Emperor Nicholas II and the political expectations of Russian «Germanophiles» on the eve of 1914: Utopia or unfulfilled opportunity?
EDN: IRNRZA
Abstract
The article examines the motives and content of political activity in the years preceding World War I by Russian «Germanophiles» from among high-ranking officials and aristocrats who took steps to influence Emperor Nicholas II in order to restore friendly relations between the Russian Empire and the German monarchies. As the analysis of the sources shows, Russian autocrats since the 1880s were under the powerful influence of pan-Slavists and neo-Slavophiles, and they themselves, on a psycho-mental level, shared the attitudes of these ideological movements. At the same time, throughout his reign until 1914, Nicholas II demonstrated a certain commitment to dynastic ties with Germany, often visited that country and maintained outwardly friendly relations with Kaiser Wilhelm II. This gave rise to certain illusions among Russian «Germanophiles», who included both diplomats and courtiers, regarding a possible change in foreign policy. However, their public speeches and direct appeal to the tsar (V. P. Meshchersky, P. N. Durnovo and M. A. Taube) did not lead to any political results. In our opinion, this resulted both from the lack of a developed ideology (Russian «Germanophiles» used the already anachronistic concept of «monarchical solidarity» or were guided by political and economic pragmatism) and from the internal choice in favor of a «national» war against Germany, one that Nicholas II made long before 1914. It is not surprising that attempts, on the basis of rational arguments, to make clear the danger of a collision between Russia and the Central Powers ultimately lost to the irrational ideological structure that became established in the mind of the last Russian tsar.
About the Author
E. E. Yudin
Moscow Pedagogical State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Evgeny Еvgenevich Yudin, Cand. Sci. (History) Associate Professor, History Department
119991, Moscow, Malaya Pirogovskaya Str., 1, Bld. 1
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For citations:
Yudin E.E. Emperor Nicholas II and the political expectations of Russian «Germanophiles» on the eve of 1914: Utopia or unfulfilled opportunity? Shagi / Steps. 2025;11(4):104-121. (In Russ.) EDN: IRNRZA
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