it once did – for the aged link to the Teutonic Knights is cut. The policy of the Soviets after 1945 was to seek out all that system and break it up. Now Germany, besides being listed as the most boring place for a vacation – has little left to it of its old soul (look up boring and Germany on the net). Even its last firebrand (Hitler) came from outside of it. And let's not forget what Hitler told Albert Speer as the Russians were approaching Berlin - that the best blood of Germany had already been destroyed in the war.
|
The way you speak about the old Prussian system almost sounds like adulation.The Prussian system was an old archaic system that was bound to die out even before Hitler permanently killed it. The reason being is that it was elitist, royalist, and tied too closely to old feudal ideals of unity for the greater good of the elite. These things all have a way of coming apart at the seams because the world was innovating and evolving too quickly. In WW1 a lot of common blue collar workers in just about every major nation in Europe..including Germany were leaning towards socialism. A lot of the worker strikers and other incidents showed that the winds of change were coming soon. The old European society was incompatible with the realities of industrialization and the new living standard changes and opportunities for the average person. The only thing that offset the inevitable back in 1914 was Germany's mobilization for war.
The biggest flaw of the Prussian tradition it has to be in a perpetual state of war to continue its flawed existance. All the pomp, tradition, and dressing is just preparing society for the next eventual war. As you can see as nations become more industrialized, living standards rise up and information is readily available this type of thing isn't feasible anymore.