German Unification: Pages 119-144

1815 German Confederation:

– Almost exclusive containing German States.

– Much debate over how unification was to be achieved.
– Hope in 1860 was unification through Austria or Prussia.
I. Austria:
a. Believed to have a stronger military force by most of the
German Confederation.
b. Believed to have more natural resources.
c. As a Catholic state, it attracts southern Germany, such as
Bavaria.
I. Prussia:
a. Almost exclusively German Population.
b. Protestantism attracts northern Germany.
c. Economic dominance in the Confederation through the
Zollverein, the customs union in charge of trade agreements.

Conflict in Prussia:

– Ruled by the Constitution or the Monarchy?

– Centered on the problem of who would control the army as well as taxes.
– William appoints Albrecht von Roon as the minister of war.

Bismarck:

– Appointed as Prime Minister in 1862. (Very conservative)

– Believed in the idea of Realpolitik, a very pragmatic branch of politics.
– A very skilled political leader. Chose the most opportune and least
dangerous course of action.
– Supported the Monarchy.
– “Blood and Iron”; emphasized the necessity of Industry and War.
– Emphasized the strength of the military.

Bismarck’s Policies:

I. Conflict with Parliament

a. First offered peace.
b. Accused the Parliament of violating the Constitution.
c. Parliament had no power to fight Bismarck.
d. Bismarck realizes the need for allies.

Polish Revolt:
 – Russia faces revolt from the Polish provinces.
– Bismarck sees this as a chance to gain an ally in Russia, and sends troops
into Poland.

The Schleswig-Holstein/Danish War:

– Denmark claims Schleswig-Holstein as a part of Denmark, and upsets the

German Confederation, which consider it to be a part of Germany.
Furthermore, the Danes enact a new constitution, which is seen as an
attempt to take over Schleswig-Holstein.
– The German Confederation, including Prussia and Austria, demand that
Denmark renounce the Constitution and give up Schleswig-Holstein.
– The Danes refuse and go to war with Prussia and Austria depending on
foreign help that never came.
– The Convention of Gastein made Schleswig a part of Prussia and Holstein
under Austrian control. (Bismarck was to alter use this against Austria to
start a war.

The Austro-Prussian War:

– Bismarck attempts to secure support/neutrality from the other powers on

the European Continent before starting a war with Austria.
○ Russia did not want a Unified Germany, but did not believe that
Prussia would dominate and were grateful for the help during the
Polish Insurrection.
○ Britain stayed out of the Danish War, and was not interested in the
Austro-Prussian War.
○ France was the main obstacle in securing neutrality. Bismarck
cleverly handled the situation by meeting with Napoleon III in
Biarritz, where he hints at offering Rhineland and Belgium.
○ Italy allies with Prussia against the former enemy (Austria) for
Venetia, still under Austrian control.
– Many smaller German states ally with Austria believing them to possess a
stronger and larger army.
– In reality, Prussia has a superior military, in terms of both weapons and
leadership.
– Starts the war by claiming Austria violated the rights and the Treaty of
Gastein by reorganizing the government of Holstein.
– Austria is utterly defeated as the battle of Koniggrätz, and Austria is
deprived of all influence in the German States, and Prussia is able to
unite the Northern German states into Prussia.

Franco-Prussian War:
– Bismarck attempts to unify the last Southern German states thorough
nationalism against France.
– France is at a disadvantage because the war (Austro-Prussian) was
expected to last long in order to weaken Prussia ended too quickly.
– France’s request for the land that was hinted by Bismarck in Biarritz is
denied, and this request persuades Southern Germany to join Prussia
because they fear the extending of French influence.
– The Hohenzollern Affair leads France to declare war on Prussia on July 15,
1870.
– The war was disastrous for France; there was no outside help, and
although the French held the superior military equipment, the Prussian
army held better leadership.
– At the end, Alsace/Lorraine (seen by the French as a part of France) is
taken into the German States, and France is forced to pay an indemnity
of 5 billion Francs and support and occupation by Prussia until it is paid.