8 Facts About Drang Nach Osten 1914 of the Year
We once outlined in general terms the goals of participation in the Great War for the Russian Empire - based on the specifics of the coalition standoff (see For which the Russian soldier fought in the First World War). Now let's take a look at the nature of the problem - let's see if Russia and its allies (as they sometimes try to present) were the aggressors or was it about fighting a terrible danger to humanity: German hegemony in Europe and the world?
We called the article "8 Facts about Drang Nach Osten" 1914 of the Year. " As is known, “Drang nach Osten” or “Onslaught on the East” is an expression characterizing the aggressive policy of German feudal lords (and then German imperialism) towards the states of Central, Southeast and Eastern Europe, which was based on armed expansion to conquer living space. - at the expense of non-German (especially Slavic) peoples. Given the limited size of the article, we limit ourselves to pointing out the most characteristic facts characterizing this policy.
The Russian government already during the war formulated the main goals of the war, the core of which was the struggle against German aggression [RGVIA. F. 2583. Op. 2. D. 954. L. 22 – 22; D. 957. L. 16; D. 959. L. 35.].
German infantry offensive, 1914
Soviet historical science in the pages of the work of F. I. Notovich "The invasion policy of German imperialism in the East in the 1914 – 1918 years." M., 1947. described in detail the essence of the German aggression in the era of the First World War. The author of the latter is a doctor of historical sciences, a professor, a participant in the First World War and the Civil War.
Philip Ivanovich became one of the first professors of MGIMO, and in 1921 – 1930. He was an employee of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs - and had access to the original documents used by him in the pages of his work.
We also used the translation work of the Reich Chancellor of the German Empire and the Prussian Prime Minister T. Bettman-Golvega, as well as other materials.
1 fact. The German Empire began the First World War with certain goals: having a previously developed program of conquering the peoples of Europe - as the basis for the subsequent conquest of world domination.
As you know, long before the war, politicians and scientists of the Second Reich developed the concept of the usefulness of the German race and the conquest of the last most of the world. It has been argued that the Germans are the people in the world No. 1. It is the German people - the creator and bearer of true culture and state principles. Pan-Germanists introduced the division of peoples into "full-fledged" and "inferior." It was declared that the latter (as befits the lower animals) multiply much faster than the “full-fledged” - and the Germans, as a “full-fledged” people, in order not to be crushed (and then the whole 1000-year-old culture of humanity will die) conquer Europe, then winning world domination and, as a result, establishing a “new order” on Earth.
Already in the first half of the nineteenth century. A “theory” of various types of nations appeared - “state” and “non-state”, “creative” and designed to serve as manure for “creative”. The Germans belonged to the first category, and the Romance and Slavic peoples belonged to the second category. In 50's This century, the Bavarian General Heilbranner argued the need for German dominion over Italy - after all, Italy is simply unable to remain independent. And Austria enslaves the Italian territories "on behalf of all of Germany." It was during these years that the program for the creation of the German “Middle Europe” appeared - and many Slavic and Romance lands were to be included in it.
If the French and the Spaniards became "decrepit", having lost the ability to state-building, then the Italians simply cannot be independent, and the Slavs, Hungarians and Romanians are in a state of barbarism and, accordingly, incapable of state self-government. Conclusion - only such a state nation as the Germans should dominate the Romance and Slavic peoples of Europe.
2 fact. Since the beginning of the 90's. XIX century. and until the beginning of the First World War, an extensive program of territorial seizures was developed. According to her should:
1. To conquer continental Europe, pushing France aside and resettling the peoples of the Roman-French branch beyond the Vosges and beyond. Somme. "The borders of Europe = the borders of Germany."
2. Push back Russia, resettling the Slavs in the Urals.
3. To establish a German protectorate over West Asia, South China, Indochina and Siam.
4. Create the African German Empire - including the German, French, Portuguese and Belgian colonies.
5. Create the German Pacific Empire - the center in the Dutch India.
6. Create a South American German protectorate (Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, South Brazil, Southern Bolivia were to be included).
An interesting question about the attitude to the UK and the USA. It was declared that only benevolent neutrality could save these states from the fate of France and Russia. Otherwise - the dismemberment of their empires.
The Pan-German teachings, preaching long before 1914, stated that the main features of the “new order” were: depriving non-German nationalities of all property and political rights with the free transfer of movable and immovable property to the Germans.
