One of the greatest challenges to the European project has been the Continent’s legacy of war and violence, whether in the form of colonial conquests or conflicts among nation-states, all of which intensified during the twentieth century. Our panel traces the history of militarism, extremism, and the relationship between the military and society in Germany, where these issues have been particularly acute. We employ a diverse range of approaches, from visual and colonial history to the study of politics and propaganda. One of our primary concerns is how violence has been legitimized by the state, the armed forces, and non-state actors. The use of force has been cast as the key to economic prosperity, an opportunity for personal glory, and a means to spread civilization.

As Germany sought to expand its influence around the globe and vied for European dominance in two world wars, the German public largely accepted the narratives they were fed regarding the necessity of armed conflict. A powerful naval lobby promising business opportunities and national prestige prompted a military presence in China. During the First World War, the military portrayed combat as a glorious adventure and a stage for new technological marvels, although this image bore little resemblance to the reality. Soldiers and generals of the Second World War attempted to frame a war of extermination against the Soviet Union as an act of liberation. The postwar debates surrounding the country’s armed forces signaled the advent of new attitudes regarding the military’s use and purpose.