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Traditionally, Christian Democrats believed that taking care of all groups in society could create a harmonious balance that would prevent instability and self-destructive infighting. But the conditions that enabled this strategy have changed, particularly in Germany, where Christian Democrats must reconnect with a different part of their history.

BERLIN—Recent state elections in Germany have been portrayed as momentous, since the far right finished first in two and may well come to power in one. Yet future historians may focus on another, largely overlooked outcome: For the first time in the post-World War II period, Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU) failed to pass the 5% electoral threshold. Worse, this disastrous result occurred in the largely rural state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where former Chancellor Angela Merkel chaired the CDU’s state branch for close to seven years.