3 fact. Initially, the German government disowned the Pan-German programs, but in fact the latter had a greater influence on the foreign policy of the Second Reich. T. Bettman-Golweg also admits this.
Enslaved Germany, Europe was assigned the role of a military, economic and political base for the subsequent conquest of world domination. But the prerequisite for the enslavement of Europe is a victory on Russia. Without this victory, the establishment of German rule over Europe is impossible.
4 fact. Germany’s ally Austria-Hungary, perfectly fitting into the Pan-German plans, had its own aggressive (and also quite extensive) plans. Austria's credit for Germany was the 900-year struggle against the Slavs, and, at the same time, the correct use of the lives of Slavic soldiers who were dying “for the great German cause”.
Austria-Hungary planned the enslavement of the still-free Balkan Slavic states (Serbia and Montenegro), the subordination of Albania, and complete domination of both the Balkan Peninsula and the seas - the Adriatic and Aegean. And in the future - the seizure of Russian Poland and Romania.
5 fact. The implementation of the above installations began in practice - immediately after the start of the world war. The annexation of Belgium and most of France was predetermined.
19. 08. 1914, the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, informed the Secretary of State for Maritime Affairs, Admiral A. von Tirpitz, that "France must be crushed." 28 August T. Bettmann-Golweg informed A. von Tirpitz that he intends to annex Liege, Namur, Antwerp and the territory north of the latter, and create a buffer state from southern Belgium.
The annexationist movement was led by the Pan-German Union, which united a number of powerful and influential unions (Naval, Military, Colonial, etc.), cadet associations and political parties (conservative, national liberal and independent conservative). Banks, industrial enterprises (for example, Krupp and Thyssen firms) and the Unions of Industrialists and Rural Owners subsidized and supported the movement. In writing, they demanded extensive annexations from the government, both in the West and in the East. For example, demanding to annex French Lorraine to Germany, the Longwith Brie and Belgium iron ore basins.
The government decided to lead the annexationist movement. T. Bettman-Golweg approved the notes, which contained demands for the redistribution of colonies and the annexation of a number of French territories - the Longwy and Brieu basins, the Western Vosges, Belfort, etc.
28. 08. 1914, the Presidium of the Pan-German Union, formulated the following objectives for Germany’s participation in the war:
1. Acquisition (for the settlement of German peasants) of the Russian territories: the Baltic provinces, Poland, Belarus and Ukraine.
2. Full annexation of Belgium.
3. The annexation of the Longwy and Brieant basins and the assignment of the Franco-German border west of the Belfort, Toul, Verdun, r. Somme.
4. Destruction of the marine hegemony of Great Britain and the acquisition of new colonies.
5. All captured territories must be cleared of the local population - because the empire needs only land.
6 fact. The thunder of the guns of the army of the Entente put an end to Pangerman designs. The defeat of the German troops on Marne, near Warsaw and Ivangorod, and the Austrian troops in Galicia dispelled the possibility of a German victory.
But in this period, Germany craved conquests. So, the Chief of the Naval General Staff, Admiral G. Paul 15. 10. 1914 was declared by T. Betman-Golweg that Bruges, Antwerp, Ostend, Brussels and Dunkirk should be annexed. And in the East "everything Russian" should be moved aside.
At the end of 1914, the Chancellor addressed a letter to the German headquarters - demanding reports with considerations regarding the economic and military consolidation of Germany to Belgium. A joint note of the Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs of 31. 12. 1914 d. Pointed to the need for "restoring Belgium" - but only as a vassal state at the disposal of Germany. The latter should place permanent garrisons in Belgium, control transport (by occupying railways), ports and fortresses. Belgium lost the right to its own army. Moreover, it had to make annual payments to Germany, transfer all colonies to the latter and lose the opportunity to communicate with other states. The right to legal proceedings in Belgian territory was diverted to Germany. Belgium should have introduced German customs and labor legislation, transferring the right to collect customs duties to German officials. The Belgian franc was replaced by the German mark.
The Pan-German Union in December 1914 formulated a memorandum - the fruit of a long discussion of the central and local committees of political parties, the boards of major financial institutions, university departments and societies. In March - July of the following year, he was brought to the imperial chancellor, the High Command and a number of influential persons. What is the main idea of this (Class - Huguenberg) memorandum? It is very indicative - the transfer of the German border to the west of the Belfort - Verdun - Boulogne line in Europe, and the inclusion in Germany of lands located east of the line from the Chudsky and Pskov lakes and to the mouths of the Dnieper - in the East.
