| Hysteria Part 1. The New Kid in Town is Strong, Handsome and Rich. |
Because Germany still faced possible threats from historically hostile France to her west and from
Russia in the east, Germany and Austria-Hungary agreed to form a Dual Alliance in 1879, becoming
a Triple Alliance when joining with Italy in 1882.
Russia in the east, Germany and Austria-Hungary agreed to form a Dual Alliance in 1879, becoming
a Triple Alliance when joining with Italy in 1882.
Germans were enjoying educations. By 1913, Britain had
9,000 university students while Germany had 60,000. In the
fields of science, mathematics and technology, Germany
was annually producing over 3,000 graduate engineers a year
compared to Britain's 350! Germany was also leading in the
sectors of physics and chemistry with one third of all Nobel
Prizes going to German researchers and inventors.
9,000 university students while Germany had 60,000. In the
fields of science, mathematics and technology, Germany
was annually producing over 3,000 graduate engineers a year
compared to Britain's 350! Germany was also leading in the
sectors of physics and chemistry with one third of all Nobel
Prizes going to German researchers and inventors.
Germany was doing very well at the dawn of the twentieth century and
enjoyed a positive image, especially in America. New in comparison to
her European neighbors, the German Empire was efficient, prosperous
and well-respected around the world. As a sign of her economic and social
health, Germany's population had increased dramatically. In 1871, there
were 41 million citizens in German Empire, and by 1913 there were
nearly 68 million, an increase of more than half, and most were enjoying a
relatively high standard of living, a good education and ample employment
in any number of Germany's rapidly growing industries. Between 1871
and 1914, the new German nation enjoyed 43 years of peace while others
were in that time period involved in a multitude of conflicts.
enjoyed a positive image, especially in America. New in comparison to
her European neighbors, the German Empire was efficient, prosperous
and well-respected around the world. As a sign of her economic and social
health, Germany's population had increased dramatically. In 1871, there
were 41 million citizens in German Empire, and by 1913 there were
nearly 68 million, an increase of more than half, and most were enjoying a
relatively high standard of living, a good education and ample employment
in any number of Germany's rapidly growing industries. Between 1871
and 1914, the new German nation enjoyed 43 years of peace while others
were in that time period involved in a multitude of conflicts.
Between German unification in 1871 and 1914, the Kaiserreich surpassed Britain's economic growth
rates as well. Germany's industrial development showed consistent growth and her steel, engineering,
chemical and armament industries were all prospering. Germany also led in motor engineering and
technology and developed an early version of the automobile.
rates as well. Germany's industrial development showed consistent growth and her steel, engineering,
chemical and armament industries were all prospering. Germany also led in motor engineering and
technology and developed an early version of the automobile.
Germany had the most efficient army in the world, the second largest navy and a fledgling Army Air
Service. In 1910, although Germany's empire was small compared to the avaricious British Empire,
which had gobbled up almost a quarter of the world's surface at one point, Germany followed the
example of other European empires and invested heavily in three areas of Africa.
Service. In 1910, although Germany's empire was small compared to the avaricious British Empire,
which had gobbled up almost a quarter of the world's surface at one point, Germany followed the
example of other European empires and invested heavily in three areas of Africa.
At a time when economic strength was in the production of
steel and coal, Germany had multiplied its steel production by
12 times within 30 years and her coal production by nearly
five times.Her manufacturing grew by four times, her exports
by three times, her export of chemicals by three times and her
exports of machinery by five times! Second only to America,
Germany was the most powerful industrial nation in the world
in 1914. Even more stunning, by 1913, her share in global
trade had quadrupled within the previous thirty years.
German manufacturers had begun to capture domestic
markets from British imports, and she was tough competition
to British interests abroad, particularly in the USA. On the
continent, Germany became the dominant economic power
and she was the second largest exporting nation in the world
after the USA. Kaiser Wilhelm and his family, left
steel and coal, Germany had multiplied its steel production by
12 times within 30 years and her coal production by nearly
five times.Her manufacturing grew by four times, her exports
by three times, her export of chemicals by three times and her
exports of machinery by five times! Second only to America,
Germany was the most powerful industrial nation in the world
in 1914. Even more stunning, by 1913, her share in global
trade had quadrupled within the previous thirty years.
