Young Europe

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The Young Europe was a revolutionary collective movement of the pre-March period in which, led by Giuseppe Mazzini 1834, the individual groups Young Italy , Young Germany and Young Poland merged.

Historical background and origin

Giuseppe Mazzini

The territorial fragmentation of Italy cemented by the provisions of the Congress of Vienna of 1815 led to the emergence of various political-revolutionary movements that strived for national unity and a new democratic order. One of the most important movements of this kind was in 1831 by Giuseppe Mazzini founded Young Italy . Because of similar problems in other countries, associations based on the Mazzini model were formed there. These included New Germany , later renamed Young Germany , Young Poland and Young France . Shaped by the failure of his attempt to overthrow in Savoy , Giuseppe Mazzini founded Young Europe on April 15, 1834 in Bern (Switzerland) to bundle the forces of the movement and achieve his own goals of state unity and democracy throughout Europe . Seven Italians, five Germans and five Poles took part in the founding meeting.

Political work and repression

Young Europe acted politically under the motto “Freedom, Equality, Humanity” and aimed to overcome feudalism . The aim of the group was a "rule of the peoples" in a democratic Europe. These goals drew the interest of numerous democrats to the still young club, which was therefore very popular. An incident on July 27, 1834 was soon to put an end to the rise in power of young Europe . On this day, German workers unrolled the black, red and gold tricolor in the Steinhölzli inn in Bern . A rumor then spread that a coup attempt, initiated by Young Europe , was imminent in southern Germany, led the ruling conservatives to threaten Switzerland with diplomatic consequences. Fearing political isolation, the Swiss government tightened the association laws and expelled numerous members of Young Europe . This removal of the organizational basis resulted in a serious weakening of the organization.

Regaining strength

Despite the strong repression, Giuseppe Mazzini did not want to give up his idea of ​​a European revolution. Under his leadership, the scattered members of Young Europe reorganized themselves again in Switzerland and entered into fraternization agreements with the newly formed organizations Young France , Young Switzerland and Young Spain . Together, the establishment of workers 'associations was promoted and workers' education carried out.

Decay

The new, larger movement, which was led by a central committee in Bern , quickly proved to be difficult to control. Individual national interests contradicted the revolutionary idea of ​​Giuseppe Mazzini, so that after internal tensions he resigned from the Central Committee in 1835. At the same time, Austrian Foreign Minister Metternich intervened in the Swiss government and threatened diplomatic consequences again if Switzerland did not act against the democratic forces. Switzerland bowed to the pressure and expelled almost all foreign workers. This meant the end of young Europe .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Andrea Weibel: Young Europe. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland . February 11, 2008 , accessed June 7, 2019 .

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