Some more similar memorandums were accepted. The future empire should be divided into indigenous and conquered "Germany", and the inhabitants of the latter are deprived of not only political rights, but also all immovable and movable property - in favor of the German "masters". The agricultural appendage (“base”) was supposed to supply Germany with not only food, but also industrial raw materials. And since the lands suitable for this were in Russia, all these lands should be annexed to Germany. Russia was abandoned from the Black and Baltic Seas.
In secret negotiations with party leaders in 1915, the government agreed, albeit with some reservations, to these requirements.
On the basis of the program outlined above, a strong bloc was created in the Reichstag - the latter included a conservative, national-liberal, progressive party and a Catholic center.
The “moderate” annexationists (among them G. Delbrück) noted that Germany must necessarily annex the Baltics, Russian Poland, Ukraine and Belarus. Germany should take the place of Russia in the Balkans and in Asia Minor. The Second Reich should also create a vast colonial empire - including territories in Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. They again recalled “Central Europe” with the German “new order” - the basis for the future conquest of world domination. “Russia and the Russian people,” wrote P. Rohrbach, “should be dismembered, crushed and destroyed. Germany should become the“ undertaker ”of the Russian people." The wealth and territories of Russia are necessary for Germany - especially since after the reform of 1861, Russia made a breakthrough, having achieved great success in all spheres of life, and the population of the latter “multiplied too quickly”. Conclusion - if Russia intensifies even more, it will conquer Central Europe
And German political parties (including Social Democratic) spoke in favor of territorial increments, both in the East and in the West.
7 fact. But, as F. I. Notovich rightly pointed out, the failure of the Schlieffen plan during the historic battles in August-September 1914 in France, East Prussia and Galicia proved the inconsistency of the German plans to seize Europe and win world domination. Victories on Marne, in Galicia, near Ivangorod and Warsaw, laid the foundation for the victory of the Entente, predetermining the military defeat of the German aggressor. Hopes for the lightning victory of the German bloc collapsed - a protracted heavy war began, during which Germany’s temporary military advantages were expended — and without tangible political results. A protracted war for Germany meant the inevitable defeat.
The rushing of the High Command of the Germans from October 1914 to December 1916 from the Western Front to the Eastern and back was only "an attempt to escape from the stifling Anglo-Russian-French iron embraces."
Instead of the promised 01. 08. 1914, by the Kaiser of Victory “before the autumn leaf fall”, the German army proceeds to defense on the Western Front - in order to shift the center of gravity of its efforts to the Eastern one. This strategy did not bring any results - even if the Austro-Germans attacked 1915 in the summer, the Russian army suffered heavy losses.
It, as rightly noted by F. I. Notovich, cost the Germans and Austrians great losses, bleeding the latter and ended in the failure of Germany’s military-political plans. The Russian army, which lacked armaments, "brilliantly maneuvered, retreated, but did not allow itself to be surrounded or cut into pieces." Although she gave a huge territory, but resisted, retaining combat power. The Russian army withstood the joint onslaught of the German and Austro-Hungarian armies, in September 1915 stopped their offensive. Moreover, Russia loyal to the allied duty repeatedly rejected the peace proposals made by Germany to 1915 in Germany. As a result, instead of destroying the Russian army and concluding a victorious separate peace with Russia in 1915, as Germany had planned, a positional war began in the East - from the Gulf of Riga to Prut. And in December 1915, the German High Command acknowledged its military-political failure, and E. von Falkengine told the Kaiser in a secret note that Germany was not able to knock Russia out of the cohort of belligerent powers - but continued active operations on the Eastern Front in 1916. "Is fraught with danger for the German army."
The 1915 campaign in the East, despite great operational success, ended with Germany’s strategic failure, which failed to achieve any of the strategic and political objectives that had been set. At the same time, the occupation of Russian territories and the liquidation of Serbia cost the Austro-Germans tremendous sacrifices, weakened Germany and “did not bring them to victory, but only delayed the moment of defeat”.
A continuous and regularly growing grinding of manpower of the Austro-Hungarian, German and Turkish armies in the fierce battles of 1914 - 1915. on the Russians, the Austro-German and Caucasian fronts, the bleeding of enemy troops on the Eastern front, radically changed in 1916 and the situation on the Western front. The shift of the center of gravity of the fighting to the Russian front and, accordingly, the transition of the German army in the period from October 1914 to February 1916. to the defense on the French front, formed favorable conditions for the re-equipment of the French and British industry, the militarization of the latter, to create a powerful new industry, as well as for the formation and training of the millionth British army. And when the German armies from May to September 1915 bled to death in the fields of Lithuania, Poland and Belarus, the Anglo-French seriously increased and equipped their armed forces.
