What caused the Hegelian renaissance in the early 20th century?

The Hegelian renaissance in the early 20th century, primarily centered in Germany and France, was driven by a significant shift in philological and hermeneutical interpretation of G.W.F. Hegel’s work.12

This renewal was instigated by the re-examination of Hegel’s youthful manuscripts, most notably Wilhelm Dilthey’s 1905 study and the 1907 publication of Hegels theologische Jugendschriften (The Theological Writings of Hegel’s Youth) by Herman Nohl. These previously unpublished texts contrasted sharply with Hegel’s mature, systematic works, revealing a focus on ethics, religion, and history, and inviting comparisons between his early "romanticized" discourse and his later technical uniformity.1

Scholars used these findings to investigate the historical origins of Hegel’s thought, including the late Enlightenment and early Romanticism. Key contributions included:1
* Existential interpretations: Jean Wahl interpreted Hegel through the lens of the "wretched conscience," while others explored irrationalistic and vitalistic aspects of his early writing.1
* Political reconstruction: Franz Rosenzweig analyzed the young Hegel’s political thought in relation to historical sources.1
* Developmental studies: Richard Kroner examined the transition from Kant to Hegel, and Hermann Glockner proposed a developmental shift from a "pantragistic" phase to a "panlogistic" phase.1