In August 1914, German leaders of the SPD, including the anti war Hugo Hasse accepted the inevitability of conflict and voted against their principals of internationalism and solidarity. The fear of the Rusian army invading Germany, or of state repression against political parties viewed as treacherous or disloyal created the illusion of unity. Elsewhere, the Kaiser appeaeld to all parties as ‘Germans’ to come together in a spirit of national unity and many Germans adopted a seige mentality, bel
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1–2 minutes
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