This, in turn, forced the German High Command to try to prevent the inevitable events — in the early spring of 1916, by shifting the center of gravity of their offensive operations to the French front — by attempting to destroy the French army. But in 1916, the German army was faced with completely different conditions of struggle on this front. And the Russian army, half a year ago declared “destroyed”, immediately came to the aid of the French allies, launching an offensive in the Lake District area in March 1916. Naroch - that prevented the sending of German reinforcements from the Russian to the French front. Similarly, the victories of the Russian army in Armenia in the winter - spring of 1916 broke down the military might of a German ally, Turkey, from which the latter could not recover. As a result, Germany suffered a defeat at Verdun.
And in 1916, a radical turn came in the war.
The Allied armies on the Entente switched to active and concerted action, both on the Russian and the French fronts. And the troops of the German bloc were forced on all fronts to go on the defensive. The offensive of A. A. Brusilov and the allies on the Somme was a turning point in world war.
8 fact. The Germans believed that once their troops occupy foreign territories, they are already “winners”.
And 23. 04. 1917 The German High Command and the Government decided to continue to pursue huge territorial acquisitions - at the expense of Belgium, Russia and France. 17 - 18 in May the Austro-Hungarian and German leaderships (also at the level of Governments and High Command) agreed that Germany receives Lithuania, Kurland and Poland, and Austria-Hungary attaches the Romanian, Serbian, Montenegrin and Albanian territories.
But the Austro-Germans began to realize that the war was lost. Despite this, the 9 of August, the new Reich Chancellor and the High Command of the Second Reich, agreed that they would seek the annexation of Poland, the Baltic states, the Longwy Brie and Luxembourg basins, as well as the vassal dependence of Belgium and Ukraine.
P. Rohrbach, in particular, wrote that Russia necessarily loses Poland, Belarus and Finland. He noted that if Ukraine remains still united with Russia, it will mean a tragedy for Germany. The Ukrainian question is a question of world politics. After all, after the separation of Poland, Belarus and Finland from Russia, the main danger for Germany will still not be eliminated - the elimination of the Russian danger is possible (if at all possible) only after the separation of Ukrainian Russia from Moscow Russia.
Thus, after the 1917 revolutions in Russia, German targets in the East, according to P. Rohrbach, were as follows:
1. The population of Russia should stop its growth. 2. Russia should be divided into parts not connected with each other, but with Germany. 3. Belarus should be annexed to Poland, it should also incite hostility between the Slavs - Russians and Poles. 4. Russia's desire to reach a free, non-freezing sea should be stopped. 5. Ukraine and other territories that are “economically tied to the Black Sea” should be cut off from Russia by 6. All elements striving for the disintegration of the state should be supported in Russia and give up peace with a government that can control the whole country. 7. Germany admits the existence of only a defeated (and “finally”) Russia. 8. If the German treaties fail to achieve the consolidation of the above objectives, it should take advantage of the situation in Russia, and, occupying the entire Baltic states, Poland, as well as Ukraine, Belarus and all Black Sea coast, keep these territories as a “pledge” - until all of the goals will be reflected in the relevant peace treaty.
Russia's withdrawal from the war led to a breach in the camp of the allies - and the aggressor, having received freedom of maneuver, fought for an extra year and, as a result, avoided a complete defeat.
In the “Brest period”, Germany and Austria-Hungary tried to consolidate the provisions of the above program by law - rejoicing in the illusory “successes” in the East.
It did not take long to rejoice - the victory of the Entente in the First World War, the victory that Russia “brought as close as possible” put an end to the shameful Brest-Litovsk agreements. By canceling the latter, the allies in the pages of the victorious Versailles Peace Treaty (Art. 116.) [See Versailles Peace Treaty. Full translation from the French original, ed. prof. Yu. V. Klyuchnikov. M., 1925. C. 55.] recognized for Russia (that is, in fact - represented by the RSFSR) the right to reparation from Germany - that is. actually ranked our country among the winners.
