Militarism in child education and in school by Kevin Schreiner

Definition Militarism

lyeywi — 2023-12-23 12:08:26 UTC

The term Militarism is deviated from military and means a special emphasis and glorification of everything military in a society. Military thinking also includes unconditional obedience to superiors and the emperor, which is why the empire was often referred to as an authoritarian state.

School:

lyeywi — 2023-12-23 12:11:49 UTC

almost all children attended school even those from the poorer classes
very important: general education, discipline, obedience and organization
Wilhelm von Humbold reorganizes the school system and founds the university
Education in both the family and at school was shaped by military norms such as obedience and devotion to duty.
The national orientation of the students was the focus of the lessons as well as the leisure activities
(The festival program for the 100th anniversary of the Ludwig-Wilhelm-Gymnasium, for instance, reflected the presence of the military and the strong national orientation.)
In 1905, the state committee of the fleet association wrote to the apprenticeships to point out the exhibition of a model of the ship of the line "Zähringen"

Clubs:

lyeywi — 2023-12-23 12:12:54 UTC

Veterans and former soldiers founded military clubs all around the country
Every three to four years some primary students were allowed to go on a six-day sightseeing trip to the Navy.
These trips were intended not only to strengthen enthusiasm for the fleet, but also to raise interest in a career in the Navy.

Society:

lyeywi — 2023-12-23 12:14:52 UTC

Germany had the reputation of being the land of poets and thinkers but also of inventors and explorers
Militarism was a way of thinking in which a strong military was seen as a guarantee of a strong country and an important place within the international order
War was seen as positive
That‘s why the states with a military orientation spent a lot of money on armaments and the military
Officers and other military personnel were among the most important and respected people in society
Central role of the military was also firmly anchored in everyday life
Military virtues such as obedience, discipline and following orders were highly valued, as were the upbringing of children by using toys or clothing
Other examples for militarism in society would be holding many parades, privileges for soldiers, sedan day, a national holiday which reminds of the battle between Germany and France and celebrates the victory over the French and compulsory military service for young men

Consequences

lyeywi — 2023-12-23 12:17:49 UTC

blind obedience to the authorities (subordination or subject mentality)
Emergence of enemy images (France as hereditery enemy)
Exclusion from external and internal enemies over whom one felt superior, like minorities such as Jews
1873 increase of antisemitism (hostility to Jews)
Jews were seen as responsible for the stock market crash and its consequences
guideline for the national socialism in 1933

Sources

lyeywi — 2023-12-23 12:22:44 UTC

https://www.schule-bw.de/faecher-und-schularten/gesellschaftswissenschaftliche-und-philosophische-faecher/landeskunde-landesgeschichte/module/bp_2016/imperialismus_und_erster_weltkrieg/militaer_und_gesellschaft_im_kaiserreich_am_beispiel_rastatts/ab6.pdf

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4bTSLLDDx2M

https://segu-geschichte.de/militarismus/#:~:text=Militarismus%20meint%20eine%20besondere%20Betonung,auch%20als%20Obrigkeitsstaat%20bezeichnet%20wird.

https://didactmedia.eu/produkt/schule-im-kaiserreich/

https://www.hanisauland.de/wissen/lexikon/grosses-lexikon/m/militarismus.html#:~:text=Auch%20im%20Alltagsleben%20der%20Menschen,beispielsweise%20durch%20Kleidung%20und%20Spielzeug.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70hcI6zQt-s

Conclusion

lyeywi — 2024-01-08 09:42:35 UTC

• There was a system everyone had to obey. As you can see in the picture above in which everyone is put under the helmet of militarism. Furthermore the gender decided which path is the right one for you to go and they could not choose, like nowadays, who stays at home for the children or bears responsibility for the household.

• Of course not every family also did what the system demanded. Especially wealthier families often had other possibilities to choose. Many of them educated their children in a loving way and not under strength rules.

It was hard to avoid this severe lifestyle due to the fact that it was everywhere (school, clubs, national holidays, etc.) and the military was portrayed as an institute every self-respecting man would want to work in.
It lead to an unhealthy national pride as well as to the rejection of minorities.

At home

kevinschreiner21 — 2024-01-10 13:17:53 UTC

• Children were seen as unformed masses that adults had to bring into the right shape.

• Parents and teachers taught their children to always show respect to an authority figure.

• The children were supposed to become obedient subjects loyal to the emperor, who always subordinated their needs to the well-being of the empire.

• family structures: father as the head of the family who the children had to obey, the mother always had to bear responsibility for the household and raising the children

• The military aspect about this kind of education at home is that the gender automatically decided whether the child gets prepared to be a good wife and mother for her future husband and children or to become a soldier and get to feed the family.

Children books and songs

kevinschreiner21 — 2024-01-10 13:18:54 UTC

Books:

• "Struwwelhitler" by Dr. Schrecklichkeit (1941):
A satirical parody of "Der Struwwelpeter", published during the Nazi era. The book caricatures Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime in a humorous way.

• "Der Struwwelpeter" by Heinrich Hoffmann (1845):
Even though this book was published before the founding of the German Empire, it also had a certain relevance in the later period of the Empire. It contains moral stories that often show the consequences of wrongdoing in a humorous way.

Songs:

• "Die Gedanken sind frei" (originally 16th century):

This song became popular over the centuries and was also popular during the German Empire. It expresses the desire for freedom and free thinking.