Germany
German Foreign
Policy
International Relations
1871 - 1914
Part 1
1
Background Unification of Germany
The Congress of Vienna at the end of the
Napoleonic Wars in 1815 redrew the map of Europe and established the
Confederation of German States (39 of them) which were under the control of
Austria-Hungary.
2
Germany 1815
3
German Unification
Prussia, the largest of these states, wanted to end Austrian domination and unite the states into a new German
Empire under her own control.
4
Count Otto von
Bismarck
Chancellor of Prussia from
1862 - he was determined to achieve the unification of Germany.
5
Opposition to Unification
To achieve this aim he knew he would have to deal with the neighbouring powers of
France and Austria-Hungary.
Austria still regarded itself as being in control of the German states and resented
Prussia’s growing challenge to its power.
Both these countries distrusted and feared the creation of a strong German state in central Europe.
6
Europe in 1815
Europe 1815
7
Two Wars
Bismarck first built a very strong Prussian army. He defeated Austria-Hungary very easily in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 (The
Seven Weeks War). Bismarck was very careful to treat Austria leniently as he did not want to alienate her so as to ensure her neutrality in the forthcoming war against France.
8
Franco-Prussian War 1870
The Prussian army then defeated France and this removed the last obstacle to the unification of Germany. The new German Empire was created in January 1871.
France was humiliated and now felt threatened by a powerful
German state on her borders.
France also lost the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany and had to pay Germany 5 billion francs and suffer an army of occupation until the money was paid. The fortress towns of
Strasbourg and Metz were also lost to Germany.
The Prussians had further humiliated the French by staging a triumphalist march through
Policy
International Relations
1871 - 1914
Part 1
1
Background Unification of Germany
The Congress of Vienna at the end of the
Napoleonic Wars in 1815 redrew the map of Europe and established the
Confederation of German States (39 of them) which were under the control of
Austria-Hungary.
2
Germany 1815
3
German Unification
Prussia, the largest of these states, wanted to end Austrian domination and unite the states into a new German
Empire under her own control.
4
Count Otto von
Bismarck
Chancellor of Prussia from
1862 - he was determined to achieve the unification of Germany.
5
Opposition to Unification
To achieve this aim he knew he would have to deal with the neighbouring powers of
France and Austria-Hungary.
Austria still regarded itself as being in control of the German states and resented
Prussia’s growing challenge to its power.
Both these countries distrusted and feared the creation of a strong German state in central Europe.
6
Europe in 1815
Europe 1815
7
Two Wars
Bismarck first built a very strong Prussian army. He defeated Austria-Hungary very easily in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 (The
Seven Weeks War). Bismarck was very careful to treat Austria leniently as he did not want to alienate her so as to ensure her neutrality in the forthcoming war against France.
8
Franco-Prussian War 1870
The Prussian army then defeated France and this removed the last obstacle to the unification of Germany. The new German Empire was created in January 1871.
France was humiliated and now felt threatened by a powerful
German state on her borders.
France also lost the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany and had to pay Germany 5 billion francs and suffer an army of occupation until the money was paid. The fortress towns of
Strasbourg and Metz were also lost to Germany.
The Prussians had further humiliated the French by staging a triumphalist march through