And this is far from accidental. Indeed, despite the 2 revolution, despite the fact that Russia did not manage to hold out the last 8 months until a near victory in the First World War, it solved the most important tasks. Breast Russia stood in the way of German expansion. And the Russian soldier of the First World War fought not only for the territorial integrity of his homeland - for the first time in the history of the 20 century, he also saved Europe.
We called the article "8 Facts about Drang Nach Osten" 1914 of the Year. " As is known, “Drang nach Osten” or “Onslaught on the East” is an expression characterizing the aggressive policy of German feudal lords (and then German imperialism) towards the states of Central, Southeast and Eastern Europe, which was based on armed expansion to conquer living space. - at the expense of non-German (especially Slavic) peoples. Given the limited size of the article, we limit ourselves to pointing out the most characteristic facts characterizing this policy.
The Russian government already during the war formulated the main goals of the war, the core of which was the struggle against German aggression [RGVIA. F. 2583. Op. 2. D. 954. L. 22 – 22; D. 957. L. 16; D. 959. L. 35.].
German infantry offensive, 1914
Soviet historical science in the pages of the work of F. I. Notovich "The invasion policy of German imperialism in the East in the 1914 – 1918 years." M., 1947. described in detail the essence of the German aggression in the era of the First World War. The author of the latter is a doctor of historical sciences, a professor, a participant in the First World War and the Civil War.
Philip Ivanovich became one of the first professors of MGIMO, and in 1921 – 1930. He was an employee of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs - and had access to the original documents used by him in the pages of his work.
We also used the translation work of the Reich Chancellor of the German Empire and the Prussian Prime Minister T. Bettman-Golvega, as well as other materials.
1 fact. The German Empire began the First World War with certain goals: having a previously developed program of conquering the peoples of Europe - as the basis for the subsequent conquest of world domination.
As you know, long before the war, politicians and scientists of the Second Reich developed the concept of the usefulness of the German race and the conquest of the last most of the world. It has been argued that the Germans are the people in the world No. 1. It is the German people - the creator and bearer of true culture and state principles. Pan-Germanists introduced the division of peoples into "full-fledged" and "inferior." It was declared that the latter (as befits the lower animals) multiply much faster than the “full-fledged” - and the Germans, as a “full-fledged” people, in order not to be crushed (and then the whole 1000-year-old culture of humanity will die) conquer Europe, then winning world domination and, as a result, establishing a “new order” on Earth.
Already in the first half of the nineteenth century. A “theory” of various types of nations appeared - “state” and “non-state”, “creative” and designed to serve as manure for “creative”. The Germans belonged to the first category, and the Romance and Slavic peoples belonged to the second category. In 50's This century, the Bavarian General Heilbranner argued the need for German dominion over Italy - after all, Italy is simply unable to remain independent. And Austria enslaves the Italian territories "on behalf of all of Germany." It was during these years that the program for the creation of the German “Middle Europe” appeared - and many Slavic and Romance lands were to be included in it.
If the French and the Spaniards became "decrepit", having lost the ability to state-building, then the Italians simply cannot be independent, and the Slavs, Hungarians and Romanians are in a state of barbarism and, accordingly, incapable of state self-government. Conclusion - only such a state nation as the Germans should dominate the Romance and Slavic peoples of Europe.
2 fact. Since the beginning of the 90's. XIX century. and until the beginning of the First World War, an extensive program of territorial seizures was developed. According to her should:
1. To conquer continental Europe, pushing France aside and resettling the peoples of the Roman-French branch beyond the Vosges and beyond. Somme. "The borders of Europe = the borders of Germany."
2. Push back Russia, resettling the Slavs in the Urals.
3. To establish a German protectorate over West Asia, South China, Indochina and Siam.
4. Create the African German Empire - including the German, French, Portuguese and Belgian colonies.
5. Create the German Pacific Empire - the center in the Dutch India.
6. Create a South American German protectorate (Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, South Brazil, Southern Bolivia were to be included).
An interesting question about the attitude to the UK and the USA. It was declared that only benevolent neutrality could save these states from the fate of France and Russia. Otherwise - the dismemberment of their empires.
The Pan-German teachings, preaching long before 1914, stated that the main features of the “new order” were: depriving non-German nationalities of all property and political rights with the free transfer of movable and immovable property to the Germans.
3 fact. Initially, the German government disowned the Pan-German programs, but in fact the latter had a greater influence on the foreign policy of the Second Reich. T. Bettman-Golweg also admits this.
