The Harden-Eulenburg affair, often simply Eulenburg affair, was the controversy surrounding a series of courts-martial and five regular trials regarding accusations of homosexual conduct, and accompanying libel trials, among prominent members of Kaiser Wilhelm II's cabinet and entourage and the chancellor von Bismarck during 1907-1909. It is often considered the biggest domestic scandal of the German Second Reich. While the controversy centered on Philipp Prince zu Eulenburg-Hertefeld and his accuser, journalist Maximilian Harden, accusations and counter-accusations quickly multiplied with the phrase "Liebenberg Round Table" being used to describe the gay male circle around the Kaiser.
Initial incident
The incident which provoked the affair followed on the heels of a public relations gaffe by Wilhelm II. Shortly afterward, in November, Wilhelm II began a vacation at an aristocrat's estate in the Black Forest. One evening after dinner Dietrich Count von Hülsen-Häseler , chief of the Military Secretariat, was performing a pas seul in tutu when his heart failed. Ottokar von Czernin, also in attendance, remarked, "In Wilhelm II I saw a man who, for the first time in his life, with horror-stricken eyes, looked upon the world as it really was." Despite his fears the accident, with its implications of homosexuality at high levels, seemed successfully hushed.
Causes
However, opponents of Germany's foreign relations found the potential scandal too useful to ignore. Wilhelm II had dismissed "Iron" Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and his Realpolitik system of treaties and agreements in 1890, replacing Bismarck's clear rule with muddle and his foreign policies with a confrontational, expansionist Weltpolitik. The anti-imperialist Eulenburg became the most prominent member of Wilhelm II's entourage being promoted from being a member of the diplomatic corps to an ambassador. Like many, Bismarck noticed that the nature of the relationship Wilhelm II and Eulenburg could, "not be confided to paper," but he, like many, felt that even these activities in the private sphere were not to be brought to the public sphere.
Harden, imperilaist head of the periodical Die Zukunft, felt the same, waiting till 1902 only to personally threaten to out Eulenburg unless he retired from his ambassadorship in Vienna, which Eulenburg did, dropping from public life until 1906. Harden reaffirmed his threat after Germany gave Morocco to France at the Algeciras Conference (1906) in a major foreign policy fiasco, and Eulenburg responded by moving to Switzerland.
Between 1906-1907 six military offices committed suicide after blackmail, while in the preceding three years around twenty officers were convicted by courts-martial, all for their sexuality. A Garde du Corps officer was charged with homosexuality, embarssing because the elite Corps was commanded by Lieutenant General Wilhelm Count von Hohenau , blood relative to the kaiser. Worse than these sexual scandals, in Harden's eyes, was Eulenburg's decision to return to Germany and be initiated into the High Order of the Black Eagle , and did not change his mind when Friedrich Heinrich, Prince of Prussia, decline to be initiated into the Order of the Knights of St. John because of his same-sex sexual proclivities.
Outing
Harden outed Eulenburg on April 27, 1907, confirming the identity he previously had parodied as "the Harpist" (Eulenberg), along with "Sweetie" General Kuno Count von Moltke , in 1906. Wilhelm II, informed of the growing story responded by requiring the resignation of three of fifteen prominent aristocrats, Hohenau, Lynar, and Moltke, listed as homosexual by the Berlin vice squad, however, the actual list, not shown to Wilhelm II, contained several hundred names.
Moltke's lawyer attempted to file criminal libel against Harden, but was dismissed and civil libel was suggested. Eulenburg denied any culpability and presented a self-accusation of violating the applicable Paragraph 175 to his district attorney who, as hoped and expected, cleared Eulenburg of all charges in July. Meanwhile Georg von Hülsen, manager of the Royal Theater, von Stückradt, the crown prince's equerry, and Bernhard Prince von Bülow, imperial chancellor, where accused of or revealed as having same sex sexual tendencies or activities.
Moltke v. Harden
October 23-29, 1907
Testifying against Harden were his ex-wife of nine years, Lili von Elbe. Also testifying was a soldier named Bollhardt, and Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld. von Elbe described the lack of conjugal relations, happening only on the first and second night, of their marriage, Moltke's overly close friendship with Eulenburg, and her ignorance of homosexuality. Bollhardt described attending champagne filled parties at Lynar's villa where he saw both Hohenau and Moltke. Hirschfeld, based on von Elbe's comments and his courtroom observation of Moltke, testified that Moltke most certainly had a feminine side and was homosexual even if had never committed sodomy. On October 29 the court found Moltke homosexual and Harden innocent.
However, the trial was voided on procedural grounds, and the state prosecutor decided to allow a criminal libel trial.
Bülow v. Brand
November 6, 1907
Adolph Brand , founder of the first homosexual periodical, Der Eigene (The Special), had printed a pamphlet which described how Bülow had been blackmailed for his sexuality and had kissed and embraced Scheefer at male gatherings hosted by Eulenburg, and thus was morally obligated to publically oppose Paragraph 175. Brand was found guilty of libel and charged with 18 months in prison.
Harden v. Moltke
December 18-25, 1907
von Elbe, through a diagnosis of classical hysteria, and Hirschfeld, by retracting his earlier testimony, were discredited and Harden was convicted of libel and sentenced to four months imprisonment.
Harden v. Städele
April 21, 1908
Now motivated by political goals, morals, and vengeance, Harden set out to prove Eulenburg's homosexuality by having Anton Städele publish an article claiming Harden took hush money from Eulenburg. Harden then sued his accomplice for libel, Städele was found guilty and charged a hundred mark fine, repaid by Harden. During the trial, however, Georg Riedel and Jacob Ernst testified to having sexual relations with Eulenburg. Eulenburg was charged with perjury and brought to trail on May 7, 1908. Two weeks later Harden's conviction was overturned and a second trial begun.
Eulenburg
June 29, 1908
After the first of 41 witnesses, including Ernst and ten witnesses who described watching Eulenburg through a keyhole in 1887, the trial was delayed because of Eulenburg's ill health. It was moved to his hospital bed but delayed again, indefinitely.
Moltke v. Harden
April, 1908
With little press, Harden was again convicted and fined six hundred marks plus the forty thousand marks of court costs, while Moltke was rehabilitated in the public eye.
Effects
The stress of the trials caused most participants to fall ill during 1908.
The Eulenburg affair is a perfect example of prejudice and bigotry, specifically homophobia, being used not as an end but as a means to other political goals. Eulenburg's wife commented, "They are striking at my husband, but their target is the kaiser." (Hirschfeld, 1933)
Harden later told Hirschfeld that the Affair was the greatest political mistake of his life, like many later observers, attributing the Affair as the root cause of World War I and the fall of the Second Reich, inevitable without Eulenburg's moderating influence.
External links
Source
- Steakley, James D. (revised 1989). "Iconography of a Scandal: Political Cartoons and the Eulenburg Affair in Wilhelmin Germany", Hidden from History: Reclaiming the Gay & Lesbian Past (1990), Duberman, etc, eds. New York: Meridian, New American Library, Penguin Books. ISBN 0452010675.
