Russia invaded by Germans. Notes of an old soldier who is neither a Peer of France, nor a diplomat, nor a deputy

Abstract

The ending. Continued from Voprosy Literatury (2022, 2).

The publication features a commented translation (the ending) of the brochure La Russie Envahie par les Allemands, authored by Filipp Vigel (Weigel), a former member of the Arzamas Society. Printed anonymously, it became a sensation in Russia and Europe alike. Giving the formal reason of responding to A. de Custine’s La Russie en 1839, Vigel’s brochure served as the first manifesto and the first attempt at a historical-philosophical justification of the anti-German sentiment espoused by members of the Russian elite during the reign of Nicholas I. In his overview spanning the early epochs and the contemporary period, Vigel describes Russia’s whole history in terms of the gradual subjugation by Germans (in particular, Baltic Germans) and their growing representation among the ruling elite. The same viewpoint is applied to the analysis of Russian literature, especially Pushkin, who is depicted as an opponent and eventually a victim of the German party. In the conclusion of his work, Vigel shares his thoughts on contemporary Germany and Pan-Slavism.