German manufacturers had begun to capture domestic
markets from British imports, and she was tough competition
to British interests abroad, particularly in the USA. On the
continent, Germany became the dominant economic power
and she was the second largest exporting nation in the world
after the USA. Kaiser Wilhelm and his family, left
There had been a well-established and highly respected German minority for generations in Britain.
Hans Holbein and Georg Friedrich Händel were among the Germans who once made England their
home, and there were 4,000 members of German Lutheran churches in London in 1750, a number
which grew to 16,000 by the end of the century. From before the days of their mutual cooperation
in defeating Napoleon through Bismarck's era, friendship had thrived between Germany and Britain.
Kaiser Wilhelm II was half English and the English monarchs were a good part German. A small
amount of hostility emerged in the British press in 1896 after Kaiser Wilhelm congratulated President
Kruger of the Transvaal for resisting British aggression. Then, in 1900, during the Second Boer War,
a German barber in Tottenham was accused of pro-Boer sympathies and attacked, and in 1901,
there were some random attacks on Germans travelling by train in east London.
Hans Holbein and Georg Friedrich Händel were among the Germans who once made England their
home, and there were 4,000 members of German Lutheran churches in London in 1750, a number
which grew to 16,000 by the end of the century. From before the days of their mutual cooperation
in defeating Napoleon through Bismarck's era, friendship had thrived between Germany and Britain.
Kaiser Wilhelm II was half English and the English monarchs were a good part German. A small
amount of hostility emerged in the British press in 1896 after Kaiser Wilhelm congratulated President
Kruger of the Transvaal for resisting British aggression. Then, in 1900, during the Second Boer War,
a German barber in Tottenham was accused of pro-Boer sympathies and attacked, and in 1901,
there were some random attacks on Germans travelling by train in east London.
If the situation around 1900 had been a garden show, Britain would have been nervously watching
and hoping that their faded but lovely old Roses would never lose their coveted first place prize status
to Germany's large, spectacular new breed of Begonias. The dawn of the new century was a time of
alliances, and the next decade saw revolutionary changes in Britain's foreign policy as she began to,
in some eyes, strengthen her defenses, or, alternatively, to prepare for war. Britain gained an alliance
with Japan in 1902 and created a Committee of Imperial Defence in 1903, resulting in the Anglo-
French Entente of 1904 and the Anglo-Russian Agreement of 1907. This led to the formation of the
Triple Entente in 1907 by Britain, France and Russia.
and hoping that their faded but lovely old Roses would never lose their coveted first place prize status
to Germany's large, spectacular new breed of Begonias. The dawn of the new century was a time of
alliances, and the next decade saw revolutionary changes in Britain's foreign policy as she began to,
in some eyes, strengthen her defenses, or, alternatively, to prepare for war. Britain gained an alliance
with Japan in 1902 and created a Committee of Imperial Defence in 1903, resulting in the Anglo-
French Entente of 1904 and the Anglo-Russian Agreement of 1907. This led to the formation of the
Triple Entente in 1907 by Britain, France and Russia.
Britian was prodded in the direction of actual war by other more powerful forces in the media, one
of them being British supremacist Alfred Harmsworth, later Lord Northcliffe, the son of an English
barrister born near Dublin on July 15, 1865. By the time he was a young man, he was publishing
numerous newspapers and magazines. In 1905, the year he bought The Times and the Sunday
Observer, he was made the youngest peer of the realm in British history at age 40. One of the earliest
example of a media mogul, Northcliffe, was bellicose when he wanted to be, fiercely independent,
and he could not be bought, a trait which won him unpopularity among certain political factions.
of them being British supremacist Alfred Harmsworth, later Lord Northcliffe, the son of an English
barrister born near Dublin on July 15, 1865. By the time he was a young man, he was publishing
numerous newspapers and magazines. In 1905, the year he bought The Times and the Sunday
Observer, he was made the youngest peer of the realm in British history at age 40. One of the earliest
example of a media mogul, Northcliffe, was bellicose when he wanted to be, fiercely independent,
and he could not be bought, a trait which won him unpopularity among certain political factions.
