Consistency of Bismarck's Aims
Consistency of Bismarck’s Aims
Consistent Aims
1) Patriotism to Prussia
Otto van Bismarck is credited with the unification of Germany. However, it can be argued that he deliberately fostered this myth, and that it was never his aim to begin with: he had not intended unification and was a Prussian patriot first.
He distrusted Southern Catholic German states and feared the submergence of Prussia in a united Germany. Above all else, Bismarck was consistently concerned to uphold and extend the power of the Prussian state and king, and, to a lesser degree, to exclude Austria. He was brought in as Minister-President by the King of Prussia in 1862 to combat liberal demands, however modest they were.
In the 1800’s, Germany was torn between princely conservatism on one hand, and fierce liberalism and nationalism on the other. Bismarck, as a noted Junker, certainly tended toward the former in the years 1862-1871. He did realise, however, that the liberal demands of German unification could not be completely ignored.
Due to his Prussian patriotism, German unification was not one of his aims. The creation of a NGC dominated by Prussia was what he hoped to achieve. The inclusion of the other German states was called a by-product of his never-ending pursuit of Prussian interests.
2) Willingness to Go to War
Bismarck’s first move as Minister was to build up the Prussian army. He had pronounced that questions would not be decided by speeches and resolutions, but by a policy of 'blood and iron'. Prussia was to resort to brute force to gain what she wanted. He was now declaring a policy of firm diplomacy and war which Bismarck consistently maintained during the years 1862–1871.
Bismarck always sought out German unification as his final goal to increase Prussian power – his willingness to go to war was a constant in his perseverance for success. The wars with Denmark, Austria and France all show that he believed he could unite German states by placing them in front of
Consistent Aims
1) Patriotism to Prussia
Otto van Bismarck is credited with the unification of Germany. However, it can be argued that he deliberately fostered this myth, and that it was never his aim to begin with: he had not intended unification and was a Prussian patriot first.
He distrusted Southern Catholic German states and feared the submergence of Prussia in a united Germany. Above all else, Bismarck was consistently concerned to uphold and extend the power of the Prussian state and king, and, to a lesser degree, to exclude Austria. He was brought in as Minister-President by the King of Prussia in 1862 to combat liberal demands, however modest they were.
In the 1800’s, Germany was torn between princely conservatism on one hand, and fierce liberalism and nationalism on the other. Bismarck, as a noted Junker, certainly tended toward the former in the years 1862-1871. He did realise, however, that the liberal demands of German unification could not be completely ignored.
Due to his Prussian patriotism, German unification was not one of his aims. The creation of a NGC dominated by Prussia was what he hoped to achieve. The inclusion of the other German states was called a by-product of his never-ending pursuit of Prussian interests.
2) Willingness to Go to War
Bismarck’s first move as Minister was to build up the Prussian army. He had pronounced that questions would not be decided by speeches and resolutions, but by a policy of 'blood and iron'. Prussia was to resort to brute force to gain what she wanted. He was now declaring a policy of firm diplomacy and war which Bismarck consistently maintained during the years 1862–1871.
Bismarck always sought out German unification as his final goal to increase Prussian power – his willingness to go to war was a constant in his perseverance for success. The wars with Denmark, Austria and France all show that he believed he could unite German states by placing them in front of