Within the German academic youth and the intellectual circles, the shared experience of the wars of freedom that took place in Europe in the years before 1848 had left a profound and lasting impression. These struggles, which were primarily conducted for national self-determination, freedom and against the feudal and absolutist system, shaped the consciousness of theyoung generation significantly. The rejection of absolutist rule was expressed particularly symbolically at the Wartburg Festival in 1817: The old, autocratic order was adopted by the symbolic burning of the braid and corporal stick. This event was a milestone in the German student body and a sign of the desire for a new,republican form of government. The demand for a democratic, republican constitution was loudly articulated and reflected the longing for freedom, self-determination and national unity. But these early movements initially remained largely without direct political implementation, since the political landscape was still strongly dominated by conservative forces.
The upswing of the revolution after 1848: triggers and first developments
Only after the February Revolution in Paris in 1848, which the previous monarchical system in France was faltering, did the revolutionary flame spread to the German states. In the Central German countries, including Berlin, Leipzig, Frankfurt and Stuttgart, open-minded, liberal forces began protests and demonstrations, which eventually led to far-reaching changes.The revolutionary movement gained momentum, and liberal politicians were able to take control of government powers in some regions. The frightened princes were increasingly under pressure and were forced to make concessions. Under the pressure of the rebellious population, freedom of the press and assembly was granted, which was previously strictly restrictedwas. These concessions were an attempt to curb the emerging revolution and to secure one’s own position of power. But this development did not go peacefully everywhere; In some countries, there were significant conflicts and violent clashes.
Violent revolutions in Austria and Prussia
The revolutions in Austria and Prussia were far more violent and turbulent. On March 13, 1848, large crowds gathered in front of the Hofburg in Vienna and pushed for entry, built barricades and called for reforms. Despite the appeal of the then elderly Austrian Chancellor Metternich to resist, the government showed no resistance whatMetternich ultimately forced to flee. These events marked the beginning of a series of unrest throughout the Habsburg Empire. In Hungary, the country declared its autonomy, Milan expelled the Austrian troops and proclaimed its own republic, while an independent republic was established in Venice. These developments were an expression of a profound disintegration of the oldorder within the multi-ethnic state. The violent clashes reflected the despair and the desire for national self-determination, but could hardly stop the revolutionary movements.
The Berlin unrest and the attitude of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV.
Only a few days after the events in Vienna, on March 18, 1848, there were serious shootings in Berlin at a demonstration in front of the castle. There were street battles between demonstrators and the military, in which about 230 people – including workers, craftsmen and students – lost their lives. As a result, Friedrich Wilhelm IV, the then King of Prussia, showed himself initiallywaiting. But in the course of the revolution he adopted the black, red and gold colors of the March Revolutionaries and promised that Prussia would become part of a united Germany in the future. This symbolic gesture was a significant step, even if it was only a political gesture at first. The desire for national unity and freedom had grown strongly among the population, andFriedrich Wilhelm IV had to react to the developing movement.
The Frankfurt Revolution and the first German National Assembly
In April 1848, a pre-parliament in Frankfurt began its meetings to create the basis for a national unification and a democratic constitution. The aim was to prepare free elections for the later German National Assembly. Under the direction of President Heinrich von Gagern, 586 MPs gathered in Frankfurt’s Paulskirche on May 18 of the same year. theNumber corresponded to about one representative per 50,000 inhabitants and showed how wide the participation in this historical event was. The deputies were a diverse representation of different social classes and regions. With this committee, an attempt was made in Germany for the first time to create a democratic, national unity on a parliamentary basis. theDebates and decisions of this Parliament should be crucial for Germany’s future political development.
Reviving revolutions in Vienna and Paris and the setbacks
In the summer of 1848, the revolutionary fire flared up again in Paris and Vienna. Both cities became focal points of resistance to the old order. In Vienna, the Austrian Reichstag moved its meetings to the Bishop’s Palace of Kremsier in eastern Moravia to escape the unrest. But on October 31, 1848, imperial troops managed to recapture Vienna andto put down revolution. These setbacks meant a deep cut for the revolutionary movement, the hope of a quick change dwindled. Nevertheless, the deputies in Frankfurt continued their work on a Reich constitution and tried to secure the fundamental rights and freedoms of the peoples. The importance of a united, democratically composedGermany repeatedly emphasized. The majority of the deputies supported the election of Friedrich Wilhelm IV as emperor, but the Prussian king rejected the offer. This ultimately led to the dissolution of the National Assembly and the end of the revolution in its original form. In June 1849, the so-called “Rumpf Parliament” in Stuttgart was dissolved by the military. the lastPopular uprisings, such as on the Rhine, in Berlin, Dresden, Baden and the Palatinate, were crushed bloodily. The Treaty of Olmütz in 1850 finally marked the reinstatement of the German Confederation under Austrian leadership and the official end of the revolutionary period.
Causes of the failure of the revolutions and the consequences for the bourgeoisie
But why did these promising revolutionary movements fail so early? Was it above all the fear of the bourgeoisie of radical currents that feared losing control? Or did the revolutionaries lack sufficient political experience to correctly assess the complex power relations within Germany and also at international level? manyHistorians argue that the revolutionaries underestimated the actual power relations and did not have enough support from the conservative forces. The consequences of this failure were profound: the bourgeoisie withdrew from active politics and instead focused more on economic and scientific developments. The politicalParticipation was severely restricted, and the ancient monarchical structures and feudal systems remained largely in existence. These developments significantly influenced the further social development in Germany and laid the foundation for the later political upheavals.
The Slovak resistance in the course of the Hungarian Revolution
Parallel to the events in Germany, a revolution broke out in Hungary in 1848, which also had a national component. The Slovakian member of the Hungarian Parliament, L’Udovit Stür (1815-1856), saw the opportunity at this moment to represent the interests of his people. Together with like-minded people, on May 10th he called for the formation of his own National Assembly, whichFederal organization of Hungary. In this case, borders should be recognized according to ethnic criteria and the Slovak language should be fully approved in the public service and in the educational institutions. These demands met with great popularity among the Slovak population, but the high nobility reacted with all severity. Slovak insurgents were hanged,While Stür, Hurban and Hodza fled to Austria. In Vienna they founded the “Slovak National Council” and declared Slovakia to be detached from the Hungarian state association. These developments showed that even within the national movements in Hungary, deep conflicts and resistance were present, which made the revolution as a whole difficult.