Northcliffe commissioned French-English author William Le Queux to write 'The Great War in
England' (1897) which featured Germany, France and Russia joining forces and destroying Britain. It
played upon fear and was a great success. But after Russia, Britain and France cozied up together in
real life, he reduced the invader to Germany alone. In 1897, he sent war correspondent G. W.
Steevens to Germany to produce a sixteen-part serial called "Under the Iron Heel" intended to
produce fear of Germany, and Northcliffe wrote an editorial in the Daily Mail three years later
predicting a war with Germany, a theme he consistently maintained.
England' (1897) which featured Germany, France and Russia joining forces and destroying Britain. It
played upon fear and was a great success. But after Russia, Britain and France cozied up together in
real life, he reduced the invader to Germany alone. In 1897, he sent war correspondent G. W.
Steevens to Germany to produce a sixteen-part serial called "Under the Iron Heel" intended to
produce fear of Germany, and Northcliffe wrote an editorial in the Daily Mail three years later
predicting a war with Germany, a theme he consistently maintained.
| Planting the Seeds of Propaganda: Mixing Fantasy and Fact |
Active long before hostilities broke out, British supremacist Rudyard Kipling had already published
"scare" books about the German navy in 1898. He wrote in his poem "The Rowers" that Germans
were "the breed that have wronged us most" and calls them "the shameless Hun". Kipling repeatedly
referred to Germans as beasts and stated "there are only two divisions in the world today: human
beings and Germans" and further, that "the Germans do evil deliberately. It is their nature. It is the
mark of their nationality. They are like microbes, wherever they abound; the evil develops and
infects everything roundabout. Civilized nations must resort to the sterilizing process; they must put
into force measures of international hygiene. Beware of the German microbe." Hate-mongering
Kipling also jumped on board the spy train in 1913 with his short story "The Edge of the Evening".
"scare" books about the German navy in 1898. He wrote in his poem "The Rowers" that Germans
were "the breed that have wronged us most" and calls them "the shameless Hun". Kipling repeatedly
referred to Germans as beasts and stated "there are only two divisions in the world today: human
beings and Germans" and further, that "the Germans do evil deliberately. It is their nature. It is the
mark of their nationality. They are like microbes, wherever they abound; the evil develops and
infects everything roundabout. Civilized nations must resort to the sterilizing process; they must put
into force measures of international hygiene. Beware of the German microbe." Hate-mongering
Kipling also jumped on board the spy train in 1913 with his short story "The Edge of the Evening".
In 1906, Northcliffe, left, once again asked Le Queux for his help and the
"The Invasion of 1910" was published as a lucrative scare serial. The
story immediately increased the newspaper's circulation. It was translated
into twenty-seven languages, and over one million copies of the book
edition were sold, making its author and the tabloid a lot of money. It also
resulted in an intense atmosphere of fear, Germanophobia and mass
hysteria. Le Queux claimed in his book that such an invasion was easily
facilitated by the many "Germans who, having served in the army, had
come over to England and obtained employment as waiters, clerks,
bakers, hairdressers, and private servants, and being bound by their oath
to the Fatherland had served their country as spies".
"The Invasion of 1910" was published as a lucrative scare serial. The
story immediately increased the newspaper's circulation. It was translated
into twenty-seven languages, and over one million copies of the book
edition were sold, making its author and the tabloid a lot of money. It also
resulted in an intense atmosphere of fear, Germanophobia and mass
hysteria. Le Queux claimed in his book that such an invasion was easily
facilitated by the many "Germans who, having served in the army, had
come over to England and obtained employment as waiters, clerks,
bakers, hairdressers, and private servants, and being bound by their oath
to the Fatherland had served their country as spies".
