Second Assignment

The rediscovery of Tacitus’ ancient manuscript, The Germania, has had a massive impact on Germany and German peoples of the 15th century through today.

[3] Tacitus

In 1425, Poggio Bracciolini, an Italian author and Humanist, heard rumors that manuscripts written by the Roman senator and historian Tacitus could be found in Hersfeld Abbey, near Fulda.1  Later, in 1451, an emissary of Pope Nicholas V brought the works back to Rome where they were examined by Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who would become Pope Pius II.2  Since the first printing of Germania in 1473 in Nuremberg, writers and thinkers have been waging battles for the future of Germany using Tacitus’ writings as ammunition.1  By the year 1500, The Germania had become a central part of discussions regarding German history and also the basis for the idea of a unified German people. The term “Germanii” was suggested by the work and used to inspire war-like qualities in Germans in a crusade against the Turks.2  By the 1920's and 1930's, The Germania would play a role in a more modern and sinister turmoil that would drastically impact the whole of Europe.

[4] Germanic warriors storm the field,

Varusschlacht, 1909

            Throughout the history of Germany from the 15th-20th century, many have searched for the roots of their political, social, and racial identities and the unity of its peoples. Frequently over time, The Germania has been used to bolster the arguments of those making the case for a distinct and separate identity of German people, who share amongst themselves, unique values, customs, history, and ancestral race. In a post-revolutionary Germany around 1848, some writers began to look to Tacitus' work and highlight terms such as "not tainted" which they used as an argument for racial purity. By 1924, this had inspired young socialists such as Heinrich Himmler, who would later come to a position of power. About 20 years later, Himmler would send troops to a palazzo where he believed the oldest existing manuscript of The Germania was kept. Although he was unsuccessful at the time, in 2009 it would travel to modern Germany for an exhibition celebrating the 2,000 year anniversary of the victory of Arminius over the Roman legions in the Battle of the Teutoburg forest.3

[1]  Todd, Malcolm. “The Early Germans.” Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing LTD, 1992. Scribd. Web.      16 July 2011. 

[2]  “Germania (book).” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 24 June 2011. 16 July 2011.

[3]  Murphy, Cullen. “The Idea of Germany, From Tacitus to Hitler.” The New York Times, 10 June 2011. n. page. Web. 16 July 2011. 

[4]  "Balltle of the Teutoburg Forest." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 28 June 2011. 17 July 2011.