Unification of Germany

           

             Otto von Bismarck

" The great questions of the day will not be settled by means of speeches and majority decisions but by iron and blood." ~ Otto von Bismarck

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Review The unification of Germany essentially began in 1806 when Napoleon Bonaparte consolidated Germany ’s 300 administrative units into the Confederation of the Rhine . This confederation was made up of 39 states with Prussia and Austria being the largest. The next fifty years was filled with nationalistic feelings and conflicts between Prussia and Austria as they both sought to control the region.  OVERVIEW Important Events and Individuals Leading to the Unification of Germany:   1) The Zollverein was established in 1818. This was a customs union that provided free trade among Prussia ’s scattered territories. It built the Prussian economy and nationalism that became the basis for Prussian domination of the German states fifty years later. 2) By 1848, negotiations about a unified Germany were underway. Two main groups emerged that could not agree. Supporters of a “greater Germany ” wanted to include Austria , Bohemia and all of Prussia (see map on page 144). Those who supported a “Little Germany” wanted to exclude Austria because it had too many non-German ethnic groups within its borders. 3) After the 1848 revolutions, Prussia strengthened its military. They had a small but loyal and well-disciplined army. 4) In 1862, Otto von Bismarck was appointed prime minister of Prussia . His leadership and the strong army formed a potent force that unified Germany . The 1864 War with Denmark , the 1866 Austro-Prussian War (The Seven Week’s War), and the 1870 Franco-Prussian War allowed Bismarck to consolidate Prussia ’s control in central Europe . Bismarck proclaimed a German Empire in January 1871. See Map   RETURN TO TOP   War With Denmark Austro-Prussian War Franco-Prussian War OVERVIEW War with Denmark The war was over disputed control over the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein . The two territories were placed under Danish control by the Congress of Vienna. When the king of Denmark attempted to include Schleswig as a part of his nation’s consolidation, Prussia , led by Bismarck protested. An alliance between Austria and Prussia was formed and together they quickly defeated the Danes. Schleswig and Holstein were ceded to Austria and Prussia . The two victorious nations argued over who should control the two territories. Bismarck was not interested in a Germany that included Austria , so he used the dispute as a way to lead to war between the two countries, a move that would leave Prussia as the dominant state among the unified German states. RETURN TO TOP   Austro-Prussia War (Seven Week’s War) The disagreement over Holstein and Schleswig continued and Austria also protested the liberal reforms being accepted in the German parliament. Bismarck used this opportunity to start a war with Austria and he moved his troops into Holstein . Most other German states joined Austria , but Prussia ’s army with its modern weapons overwhelmed its opponents. Prussia ’s victory eliminated Austria ’s presence in the German Confederation. After the war, Bismarck replaced the German Confederation with the North German confederation. The remainder of the German states that did not join Prussia or Austria (south German states) would not be included until a crisis in Spain which drew Bismarck into war with France . RETURN TO TOP   Franco-Prussian War In 1868, Queen Isabella of Spain was driven into exile by a revolution. The vacant Spanish throne was offered to a Prince Leopold, a cousin of the Prussian king. Even though he was offered the throne three times, he refused. Upon the fourth offering, Leopold accepted. This move angered the French as they felt threatened by a potential family alliance between the Prussian and Spanish kingdoms. King Wilhelm of Prussia was delivered a telegram which demanded that Leopold withdraw his claim to the throne and guarantee that no German prince every occupy the Spanish throne. King Wilhelm, who was unwilling to go to war with France , wrote a telegram agreeing to France ’s demands.   Bismarck saw an opportunity to further exert Prussian dominance in central Europe and edited King Wilhelm’s reply by making it appear that the Prussian king was insulted. This “Ems Telegram” built German nationalism against the French and led to war. The South German states joined with the North German Confederation against France . The French army was no match for the Prussian soldiers. Terms of the peace were formalized in the Treaty of Frankfurt in 1871. The terms demanded that France pay Germany for reparations, give up the territories of Alsace-Lorraine and acknowledge the new German Empire. King Wilhelm of Prussia was named German Emperor by the Treaty of Frankfurt. RETURN TO TOP How the Balance of Power Shifted The balance of power established by the Congress of Vienna was shattered by a unified Italy and Germany . Germany especially changed the landscape dramatically as it was an industrial, political, economic and military force. Europe would have to adjust once again to the arrival of a strong power that could threaten the peace and security of the continent.