Walter Wood's 1906 novel "The Enemy in Our Midst" told the story of a German Invasion facilitated
by German immigrants who moved to Merry old England and "infest(ed) the Metropolis until their
very presence was a menace and a curse"...."spreadin' all over the place like a plague". British rag
'John Bull' generated hate, coined the term "Germ-huns" and questioned whether a German "was
even a human." Great suspicion and fear arose of anything German. Unrelenting, Harmsworth hired
Socialist Robert Blatchford to visit Germany in 1909 and write a series of articles on the dangers that
the Germans posed to Britain. Blatchford complied and told the wary public: "I believe that Germany
is deliberately preparing to destroy the British Empire" and he warned that Britain needed to spend
more money in defending itself. Germany was rather oblivious to the whole thing.
by German immigrants who moved to Merry old England and "infest(ed) the Metropolis until their
very presence was a menace and a curse"...."spreadin' all over the place like a plague". British rag
'John Bull' generated hate, coined the term "Germ-huns" and questioned whether a German "was
even a human." Great suspicion and fear arose of anything German. Unrelenting, Harmsworth hired
Socialist Robert Blatchford to visit Germany in 1909 and write a series of articles on the dangers that
the Germans posed to Britain. Blatchford complied and told the wary public: "I believe that Germany
is deliberately preparing to destroy the British Empire" and he warned that Britain needed to spend
more money in defending itself. Germany was rather oblivious to the whole thing.
And, right on queux, Le Queux's 1909 book, "Spies of the Kaiser: Plotting
the Downfall of England" burst on scene. This fantasy resulted in the
formation of the British secret service. That same year, the Daily Mail
pumped out a score of fear mongering, anti-German booklets such as "Our
Germans Cousins", left, a take-off on a book produced a couple of decades
earlier which extolled the close relationship between Brits and Germans.
the Downfall of England" burst on scene. This fantasy resulted in the
formation of the British secret service. That same year, the Daily Mail
pumped out a score of fear mongering, anti-German booklets such as "Our
Germans Cousins", left, a take-off on a book produced a couple of decades
earlier which extolled the close relationship between Brits and Germans.
There were more problems as Germany was caught up in the unfamiliar waters of the imperial game
of water polo. In October of 1904, Russia and Japan were warring and a Russian fleet mistook some
British fishing vessels at Dogger Bank off the coast of England for Japanese warships and fired upon
them, killing some British fishermen. It seemed possible that Britain and Japan might combine forces
against Russia since Britain was loosely allied with Japan, therefore Kaiser Wilhelm II urged his
cousin, the Russian Czar Nicholas II., to sign a mutual defensive treaty with Germany once Russia's
war with Japan ended. This was presented by the British press as "German support for Russia", and
the media quickly and vehemently denounced Germany, further inflaming British opinion against
Germany with unsubstantiated accusations that Germany was "aiming toward world domination".
of water polo. In October of 1904, Russia and Japan were warring and a Russian fleet mistook some
British fishing vessels at Dogger Bank off the coast of England for Japanese warships and fired upon
them, killing some British fishermen. It seemed possible that Britain and Japan might combine forces
against Russia since Britain was loosely allied with Japan, therefore Kaiser Wilhelm II urged his
cousin, the Russian Czar Nicholas II., to sign a mutual defensive treaty with Germany once Russia's
war with Japan ended. This was presented by the British press as "German support for Russia", and
the media quickly and vehemently denounced Germany, further inflaming British opinion against
Germany with unsubstantiated accusations that Germany was "aiming toward world domination".
Other relatively minor event were sensationalized and misconstrued to incur the wrath of the public,
such as the first (and later the second) Moroccan Crisis. Britain's First Sea Lord, Sir John Fischer,
actually proposed sinking Germany's navy, and Germany defensively brought its navy back to home
waters. Alas, this action propelled the screaming British media to report that this meant that Germany
might be "secretly preparing for war". While this war scare subsided, it set the groundwork for even
more savage scare stories often financed and pumped up by a special-interest fueled media.
such as the first (and later the second) Moroccan Crisis. Britain's First Sea Lord, Sir John Fischer,
actually proposed sinking Germany's navy, and Germany defensively brought its navy back to home
waters. Alas, this action propelled the screaming British media to report that this meant that Germany
might be "secretly preparing for war". While this war scare subsided, it set the groundwork for even
more savage scare stories often financed and pumped up by a special-interest fueled media.
