There’s not much talk about it outside Germany, nor even inside Germany. But this year is the 75th anniversary of the democratic Federal Republic of Germany. Given Germany’s past, it’s a remarkable achievement meriting global celebration. It also testifies to a nation’s ability dramatically to shift course, signifying national agency, enabled by divine grace. No country must be captive to its past. A gracious Providence always offers a better path.
All nations have dark spirits, but Germany’s have been among the darkest. German unification occurred in 1871 with the defeat of France and the creation of the German Empire. It became the world’s third-largest industrial power and most powerful country in continental Europe, only to squander its position by precipitating World War I. Its nascent democratic institutions were subverted by the military and crown.
The war decimated old Europe and forever scarred Western Civilization and Christendom. Four empires including the German were destroyed. Seventeen million were killed. It birthed murderous totalitarian ideologies. Germany facilitated Lenin’s return to Russia, precipitating the Bolshevik Revolution, spawning a regime that would kill tens of millions whose successor state still threatens today.
Germany’s defeat would spawn the world’s most monstrous regime. The Weimar Republic was only a nest and preamble for the Third Reich and National Socialism. German democracy self-destructed and voted into power a genocidal tyranny that would murder eleven million with demonic efficiency. It also, with Japan, launched humanity’s most destructive war, killing 50 million. Nazism, which deified Germany, was also suicidal, leaving its country, defeated, flattened and occupied by its enemies.
With different choices, Germany could have repeated the cycle from WWI, stewing in resentment and plotting revenge. Instead, amid the rubble and horrors, it chose a different course guided by repentance, wisdom, and pragmatism. The Federal Republic of Germany was founded on May 23 1949 with the launch of its Basic Law serving as a constitution for West Germany, while East Germany, under Soviet occupation, became the German Democratic Republic. Its Article I declares: “Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority.”
This declaration rebuked the racial hatred and genocide central to the Third Reich. It anchored Germany firmly in the Christian-influenced West with its focus on human rights and human dignity. Konrad Adenauer as first chancellor and first leader of the Christian Democratic Union for 14 years led the Federal Republic of Germany under Christian democratic principles. It thrived as a multiparty democracy with a fast-growing economy and NATO member. It was inoculated against extremist politics and did not, unlike France and Italy, have a significant Communist party during the Cold War.
It could be argued that West Germany, under initial U.S. occupation and under continuing American influence, did only what it must. But there are other countries under U.S. occupation and influence that made very different choices. Most recently, Afghanistan, despite 20 years of American occupation and largesse, chose restored Islamist rule under the Taliban over democracy. They now live with their choice. Nations have agency and, unless controlled by a larger nation, like East Europe during the Cold War, shape their own destiny.
Germany’s choices in the first half of the 20th century were calamitous to the whole world, destroying millions. Its choices over the last 75 years have been wise, and a blessing to the democratic world. It is the world’s third-largest economy after America and China. It is the largest NATO member. It is one of America’s most important friends. It is a patron to Ukraine in its war for survival. Mindful of its past, it has remained a friend to Israel since almost the beginning. Also mindful of its past, it remains on guard against anti-democratic extremism. The rise of the far-right Alliance for Germany is troubling but resistance to it remains overwhelming.
Again mindful of its past, Germany does not easily celebrate itself. Its 75th anniversary has been low-key. In Bonn, where the Federal Republic was founded, 61,000 people on May 25 gathered for a Festival of Democracy. It seems like a small number for so momentous an occasion. There will be more celebrations next month to commemorate the meeting of the first Bundestag or federal parliament.
The world outside Germany has nearly ignored democratic Germany’s 75th anniversary, in contrast with the 80th anniversary of D-Day this year and how WWII’s conclusion will be celebrated next year. Peace and successful governance merit celebration no less than victories in war. Modern democratic Germany’s 75 years of success is one of the most remarkable stories of the last century. It is also both a lesson and model to other countries.
Russia after its Cold War defeat, like post-WWI Germany, briefly enjoyed democracy, with which it became impatient. So it then chose resentment, fantasy and dictatorship. Its dictator is now waging senseless war that will end in collapse. Maybe then it will realize its mistakes and choose more wisely. Or maybe not.
No less than persons, nations are, in God’s mercy, allowed choices that shape their character and set their future. No person or nation is predestined to infamy and disaster. All are invited to live with decency, honor and wisdom. Some accept this invite and many tragically do not. We can choose life with abundance in harmony with others or malevolent alternatives.
Germany chose malevolence, learned from calamity, and then chose life. May other nations also learn, so that the world might more align with God’s will for peace and good will among all people.