Bismark

“Analyze Bismarck’s use of war to achieve unification.”
Otto Eduard Leopold, also known as Otto von Bismarck was a German leader who led the unification effort in Germany. He was the Prince of Bismarck and held various government positions throughout his life, such as Prussian Minister President. Germany used to be a group of states loosely united through the German Confederation. Bismarck changed that, using force and war, and created a unified Germany with Prussia as the major power holder. He also removed Austria from Germany. In a speech describing his plan for success Otto von Bismarck said; “The great questions of the time will not be resolved by speeches and majority decisions—that was the great mistake of 1848 and 1849—but by iron and blood.” Bismarck’s use of war to unify Germany was a brilliant and successful endeavor that created, nationalism, a want or need for a union, and finally, a united Germany.
The All-German War of 1863’s result was a growing sense of nationalism. The war was caused originally by Denmark attempting to gain territory when trying to add Schleswig to its land. Prussia fought along with Austria and won. Prussia was given Schleswig, and Austria received Holstein, another German province. This victory over Denmark added confidence to Bismarck’s followers. Prussian citizens began to become proud of their state and other German nations slowly followed this example. This pride led to the creation of identities for each nation, rather than being just a part of the German Confederation. Nationalism, the desire for national advancement or independence, grew over time. Bismarck used the peoples’ sentiments and his political power to further Prussia’s influence in the Confederation. Thus ends step one of his three part plan. First, grow Prussia’s power, and then expand territory or unify Germany, finally set up a government with Prussia as the major power holder. This plan would then be continued with the success in the Seven-Weeks War.
The Seven Week’s War created a need as well as a earning for a unified Germany. This was a conflict between Austria and Prussia, which then expanded to most German states versus Prussia. Bismarck had actually encouraged this war. He antagonized Austria by ordering troops to occupy Holstein in 1866. He also timed the occupation perfectly. All of Austria’s major allies, Britain, France, and Russia were all engaged in personal affairs. This left Austria with only the other German States for support. In the end, it took only seven weeks for Prussia to demolish the Austrian and German States armies. The war between Austria and Prussia was really nothing but a civil war. Bismarck got rid of the German Confederation, took control of many of the northern states, and formed the North German Confederation in 1867. The states began to see Prussia was not only growing in size but power and began to seek unification. The war between Austria and Prussia was really nothing but a civil war. Bismarck used Prussia’s new power to plan further expansion and further unification. The seemingly dominating Prussia worried other states. However, they also recognized the success that unifying could bring. These countries then began to watch Prussia and Bismarck more vigilantly.
The Franco-Prussian War united Germany. Napoleon III, King of France, wanted a military victory to stabilize his weakening régime. So, he declared war on Prussia in 1870. Sadly, however, France was isolated, and the well-organized Prussian army decimated the main French army in early September and took the king prisoner. While the German troops were battling the French army, Bismarck got permission from the princes to unite Germany, minus Austria with the Prussian king as German emperor. Some princes wanted some power, so Bismarck granted them control over transportation and foreign representation. At Versailles in 1871 the Prussian King announced the creation of the German Empire. A national parliament, the Reichstag, was elected by male citizens and controlled money but lacked the power to overthrow the government, which was to the ruler’s discretion. Bismarck’s efforts and the results of multiple wars led to a unified Germany by 1871.
Otto von Bismarck’s use of war to unify Germany was a brilliant and successful endeavor that created, nationalism, a want or need for a union, and finally, a united Germany. Through the outcomes of the All-German war, the Seven Week’s war, and the Franco-Prussian war Bismarck unified Germany. He used these wars to create nationalism, which in turn led for the push for independence. These wars also asserted Prussia’s dominance. Out of “iron and blood” came a new empire. This empire included almost all the members of the original German Confederation, minus Austria. This new empire was successfully led by Prussia. Bismarck played a major and mecessary role in the creation of the German Empire. His use of war and military tactics were the deciding factors in the empire’s creation.