Kaiser Wilhelm in the arms of his beloved
grandmother, British Queen Victoria
grandmother, British Queen Victoria
Germany had a less aggressive past than her European neighbors from long before her nationhood.
From the time of the dark ages, she was the principal participant in less than a quarter of the wars of
England, Spain, Russia, or France, and she was associated more with music and poetry than conflict.
From the time of the dark ages, she was the principal participant in less than a quarter of the wars of
England, Spain, Russia, or France, and she was associated more with music and poetry than conflict.
Another fictional fear fantasy of this period was Author T. W. Offin's book, "How the Germans
Took London", 1900, where he illustrated how "thousands of Teutons have, year by year, crept into
our employ" and paved the way for a successful German invasion. Unfortunately, "year by year"
more and more cheesy, second rate sensational fear stories actually did invade Britain.
Took London", 1900, where he illustrated how "thousands of Teutons have, year by year, crept into
our employ" and paved the way for a successful German invasion. Unfortunately, "year by year"
more and more cheesy, second rate sensational fear stories actually did invade Britain.
While the British were mixing up fiction with reality during this period, it is interesting to note that in
the years 1911, 1912 and 1913, Germany's military spending budget was smaller than that of Russia
and France, and considerably less than Great Britain's. Intense Germanophobia would soon sweep
across Britain as the march to war hastened.
the years 1911, 1912 and 1913, Germany's military spending budget was smaller than that of Russia
and France, and considerably less than Great Britain's. Intense Germanophobia would soon sweep
across Britain as the march to war hastened.
Erskine Childers was another British "patriot" who detested the fact that an upstart German Empire
had developed a superb navy. The enemy invader was more clearly defined as German rather than
French or otherwise when Childers pooped out the German invasion novel, "The Riddle of the
Sands: A Record of Secret Service" in 1903, an espionage novel with a strong underlying theme of
militarism. The hero was especially endearing to the British public, for he was an ordinary yachtsman
whose paltry nautical skill saves England from the dreaded and inevitable German invasion: “We’re
a maritime nation. We’ve grown by the sea and live by it; if we lose command of it we starve.”
Childers called it "a story with a purpose" written from "a patriot's natural sense of duty". It predicted
war with Germany and called for immediate British preparedness.
had developed a superb navy. The enemy invader was more clearly defined as German rather than
French or otherwise when Childers pooped out the German invasion novel, "The Riddle of the
Sands: A Record of Secret Service" in 1903, an espionage novel with a strong underlying theme of
militarism. The hero was especially endearing to the British public, for he was an ordinary yachtsman
whose paltry nautical skill saves England from the dreaded and inevitable German invasion: “We’re
a maritime nation. We’ve grown by the sea and live by it; if we lose command of it we starve.”
Childers called it "a story with a purpose" written from "a patriot's natural sense of duty". It predicted
war with Germany and called for immediate British preparedness.
Winston Churchill later credited Childer's "Riddle of the Sands" as a major reason why the Royal
Navy developed new naval bases (Scapa Flow, Invergordon and Rosyth) on the North Sea coast (to
prepare for possible war with Germany). Later, when war was declared, Churchill ordered Naval
Intelligence to find Childers, whom he had once met, and offer him a government job.
Navy developed new naval bases (Scapa Flow, Invergordon and Rosyth) on the North Sea coast (to
prepare for possible war with Germany). Later, when war was declared, Churchill ordered Naval
Intelligence to find Childers, whom he had once met, and offer him a government job.
Erskine Childers published further works in 1911: "War and the Arme
Blanche" and "German Influence on British Cavalry". When he had written
'Riddle', he had also contributed "factual" reports to The Times which
warned of outdated British army tactics in the event of "conflicts of the
future". He developed this theme in these two novels.
Blanche" and "German Influence on British Cavalry". When he had written
'Riddle', he had also contributed "factual" reports to The Times which
warned of outdated British army tactics in the event of "conflicts of the
future". He developed this theme in these two novels.
