Fathers of the Nation? Bismarck, Garibaldi and the Cult of Memory in Germany and Italy

Abstract

This essay explores the origins and functions of two national father figures, Bismarck and Garibaldi, in modern Italy and Germany. Although fundamentally different in character and political outlook, Bismarck and Garibaldi acquired the status of `fathers' of the nation due to their pre-eminent roles in bringing about national unification. The ways in which these father figures were portrayed shifted remarkably over the course of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, testifying to the ability of both narratives to adapt to changing circumstances and even to different types of political rule. The divergent meanings attached to them were reflections of highly fragmented societies trying to establish historical continuities in times of profound and rapid historical change. Ultimately both men were employed by fascist dictatorships in an attempt to win over broader public support and to bolster the dictatorships' claims to historical legitimacy, but with varying degrees of success.

Renaming the past in post-Nazi Germany: insights into the politics of street naming in Mannheim and Potsdam

“…49 Since the purge of 'militaristic' names in Potsdam had already concluded in 1945, the second phase of the 'cleaning-up' operation of ideologically incorrect commemorations focused on the monarchic tradition still extant in the street signs, represented by names such as Königsweg (King's Road) or commemorations of various members of the Hohenzollern dynasty. Notably, Bismarck, the founding father of the German Reich, 50 was also de-commemorated at this stage, implying that the Communist state founded on the ruins of the Reich heralded a new beginning in German history.…”

The Invention of a Hero: Lajos Kossuth in England (1851)

“…The Prussian Junker and the Italian erstwhile guerrilla fighter may be dissimilar at first glance, but as Lucy Riall and Robert Gerwarth have pointed out, hey both attained enduring iconic status as fathers of their nations and symbolized the quest of oppressed nations to free themselves from the shackles of foreign rule. 120 With the emergence of the modern nation state, the need for heroes and a historical past tied to their image (on which national identity rested) was palpable. 121 This need was the greatest in young nation-states, such as Italy and Germany, but was also in evidence in struggling, contested nation-states, such as Ireland and multi-ethnic empires, where the question of national identities appeared even more problematic.…”