Enslaved Germany, Europe was assigned the role of a military, economic and political base for the subsequent conquest of world domination. But the prerequisite for the enslavement of Europe is a victory on Russia. Without this victory, the establishment of German rule over Europe is impossible.
4 fact. Germany’s ally Austria-Hungary, perfectly fitting into the Pan-German plans, had its own aggressive (and also quite extensive) plans. Austria's credit for Germany was the 900-year struggle against the Slavs, and, at the same time, the correct use of the lives of Slavic soldiers who were dying “for the great German cause”.
Austria-Hungary planned the enslavement of the still-free Balkan Slavic states (Serbia and Montenegro), the subordination of Albania, and complete domination of both the Balkan Peninsula and the seas - the Adriatic and Aegean. And in the future - the seizure of Russian Poland and Romania.
5 fact. The implementation of the above installations began in practice - immediately after the start of the world war. The annexation of Belgium and most of France was predetermined.
19. 08. 1914, the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, informed the Secretary of State for Maritime Affairs, Admiral A. von Tirpitz, that "France must be crushed." 28 August T. Bettmann-Golweg informed A. von Tirpitz that he intends to annex Liege, Namur, Antwerp and the territory north of the latter, and create a buffer state from southern Belgium.
The annexationist movement was led by the Pan-German Union, which united a number of powerful and influential unions (Naval, Military, Colonial, etc.), cadet associations and political parties (conservative, national liberal and independent conservative). Banks, industrial enterprises (for example, Krupp and Thyssen firms) and the Unions of Industrialists and Rural Owners subsidized and supported the movement. In writing, they demanded extensive annexations from the government, both in the West and in the East. For example, demanding to annex French Lorraine to Germany, the Longwith Brie and Belgium iron ore basins.
The government decided to lead the annexationist movement. T. Bettman-Golweg approved the notes, which contained demands for the redistribution of colonies and the annexation of a number of French territories - the Longwy and Brieu basins, the Western Vosges, Belfort, etc.
28. 08. 1914, the Presidium of the Pan-German Union, formulated the following objectives for Germany’s participation in the war:
1. Acquisition (for the settlement of German peasants) of the Russian territories: the Baltic provinces, Poland, Belarus and Ukraine.
2. Full annexation of Belgium.
3. The annexation of the Longwy and Brieant basins and the assignment of the Franco-German border west of the Belfort, Toul, Verdun, r. Somme.
4. Destruction of the marine hegemony of Great Britain and the acquisition of new colonies.
5. All captured territories must be cleared of the local population - because the empire needs only land.
6 fact. The thunder of the guns of the army of the Entente put an end to Pangerman designs. The defeat of the German troops on Marne, near Warsaw and Ivangorod, and the Austrian troops in Galicia dispelled the possibility of a German victory.
But in this period, Germany craved conquests. So, the Chief of the Naval General Staff, Admiral G. Paul 15. 10. 1914 was declared by T. Betman-Golweg that Bruges, Antwerp, Ostend, Brussels and Dunkirk should be annexed. And in the East "everything Russian" should be moved aside.
At the end of 1914, the Chancellor addressed a letter to the German headquarters - demanding reports with considerations regarding the economic and military consolidation of Germany to Belgium. A joint note of the Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs of 31. 12. 1914 d. Pointed to the need for "restoring Belgium" - but only as a vassal state at the disposal of Germany. The latter should place permanent garrisons in Belgium, control transport (by occupying railways), ports and fortresses. Belgium lost the right to its own army. Moreover, it had to make annual payments to Germany, transfer all colonies to the latter and lose the opportunity to communicate with other states. The right to legal proceedings in Belgian territory was diverted to Germany. Belgium should have introduced German customs and labor legislation, transferring the right to collect customs duties to German officials. The Belgian franc was replaced by the German mark.
The Pan-German Union in December 1914 formulated a memorandum - the fruit of a long discussion of the central and local committees of political parties, the boards of major financial institutions, university departments and societies. In March - July of the following year, he was brought to the imperial chancellor, the High Command and a number of influential persons. What is the main idea of this (Class - Huguenberg) memorandum? It is very indicative - the transfer of the German border to the west of the Belfort - Verdun - Boulogne line in Europe, and the inclusion in Germany of lands located east of the line from the Chudsky and Pskov lakes and to the mouths of the Dnieper - in the East.