This Entente encircled and thus threatened Germany and the Dual Monarchy, and in essence was
formed to return and preserve the old European balance of power. All parties had an ax to grind with
Germany's growing power and economic success: Britain faced much stronger competition from
Germany and would benefit from the destruction of Germany's commerce; Revanchist France was
still fuming over the Franco-Prussian War when she was forced to return the (originally German)
areas of Alsace and Lorraine, Strasburg and Metz; Russia would benefit from the downfall of
Austria-Hungary as she could then gain supremacy over all Slavic nations. By subsequent policies,
British monarch Edward VII would indeed unite Pan-Slavic Russia, encourage Japan against Russia,
incite the French and seduce Italy. This is seen by many as the immediate cause of World War One.
formed to return and preserve the old European balance of power. All parties had an ax to grind with
Germany's growing power and economic success: Britain faced much stronger competition from
Germany and would benefit from the destruction of Germany's commerce; Revanchist France was
still fuming over the Franco-Prussian War when she was forced to return the (originally German)
areas of Alsace and Lorraine, Strasburg and Metz; Russia would benefit from the downfall of
Austria-Hungary as she could then gain supremacy over all Slavic nations. By subsequent policies,
British monarch Edward VII would indeed unite Pan-Slavic Russia, encourage Japan against Russia,
incite the French and seduce Italy. This is seen by many as the immediate cause of World War One.
It was later said of him: "Next to the Kaiser,
Lord Northcliffe did more than any living man to
bring about the war." Northcliffe's 'Daily Mail'
tabloid, which he boasted stood "for the power,
the supremacy and the greatness of the British
Empire", had been suckled and fattened by the
public's interest in the Boer War. Britain had
suffered sporadic spasms of "invasion scares"
since the time of Napoleon and these fears
intensified in the 1890s with Germany's rapidly
advancing naval technology which was seen as a
threat to Britain's economic superiority at sea.
Lord Northcliffe did more than any living man to
bring about the war." Northcliffe's 'Daily Mail'
tabloid, which he boasted stood "for the power,
the supremacy and the greatness of the British
Empire", had been suckled and fattened by the
public's interest in the Boer War. Britain had
suffered sporadic spasms of "invasion scares"
since the time of Napoleon and these fears
intensified in the 1890s with Germany's rapidly
advancing naval technology which was seen as a
threat to Britain's economic superiority at sea.
| Her Cousins |
The first British invasion novel of any consequence was a magazine short
story called "The Battle of Dorking" by George T. Chesney in 1871, shortly
after Germany brought France to its knees under Bismarck. It was a fictional
account of an invasion of a small English town by Germans. Quite popular,
the magazine re-printed Dorking six times and created a pamphlet version
which was sold throughout the British Empire. All the same, "Dorking" was
pretty much taken simply as entertainment in England. There were many
spoofs on it, and at the time a common joke when someone had a minor
injury was to ask, "Did you get that at the battle of Dorking?" Even the
Germans published it and poked fun at it. The first installment of the German
version of "Die Schlacht bei Dorking" appeared in May, 1871.
story called "The Battle of Dorking" by George T. Chesney in 1871, shortly
after Germany brought France to its knees under Bismarck. It was a fictional
account of an invasion of a small English town by Germans. Quite popular,
the magazine re-printed Dorking six times and created a pamphlet version
which was sold throughout the British Empire. All the same, "Dorking" was
pretty much taken simply as entertainment in England. There were many
spoofs on it, and at the time a common joke when someone had a minor
injury was to ask, "Did you get that at the battle of Dorking?" Even the
Germans published it and poked fun at it. The first installment of the German
version of "Die Schlacht bei Dorking" appeared in May, 1871.
Even though subsequent research has long since proved that no significant German espionage
network existed in Britain at the time, and in spite of the fact that the total German community in
Britain was then less than 44,000 people, claims about the scale of German invasion preparations
imaginatively swelled the number of German spies to between 60,000 and 300,000, probably a bigger
number than an entire actual army.
network existed in Britain at the time, and in spite of the fact that the total German community in
Britain was then less than 44,000 people, claims about the scale of German invasion preparations
imaginatively swelled the number of German spies to between 60,000 and 300,000, probably a bigger
number than an entire actual army.
