Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 52. (2007)
FRIED, Marvin Benjamin: Feldmarschall Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf: A Memoir Analysis
Conrad’s ‘Weltanschauung’ (i) Of all of his notes, those relating to Conrad’s world-view and ideology are probably the most relevant to understand the reasons behind his one-sided thinking in the previous two sections. Conrad held beliefs which were common at the time, such as Social Darwinism, and which, following the defeat of the Central Powers and the seeds of revisionism, lay the groundwork for fascism. Before coming to his near-fascist beliefs however, his underlying Social Darwinist beliefs should be addressed. Conrad believed in a ‘right of the stronger,’ and argued that the “fight for existence is the basic principle which shapes the world.”137 He, after having argued Austria-Hungary’s peaceful nature, felt that “only through conflict is preservation and prosperity possible.”138 He condemns peace activists, arguing that “perpetual peace is a utopia”139 and that “the world will continue to follow the path of the great principle of battle for existence.”140 Conrad, having shown to be a militarist, clearly believes the ‘survival of the fittest’ principles to be paramount in his understanding of the world in which “evolutionary and survival instincts lead to war.”141 He blasts the policies of the Central Powers as not realizing this, and of believing that “peace is the normal condition.” He even retracts, for a moment, his argument that France premeditated the war against an innocent Germany, by admitting that “France followed the law of survival and progress, as did Germany.”142 This is one of the only examples of Conrad’s moderation, in which he realizes that France had no choice but to fight, but continues to refuse to admit that Germany had a choice either. Conrad’s ‘Realpolitik’ would put Bismarck to shame, arguing that “the securing of material necessities, the securing of existence, but never a heart-warming drive for peace, lead the policies of the Great [Powers].”143 He believed, as Bismarck did, in a balance of power system, but argued that it will “not lastingly work.”144 Following a World War which resulted from the paranoia of the Central Powers and the expansion and fear of the Entente, Conrad does not even flinch to suggest that the “federal policy of Germany and Austria-Hungary was based on an incorrect, mistaken perception of the world, seeing their impact only in the preservation of peace.”145 This is one of Conrad’s most extreme arguments, since only an apologist, in this case of himself, would believe that militarism was non-existent among the Feldmarschall Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf 137 Conrad von Hötzendorf, Franz: Private Aufzeichnungen, Pg. 219. 138 Ibid, Pg. 148. 139 Ibid, Pg. 205. 140 Ibid, Pg. 189. 141 Ibid, Pg. 152. 142 Ibid, Pg. 161. 143 Ibid, Pg. 187. 144 Ibid, Pg. 205. 145 Ibid, Pg. 169. 239
