Latest / The History of Germany: Kingdoms, War, and Rebuilding Europe — Fexingo History / The Eulenburg Affair: Scandal That Shook Bismarck's Germany
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about Bismarck, about unification, about the Kaiser. But there's this scandal that erupted in the late 1880s that really shook the foundations of the Wilhelmine Empire. It's called the Eulenburg Affair, and it's a wild mix of personal vendettas, press sensationalism, and deep-seated homophobia. Luna: I've heard the name — it involved a close friend of the Kaiser, right? Lucas: Exactly. Prince Philipp zu Eulenburg was Wilhelm II's closest confidant, a diplomat, poet, and musician. They had this intense friendship — Wilhelm called him 'my dear friend' and visited his estate, Liebenberg, often. Eulenburg was part of a circle that included Count Kuno von Moltke, the military commander of Berlin. But there were rivals who wanted to break that influence. Lucas: Enter Maximilian Harden. He was a journalist, publisher of the weekly Die Zukunft, and a former supporter of Bismarck. Harden believed the Kaiser was being led astray by Eulenburg's pacifist, artistic crowd — he called them the 'Liebenberg Round Table' — and he wanted to discredit them. Luna: So he used accusations of homosexuality as a political weapon? Lucas: Exactly. In 1906, Harden published articles hinting that Eulenburg and Moltke had a homosexual relationship. At the time, homosexuality was illegal under Paragraph 175 of the German penal code. But Harden didn't just attack their sexuality — he painted them as effeminate, weak, and unfit to advise the Kaiser. It was a way to undermine Wilhelm II's inner circle without directly attacking the monarchy. Lucas: The scandal exploded when Kuno von Moltke's wife, Lily, filed for divorce and claimed her husband was more interested in Eulenburg than in her. Moltke sued Harden for libel, and the trial became a media circus. Suddenly, everyone was talking about homosexuality in the highest echelons of power. Luna: Was the trial about the truth of the accusations, or more about political maneuvering? Lucas: Both. Harden's defense was that he had a duty to expose a 'pernicious influence' on the Kaiser. He brought witnesses who testified about Moltke and Eulenburg's relationship. The court ultimately found Harden not guilty, but that was overturned on appeal. Then Eulenburg was charged with perjury for denying the accusations under oath. His trial dragged on for years, but it was eventually dropped due to his poor health. Lucas: The fallout was huge. Eulenburg's reputation was ruined. He lived the rest of his life in seclusion. Moltke was forced to retire. But the affair also had broader consequences. It fueled a public debate about homosexuality and masculinity, and it weakened the prestige of the monarchy. The Kaiser himself was embarrassed, and his trust in his advisors was shaken. Luna: It also exposed the power of the press. Harden was able to bring down a prince with articles. Lucas: Exactly. And it showed how the fight over Germany's future — between militaristic conservatism and more modern, artistic impulses — played out in the courtroom. Some historians argue the Eulenburg Affair contributed to the isolation of Wilhelm II and the rise of more aggressive factions in the lead-up to World War I. Luna: That's fascinating. And it's a reminder that these personal scandals can have huge political ripple effects. Lucas: Speaking of ripple effects — and I don't want to break the flow too much, but it strikes me that a show like this, diving into these intimate corners of history, only exists because of listeners like you. We don't run ads, and that's intentional. If you've been enjoying these conversations, you can support us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a small way to keep the show going and ad-free. Luna: Yeah, every bit helps us keep digging into these stories. Lucas: So back to Eulenburg — the affair also had a lasting impact on the gay rights movement in Germany. The scandal brought homosexuality into public discourse, and some activists like Adolf Brand and Magnus Hirschfeld used the trials to argue for reform of Paragraph 175. But it also backfired, because the association with treason and effeminacy reinforced stereotypes. Luna: So it was a double-edged sword for the early gay rights movement? Lucas: Absolutely. Hirschfeld testified as an expert witness, arguing that homosexuality was inborn and not a moral failing. But the conservative press used the trials to paint all homosexuals as a danger to the state. The affair essentially set back the cause for decades. It wasn't until the Weimar Republic that there was any real progress, and even then it was fragile. Luna: And then the Nazis came. Lucas: Right. They made Paragraph 175 even harsher. So the Eulenburg Affair is this pivotal moment where private lives and public power collided, and the echoes lasted well into the 20th century. It's a reminder that history isn't just about laws and battles — it's about people, their relationships, and the secrets they tried to keep.