"When William Came" (1913) by H.H. Munro ('Saki') was set in the
gloomy future, after Germany won a fictional war with Great Britain and
began its dastardly occupation. "William" is of course Wilhelm, as in
Hohenzollern. The book depicts the horrible life facing Londoners after
Zombie-like Germans invades. The British daily press began reporting
such fictions as near realities and even started to regularly publish
purported public sightings of German spies and saboteurs. Scottish born
'Saki' later served in the war he helped fuel and was killed in action.
gloomy future, after Germany won a fictional war with Great Britain and
began its dastardly occupation. "William" is of course Wilhelm, as in
Hohenzollern. The book depicts the horrible life facing Londoners after
Zombie-like Germans invades. The British daily press began reporting
such fictions as near realities and even started to regularly publish
purported public sightings of German spies and saboteurs. Scottish born
'Saki' later served in the war he helped fuel and was killed in action.
In 1914, Kipling returned with "For All We Have and Are" and uttered:
"For all we have and are, For all our children's fate, Stand up and take the
war. The Hun is at the gate!" in his arrogant, ceaseless efforts to fan
British war fever against the Germans whom he pathologically detested.
"For all we have and are, For all our children's fate, Stand up and take the
war. The Hun is at the gate!" in his arrogant, ceaseless efforts to fan
British war fever against the Germans whom he pathologically detested.
Probably the first thing that helped mold British minds to regard Germans with suspicion and dislike
was an emerging literary genre called the "invasion novel". Although these novels seem almost silly
today, they actually ended up having a very serious impact on a public (who was more gullible than
today's more cynical audience) as they developed from "fun and fantasy" into actual fear mongering.
was an emerging literary genre called the "invasion novel". Although these novels seem almost silly
today, they actually ended up having a very serious impact on a public (who was more gullible than
today's more cynical audience) as they developed from "fun and fantasy" into actual fear mongering.
Die Allgemeine Zeitung poked fun at the theme of good, pure English blood being tainted by German
mongrels. The editor printed a special supplement in which he jokingly wrote, "A Special Message
from John Michael Trutz-Baumwoll, Anglo-German politician of the future, to His Royal Highness,
the German Emperor." Five days, the Pall Mall Gazette in London wryly retorted in jest: "The idea
of a German invasion of England as developed in ‘The Battle of Dorking’ has now been taken up by
the German press...... Herr Trutz-Baumwoll says that, as a German, he warmly desires the extension
of the German Empire and of the glories of his race, while as an English citizen he is no less mindful
of the real interests of his adopted country, and that he is convinced that the two objects might both
be attained by the same means."
mongrels. The editor printed a special supplement in which he jokingly wrote, "A Special Message
from John Michael Trutz-Baumwoll, Anglo-German politician of the future, to His Royal Highness,
the German Emperor." Five days, the Pall Mall Gazette in London wryly retorted in jest: "The idea
of a German invasion of England as developed in ‘The Battle of Dorking’ has now been taken up by
the German press...... Herr Trutz-Baumwoll says that, as a German, he warmly desires the extension
of the German Empire and of the glories of his race, while as an English citizen he is no less mindful
of the real interests of his adopted country, and that he is convinced that the two objects might both
be attained by the same means."
At this time, however, the majority of invasion novels still assumed that the enemy would be France
(or even aliens as in H. G. Wells "The War of the Worlds" in 1898) rather than Germany. By 1914,
the invasion genre would include over 400 books, many best-sellers as hundreds of authors, good,
bad and mediocre, jumped on the band wagon, and by then almost all had a German villain.
(or even aliens as in H. G. Wells "The War of the Worlds" in 1898) rather than Germany. By 1914,
the invasion genre would include over 400 books, many best-sellers as hundreds of authors, good,
bad and mediocre, jumped on the band wagon, and by then almost all had a German villain.
