Opinion
“I fear Greeks, even when they bring gifts.” ~ Virgil (30BC).
With regard to European history, the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, with its upset victory (once more) by Prussia (along with the balance of loosely unified German states) over post-Napoleonic France, essentially created the modern nation of Germany, permanently uniting most German regions, minus Austria (more correctly “Austria-Hungary,” since after WWI Austria and Hungary split, became separate sovereign nations).
Prussia was the leading German state at the time, but the term was mostly dropped after unification. The “Prusi” were an ancient tribe (long gone) who once occupied the area. “Germany” loosely translates to “The Land” and was first coined by a territorially ambitious Julius Caesar in 50BC. Hungary got its name from invading Asian “Huns”.
Austria was an influential European nation for most of the 1800s but was carved up at the end of WWI. Only a small, mostly German-speaking parcel remained and retained the title of “Austria.” The name comes from “Osterreich,” for “Eastern (Goth) Kingdom,” again a term assigned by Romans
During the “Interwar Years” (1918-1939), pan-German, assorted Fascist, and Marxist Revolutionary forces opposed each other all over Europe, often violently!
Mixed in was the Catholic Church, various Protestant denominations (Austria and France were mostly Catholic, Prussia mostly Protestant), Jewish enclaves, and an extensive catalog of other ethnic, cultural, and linguistic tribal groups (particularly in eastern Europe), all seeking redress for ancient “wrongs,” some identity/unity, and of course a national “homeland” (but always at some other group’s expense)
After WWII, Prussia’s traditional territory was also cut up, some ending up under Poland’s control and some in Russia. There is no “Nation of Prussia” today, and the term is no longer used, save by historians and some locals.
“Western” and “Eastern” Germany reunited in 1990. Many were/are of the opinion that it was a really bad idea!
In the Twentieth Century, we featured two enormous “World Wars” and countless lesser armed conflicts and assorted massacres.
The Twenty-First is getting off to a violent start, with China openly promising complete world domination before the Century is half over!
And, if you’re wondering if there is a point lurking in all this, at the dawn of 2024, I continue to believe that a healthy distrust of government is essential for all of us privileged to live in a free state!
We modern American Operators and other denizens of Western Civilization need to stay skeptical and, most of all, stay capable!
Like Romulus Augustus (Augustulus) in 476AD, we’re on the cusp of some exciting world history!
“There is distrust in Washington?
I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I’m sorry it’s the case,
… and I’ll work hard to elevate it.” ~ George W Bush
/John
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About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor, John Farnam will urge you, based on your beliefs, to make up your mind about what you would do when faced with an imminent lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide in advance what preparations you should make, if any. Defense Training International wants to ensure that its students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or in-actions.
It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to Planet Earth. Mr. Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com
So long as governments goal is taking away our rights there will never be any trust and even if it stopped and was fixed the trust would still not be there because the minute you trust them, they do it again.
All that history without one mention of Otto von Bismarck https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Bismarck or Kaiser Wilhelm II? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_II In my safe is a P08 “Luger” marked with its place and date of origin (Erfurt 1914) and the crest of Kaiser Wilhelm II who was also King of Prussia. The beginning or the German Empire and the end of the Kingdom of Prussia is not all that clear cut. The boundaries in Central Europe have been sliced and diced so many times over hundreds of years of warfare that it is difficult to determine what once belonged to whom. But Prussia, once a… Read more »
Good article Mr. Farnam. I couldn’t agree more with your theme. However Sir, out of all the historical quotations out there that would fit your close, you chose one that gives me the creeps. And I would bet I’m not alone, HOWEVER, it does fit.
I’ll post this until my fingers go numb. Those Forgotten and Ignored 13 Words Why We Need our State 2nd Amendment Militias back in Force and Effect