The Zabern Affair, 1913-1914

In the 19th century German Empire, the rapid rate of change in industry, commerce, invention and ideological questioning of man’s place in the world brought structural change of a social nature. An increasingly mobile, disorderly and confused society sought a new social structure that would reflect the importance of financial position and replace the outworn and increasingly warped institutions of the Ancien Regime. Democratic elements welcomed political change, but, particularly in Prussia, opponents to change and modernization reacted by maintaining control of their army, their property, and their legislature when faced with the coalition to democratize. This book discusses the culmination of these antagonisms with the German Empire. When the industrial, educational, and military reform groups coalesced in solidarity against the Ancien Regime, the town of Zabern was at the center of the activity. Mackey analyzes the implications of the events in Zabern and the state the affairs set for the future of the Empire.