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Hans Delbrück (1848-1929), a public conservative intellectual, lived during the time of the Weimar Republic. He published a lot of articles for several newspapers and was involved in the following three major political debates: Firstly he made as a 'Vernunftrepublikaner' several proposals to bring the new republic to a success, even though he was still convinced of the Prussian-German monarchy. Secondly he researched the war guilt question, harshly criticized the assumption that Germany was the only guilty state and pleaded for a fair-minded approach to reach a reconciliation with all European nations. Thirdly Delbrück rejected as a protagonist the stab-in-the-back legend and proved as a leading military (civil) historian that Germany suffered a military defeat different to the general claim. In contrast to the radical proposals from the political left and right, Delbrück started with these alternative explanations a fruitful debate to strengthen the young German republic.
About the author
Dr. Christian Lüdtke ist Referent im Ministerium für Kinder, Familie, Flüchtlinge und Integration des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Summary
Hans Delbrück (1848–1929), a public conservative intellectual, lived during the time of the Weimar Republic. He published a lot of articles for several newspapers and was involved in the following three major political debates: Firstly he made as a 'Vernunftrepublikaner' several proposals to bring the new republic to a success, even though he was still convinced of the Prussian-German monarchy. Secondly he researched the war guilt question, harshly criticized the assumption that Germany was the only guilty state and pleaded for a fair-minded approach to reach a reconciliation with all European nations. Thirdly Delbrück rejected as a protagonist the stab-in-the-back legend and proved as a leading military (civil) historian that Germany suffered a military defeat different to the general claim. In contrast to the radical proposals from the political left and right, Delbrück started with these alternative explanations a fruitful debate to strengthen the young German republic.
Foreword
Als überzeugter Konservativer engagierte Hans Delbrück sich in der Weimarer Republik vor allem für eine Besinnung auf die abendländischen Wurzeln und gegen politische Maßlosigkeit. Delbrücks Ideen ‒ für eine konservative Republik, gegen Kriegsschuldlüge und Dolchstoßlegende ‒ boten eine vielversprechende Alternative für die Stabilisierung der Weimarer Republik, jenseits der revolutionären Gegenentwürfe von links und der zerstörerischen von rechts. Insofern unternimmt die Studie eine neue Akzentuierung der Chancen der Weimarer Republik.