Some more similar memorandums were accepted. The future empire should be divided into indigenous and conquered "Germany", and the inhabitants of the latter are deprived of not only political rights, but also all immovable and movable property - in favor of the German "masters". The agricultural appendage (“base”) was supposed to supply Germany with not only food, but also industrial raw materials. And since the lands suitable for this were in Russia, all these lands should be annexed to Germany. Russia was abandoned from the Black and Baltic Seas.
In secret negotiations with party leaders in 1915, the government agreed, albeit with some reservations, to these requirements.
On the basis of the program outlined above, a strong bloc was created in the Reichstag - the latter included a conservative, national-liberal, progressive party and a Catholic center.
The “moderate” annexationists (among them G. Delbrück) noted that Germany must necessarily annex the Baltics, Russian Poland, Ukraine and Belarus. Germany should take the place of Russia in the Balkans and in Asia Minor. The Second Reich should also create a vast colonial empire - including territories in Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. They again recalled “Central Europe” with the German “new order” - the basis for the future conquest of world domination. “Russia and the Russian people,” wrote P. Rohrbach, “should be dismembered, crushed and destroyed. Germany should become the“ undertaker ”of the Russian people." The wealth and territories of Russia are necessary for Germany - especially since after the reform of 1861, Russia made a breakthrough, having achieved great success in all spheres of life, and the population of the latter “multiplied too quickly”. Conclusion - if Russia intensifies even more, it will conquer Central Europe
And German political parties (including Social Democratic) spoke in favor of territorial increments, both in the East and in the West.
7 fact. But, as F. I. Notovich rightly pointed out, the failure of the Schlieffen plan during the historic battles in August-September 1914 in France, East Prussia and Galicia proved the inconsistency of the German plans to seize Europe and win world domination. Victories on Marne, in Galicia, near Ivangorod and Warsaw, laid the foundation for the victory of the Entente, predetermining the military defeat of the German aggressor. Hopes for the lightning victory of the German bloc collapsed - a protracted heavy war began, during which Germany’s temporary military advantages were expended — and without tangible political results. A protracted war for Germany meant the inevitable defeat.
The rushing of the High Command of the Germans from October 1914 to December 1916 from the Western Front to the Eastern and back was only "an attempt to escape from the stifling Anglo-Russian-French iron embraces."
Instead of the promised 01. 08. 1914, by the Kaiser of Victory “before the autumn leaf fall”, the German army proceeds to defense on the Western Front - in order to shift the center of gravity of its efforts to the Eastern one. This strategy did not bring any results - even if the Austro-Germans attacked 1915 in the summer, the Russian army suffered heavy losses.
It, as rightly noted by F. I. Notovich, cost the Germans and Austrians great losses, bleeding the latter and ended in the failure of Germany’s military-political plans. The Russian army, which lacked armaments, "brilliantly maneuvered, retreated, but did not allow itself to be surrounded or cut into pieces." Although she gave a huge territory, but resisted, retaining combat power. The Russian army withstood the joint onslaught of the German and Austro-Hungarian armies, in September 1915 stopped their offensive. Moreover, Russia loyal to the allied duty repeatedly rejected the peace proposals made by Germany to 1915 in Germany. As a result, instead of destroying the Russian army and concluding a victorious separate peace with Russia in 1915, as Germany had planned, a positional war began in the East - from the Gulf of Riga to Prut. And in December 1915, the German High Command acknowledged its military-political failure, and E. von Falkengine told the Kaiser in a secret note that Germany was not able to knock Russia out of the cohort of belligerent powers - but continued active operations on the Eastern Front in 1916. "Is fraught with danger for the German army."
The 1915 campaign in the East, despite great operational success, ended with Germany’s strategic failure, which failed to achieve any of the strategic and political objectives that had been set. At the same time, the occupation of Russian territories and the liquidation of Serbia cost the Austro-Germans tremendous sacrifices, weakened Germany and “did not bring them to victory, but only delayed the moment of defeat”.
A continuous and regularly growing grinding of manpower of the Austro-Hungarian, German and Turkish armies in the fierce battles of 1914 - 1915. on the Russians, the Austro-German and Caucasian fronts, the bleeding of enemy troops on the Eastern front, radically changed in 1916 and the situation on the Western front. The shift of the center of gravity of the fighting to the Russian front and, accordingly, the transition of the German army in the period from October 1914 to February 1916. to the defense on the French front, formed favorable conditions for the re-equipment of the French and British industry, the militarization of the latter, to create a powerful new industry, as well as for the formation and training of the millionth British army. And when the German armies from May to September 1915 bled to death in the fields of Lithuania, Poland and Belarus, the Anglo-French seriously increased and equipped their armed forces.
