The Burschenschaft

The Burschenschaft group and their focus was probably the most interesting thing about the readings we have done so far. One thing that struck me about this group was the specific rights they demanded. As Robertson points out they "emphatically rejected the snobbery of the old student fraternities and proclaimed that they were in favor of democratic integration of all social classes...they also hoped to turn the duel from an aristocratic right to a purifying 'human' ordeal..." (Students on the Barricades pp. 368) As Robertson points out there demands for "democratic integration of all social classes" was really just a smoke screen to grant the rights of the aristocracy to these mostly middle class students. Their demand of the right to duel, a right enjoyed by the aristocracy, is the key to clearing away the proverbial smoke screen the Burschenschaft erected behind their equality for all demands allowing a look into their true intentions. The right of dueling was denied to all but people of noble birth for most of history. To have the right to engage in dueling would, in essence, elevate the middle class to a level equal to the aristocracy. Now why would the right of dueling be so important to people who express the opinion that all people should be equal under the rule of law? That is the question that keeps coming back to me.