How a deaf historian shaped the aggressive nationalism of the German Empire

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Heinrich von Treitschke was a powerful voice in 19th-century Germany, advocating for authoritarian rule and Prussian expansion. Despite suffering from near-total deafness, his rhetorical brilliance and literary style made him a dominant intellectual force, legitimizing power politics and colonial ambition while deeply influencing the nation's political trajectory.

Born in Dresden in 1834, Heinrich von Treitschke emerged from a military family to become one of the most influential, if controversial, historians of his era. His academic career spanned several prestigious institutions, including the universities of Leipzig, Freiburg, Kiel, Heidelberg, and Berlin, where he eventually secured the position of official historiographer of Prussia in 1886. Throughout his life, he navigated a significant personal challenge: an increasing hearing loss that became nearly total, requiring aides to transcribe parliamentary debates so he could participate in the Reichstag between 1871 and 1884.

Treitschke’s political philosophy underwent a notable shift. Initially a liberal, he eventually became a staunch proponent of authoritarianism and a vociferous herald of German unity achieved through Prussian might. He argued that the state should be the central focus of a citizen's life, led by strong, unchecked rulers rather than a parliament. His magnum opus, the five-volume 'Deutsche Geschichte im 19. Jahrhundert', reflected his intense admiration for the Hohenzollerns and a deep-seated skepticism toward Western European liberalism and American democracy.

His legacy remains complex due to his vehement political judgments and lack of objectivity, which contrasted sharply with the dispassionate scholarship of his contemporary, Leopold von Ranke. Treitschke’s writings often promoted aggressive nationalism, endorsing the idea that great nations must establish colonial power to avoid a 'pitiable role' in history. By the time of his death in 1896, his work had contributed significantly to the distrust of Germany abroad, leaving behind a complicated intellectual footprint that championed power as the ultimate arbiter of national success.

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