This, in turn, forced the German High Command to try to prevent the inevitable events — in the early spring of 1916, by shifting the center of gravity of their offensive operations to the French front — by attempting to destroy the French army. But in 1916, the German army was faced with completely different conditions of struggle on this front. And the Russian army, half a year ago declared “destroyed”, immediately came to the aid of the French allies, launching an offensive in the Lake District area in March 1916. Naroch - that prevented the sending of German reinforcements from the Russian to the French front. Similarly, the victories of the Russian army in Armenia in the winter - spring of 1916 broke down the military might of a German ally, Turkey, from which the latter could not recover. As a result, Germany suffered a defeat at Verdun.
And in 1916, a radical turn came in the war.
The Allied armies on the Entente switched to active and concerted action, both on the Russian and the French fronts. And the troops of the German bloc were forced on all fronts to go on the defensive. The offensive of A. A. Brusilov and the allies on the Somme was a turning point in world war.
8 fact. The Germans believed that once their troops occupy foreign territories, they are already “winners”.
And 23. 04. 1917 The German High Command and the Government decided to continue to pursue huge territorial acquisitions - at the expense of Belgium, Russia and France. 17 - 18 in May the Austro-Hungarian and German leaderships (also at the level of Governments and High Command) agreed that Germany receives Lithuania, Kurland and Poland, and Austria-Hungary attaches the Romanian, Serbian, Montenegrin and Albanian territories.
But the Austro-Germans began to realize that the war was lost. Despite this, the 9 of August, the new Reich Chancellor and the High Command of the Second Reich, agreed that they would seek the annexation of Poland, the Baltic states, the Longwy Brie and Luxembourg basins, as well as the vassal dependence of Belgium and Ukraine.
P. Rohrbach, in particular, wrote that Russia necessarily loses Poland, Belarus and Finland. He noted that if Ukraine remains still united with Russia, it will mean a tragedy for Germany. The Ukrainian question is a question of world politics. After all, after the separation of Poland, Belarus and Finland from Russia, the main danger for Germany will still not be eliminated - the elimination of the Russian danger is possible (if at all possible) only after the separation of Ukrainian Russia from Moscow Russia.
Thus, after the 1917 revolutions in Russia, German targets in the East, according to P. Rohrbach, were as follows:
1. The population of Russia should stop its growth. 2. Russia should be divided into parts not connected with each other, but with Germany. 3. Belarus should be annexed to Poland, it should also incite hostility between the Slavs - Russians and Poles. 4. Russia's desire to reach a free, non-freezing sea should be stopped. 5. Ukraine and other territories that are “economically tied to the Black Sea” should be cut off from Russia by 6. All elements striving for the disintegration of the state should be supported in Russia and give up peace with a government that can control the whole country. 7. Germany admits the existence of only a defeated (and “finally”) Russia. 8. If the German treaties fail to achieve the consolidation of the above objectives, it should take advantage of the situation in Russia, and, occupying the entire Baltic states, Poland, as well as Ukraine, Belarus and all Black Sea coast, keep these territories as a “pledge” - until all of the goals will be reflected in the relevant peace treaty.
Russia's withdrawal from the war led to a breach in the camp of the allies - and the aggressor, having received freedom of maneuver, fought for an extra year and, as a result, avoided a complete defeat.
In the “Brest period”, Germany and Austria-Hungary tried to consolidate the provisions of the above program by law - rejoicing in the illusory “successes” in the East.
It did not take long to rejoice - the victory of the Entente in the First World War, the victory that Russia “brought as close as possible” put an end to the shameful Brest-Litovsk agreements. By canceling the latter, the allies in the pages of the victorious Versailles Peace Treaty (Art. 116.) [See Versailles Peace Treaty. Full translation from the French original, ed. prof. Yu. V. Klyuchnikov. M., 1925. C. 55.] recognized for Russia (that is, in fact - represented by the RSFSR) the right to reparation from Germany - that is. actually ranked our country among the winners.
And this is far from accidental. Indeed, despite the 2 revolution, despite the fact that Russia did not manage to hold out the last 8 months until a near victory in the First World War, it solved the most important tasks. Breast Russia stood in the way of German expansion. And the Russian soldier of the First World War fought not only for the territorial integrity of his homeland - for the first time in the history of the 20 century, he also saved Europe.
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