Abstract

As is often noted, the “Great War” did not necessarily end on 1918 in a treaty, but would linger for the following two decades to come and arguably beyond. In the philosophical arena, warring games also continued, especially within Germany and France where each nation’s “worldhistorical” mission was in crisis. Issues surrounding the fate of Western civilisation and historical progress and change played themselves out in particular with respect to the variety of critical engagements with Hegel’s philosophy after the Great War. This chapter looks at these divergent ways by which Hegel’s influence evolved in response to the impact of the Great War. In particular, the chapter focusses on how Hegel’s thought has also been both appropriated and critiqued post-1914 to legitimise but also de-legitimise political movements that took root in countries in the inter-war period from both sides of the conflict.