Unification of GermanyVereinheitlichung von Deutschland!!!!

Problems:

Austria opposed any attempt at unifying Germany Feared it would lose influence in the German States

A unified Germany would give Austria a run for its money militarily and economically

France and Russia felt the same way: Did not want a strong power in the center of Europe

Many small German states feared unity because of their religion Catholic states vs. Protestant states

Agricultural states vs. industrial states

Prussia: a lot like Sardinia in the 1700’s

Controlled quite a bit of Germany but not all of it

Had a strong King and Noble class called: Junkers

Very structured highly disciplined government and army

Prussia: The Industrial Revolution

Greatly increased power of Prussia Prussia has vast reserves of coal that would fuel the

industrial revolution

Coal began a prosperous iron and steel industry

Coal, iron and steel were the backbone of railroads and the military

Militarism

The glorification of the military and the readiness for war

King William I

Wanted to continue the Prussian tradition of Militarism Appointed Otto Von Bismarck as Prime Minister and minister

of Foreign Affairs

Von Bismarck = Prussian Cavour

“Blood and Iron”

Bismarck and William both wanted a unified Germany under a Prussian government (King) Bismarck: “Germany does not look to Prussia’s liberalism,

but to her power”

Will unite her “not with speeches and majority decisions but blood and iron.”

Warfare and military

Realpolitik

Whatever political action thought necessary German for realism in politics

Necessary political action whether or not legal or ethical

Constitution and the Prussian parliament refused Bismark the taxes he needed for a unification war Collected them anyway and raised an army

First Steps to unification:

To destroy Austria Bismarck first made an alliance with it to take the Danish provinces of Schleswig and Holstein Although fierce resistance Prussian and Austrian armies

overrun the territories

The treaty that ended the war gave Holstein to Austria

Prussia would administer Schleswig

Alliances before the War with Austria:

Prussia had helped Russia with an uprising in Poland Russia is out

Promised a few small territories to France France is out

Venetia to Italy if they support Prussia Italy is out (well, in… they join briefly against Austria)

War!

A small dispute over Holstein provokes Austria into war

Austria marches troops into Holstein

Militarism at work: Prussia

The rail system facilitates large quick troop movements

Militarism at work: Prussia

The rail system facilitates large quick troop movements

Highly disciplined army

Brilliant leadership

First real use of “semi automatic” weapons: Needle gun

5 rounds per minute

Needle gun:

Outcome of the 7 Weeks War

7 weeks and Prussia stomps Austria Prussia annexes Schleswig and Holstein

1 year later, sensing the tide, 21 German states north of the Main River join Prussia in a North German Confederation

The driving force in the 21 nations joining?

Nationalism

Tension in the South

Alsace Lorraine, Wurtemberg, Hohenzollern, Bavaria Mainly Catholic

Didn’t like the Protestantism of the North

Feared control by France even more

Becoming surrounded by very large powerful nations

Bismarck

Convinces the southern states to enter into a military alliance with Prussia to protect against the French Bismarck believed that a war with the French would drive

the southern states into a full on political alliance

Realpolitik

Bismarck Attempts to put a Hohenzollern on the throne of Spain Cousin of William I

French as you can imagine, not to happy about being surrounded by Prussia French send an ambassdor to William demanding that no

Hohenzollern would accept Spanish throne

William refuses

Sends a telegram to Bismarck of meeting

Realpolitik

Bismarck edits the telegram to make it seem like the two nations insulted each other

Realpolitik

Bismarck edits the telegram to make it seem like the two nations insulted each other Nations feel they are insulted by each other and clamored

for war

War!!!

French declare war on July 15, 1870

France:

Crushed by Germany… the first in a long line of defeats of the French by Germany

Napoleon III taken prisoner, all resistance crushed French give up Alsace Lorraine

The Dominoes fall

William I proclaimed Kaiser or Emporer of the new German Empire Includes all members of the North German Confederation

The Southern German States

Alsace-Lorraine

Lasting Results

The French HAAAAAATTTTTEEEEEE!!!! The Germans Re: WWI and WWII