Pan-Germanism vs Pan-Slavism?

[LJBurke]

Can anybody give a brief outline of what this argument actually is in terms of helping bring around both WW1 and WW2, individually?

The way I understand it is basically German nationalism vs Slav nationalism?

[Pepe]

I am not an expert in the causes of WWI and WWII but as far as I know:

PanGermanism was an idea of uniting all German peoples within the Greater Germany, pursued by:
a) Wilhelm II and German military leaders before the First World War

b) Hitler within his nationalistic programme

In the first case it contributed to the outbreak of the WWI because it influenced the foreign policy of Germany during the rule of Wilhelm II - he implemented his Weltpolitik (expansionist policy), allied with Austria-Hungary (Dual Alliance). Some tend to connect PanGermanism with the Austria-Hungarian policy as well. If we interpret it in this way PanGermanism can be seen as a more direct cause of the WWI - Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia because it had a backing of Germany as a fellow German nation and believed in its supremacy over Slavs.

In case of Hitler some elements of PanGermanism could be visible already in hist 25 Points and then in Mein Kampf - it is directly connected with his nationalistic ideas. PanGermanic elements that contributed to the WWII: the desire to get back German territories taken by the Treaty of Versailles (revision of the Treaty in general), Anschluss with Austria, winning Lebensraum on the east (Germany is a supreme nation and needs territory to get raw materials and land, Slavs would then become slaves working for the citizens of the Greater Germany). It can be also connected with Hitler's plan for armament. All these were to some extent the causes of WWII.

It is interesting that some historians, for example A.J.P. Taylor, have very controversial views on the contribution of German nationalism (and the PanGerman ideas as well) to the outbreak of wars - they think that expansionism and the belief in German supremacy are typical for the German nation.

PanSlavism was an idea of uniting all Slavic peoples within the Russian Empire. It was an element of foreign policy of Russian Tzars before the WWI, but I dont think that it contributed in any way to the WWII. In case of WWI PanSlavism was mostly visible in the Russian support for Slavic nations in Balkans - many times Russia explained her actions in the region with her desire to help her friends in need. PanSlavism can be connected with a direct cause of the WWI because most probably without the Russian support Serbia would not have rejected the ultimatum sent by Austria in 1914.

EDIT: Ive just checked it and Panslavism can be also connected with the state of Yougoslavia, therefore it also contributed to some extent to the WWII

Im sorry that it is very brief and maybe vague but I am also revising for the exams right now and cannot procrastinate any more

Edited May 7, 2013 by Pepe

[Matsu]

Didn't Serbia agree to virtually all the demands of AH in their ultimatum?

Edited May 8, 2013 by Matsu

[Jeanie15]

They agreed to all of them except for part of clause 6. AH, however, viewed this as a good enough reason to invade because they truly weren't looking for an agreement out of the ultimatum, but just an excuse to declare war. It was this declaration of war which then sucked the rest of the alliances into WWI.