I have two posts in mind for today because I want to push some information and opinion out in more manageable bites. We’ve referred in the past to the historical background to the current conflict which goes back in one sense or another to Napoleonic times. Bear with me—the historical perspective is useful.
The same problem Germany suffered for centuries; picked at from all sides (think 30 years war). A strong Germany will always dominate Western Europe because of geography.
I would take issue with that. Germany never existed as a country until ~1870. The Germans were a collective of related tribes that included, prominently, the Franks in northern France. Not all of those related tribes have ever joined a German nation (Dutch/Flemish in the NW, Austrian and Swiss in the S and SE). From north to south there have always been major differences--Bavarians, Saxons, Low Germans that were reflected in political states. The 30 Years War was more a civil war within Germanic regions with outside participation.
As for Germany's strength, while geography plays a role, it is mostly in a broad sense--the resources within the Germanic region. Just as important, however, is the size of the German population, once unified. That combination of large population with natural resources tips the scales, IMO.
Otto the 1st; (the Great) first major European monarchy until the investiture crisis, fight with the Papacy, sowed civil war, and Canosa. This allowed the other emerging monarchies to form (france under Phillip and England under Henry II (Beckett murder). See Geoffrey Barraclough's "Origins of Modern Germany". The 30 years war had no German participants, just victums. Poles, Swedes, Austrians, French; all had armies at one time or another, but no Germans. Catholic interests versus protestants with Germany in the middle. Keeping Germany down has been the goal of a lot of interests (not just NATO).
Franks? All Western Europe is a Germanic peoples overlay on top of celts, pics, and various earlier groups. Franks in France, angles & saxons & utes in britannia, Allemani, allani and suebi, Burgundi in Germany. The Strassburg Oathes (843) between Charlemagne's remaining sons is generally recognized as the division of modern France and Germany, (as well as the two languages), also the reason for Strassburg as seat of the EU Parlement
It was the rise of a German national consciousness--which came late in European history, in the wake of the French revolution and the Napoleonic empire--that led to the unification of most of the disparate Germanic lands. That unification combined a large population with a an enormous economic base.
WOW! Almost too much to assimilate in this post, the pathetic world history "education" I obtained 40+ years ago never touched on any of what was mentioned.
It appears that Ukraine is the proverbial canary in the coal mine, their great wealth of resources does not benefit the people there, this is coming to pass in the rest of Europe and the USA on an ever accelerating schedule.
My SWAG is that the west's geopolitics is going to be unrecognizable within 2-5 years. I hope the globalists fever dreams die a sudden death.
The same problem Germany suffered for centuries; picked at from all sides (think 30 years war). A strong Germany will always dominate Western Europe because of geography.
I would take issue with that. Germany never existed as a country until ~1870. The Germans were a collective of related tribes that included, prominently, the Franks in northern France. Not all of those related tribes have ever joined a German nation (Dutch/Flemish in the NW, Austrian and Swiss in the S and SE). From north to south there have always been major differences--Bavarians, Saxons, Low Germans that were reflected in political states. The 30 Years War was more a civil war within Germanic regions with outside participation.
As for Germany's strength, while geography plays a role, it is mostly in a broad sense--the resources within the Germanic region. Just as important, however, is the size of the German population, once unified. That combination of large population with natural resources tips the scales, IMO.
Otto the 1st; (the Great) first major European monarchy until the investiture crisis, fight with the Papacy, sowed civil war, and Canosa. This allowed the other emerging monarchies to form (france under Phillip and England under Henry II (Beckett murder). See Geoffrey Barraclough's "Origins of Modern Germany". The 30 years war had no German participants, just victums. Poles, Swedes, Austrians, French; all had armies at one time or another, but no Germans. Catholic interests versus protestants with Germany in the middle. Keeping Germany down has been the goal of a lot of interests (not just NATO).
Franks? All Western Europe is a Germanic peoples overlay on top of celts, pics, and various earlier groups. Franks in France, angles & saxons & utes in britannia, Allemani, allani and suebi, Burgundi in Germany. The Strassburg Oathes (843) between Charlemagne's remaining sons is generally recognized as the division of modern France and Germany, (as well as the two languages), also the reason for Strassburg as seat of the EU Parlement
"The 30 years war had no German participants"
Austrians are German and the Catholic League counted major German states within the Holy Roman Empire, such as Bavaria.
It was the rise of a German national consciousness--which came late in European history, in the wake of the French revolution and the Napoleonic empire--that led to the unification of most of the disparate Germanic lands. That unification combined a large population with a an enormous economic base.
Outstanding...again!
Thanks.
WOW! Almost too much to assimilate in this post, the pathetic world history "education" I obtained 40+ years ago never touched on any of what was mentioned.
It appears that Ukraine is the proverbial canary in the coal mine, their great wealth of resources does not benefit the people there, this is coming to pass in the rest of Europe and the USA on an ever accelerating schedule.
My SWAG is that the west's geopolitics is going to be unrecognizable within 2-5 years. I hope the globalists fever dreams die a sudden death.
For WW2 buffs:
Thread: Operation Barbarossa
https://twitter.com/witte_sergei/status/1537115514090074112
Interesting title…
The gravedigger of the Soviet Union”: why so called Zbigniew Brzezinski
https://www.ilawjournals.com/the-gravedigger-of-the-soviet-union-why-so-called-zbigniew-brzezinski/
Thanks. I didn't know about his roots in Western Ukraine.
They were drunk with power. Unfortunately we all share in the hangover.