years of ambition final

8/10/2019 Years of Ambition Final

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Rohan Joshi

Mr. UhelskiSeptember 24, 2014

IB1 History B2

Bismarck and the Unification of Germany 1862-1871

Content Questions, Years of Ambition, pp. 17-2!"

1. Bismarck#s persona$ity andRealpolitik:

Otto on Bismar!k "as the #r$ssian #rime Minister "ho "as ele!te% in 1&'2,

"ho %isplaye% (immense skill, ener)y, reso$r!e*$lness an% r$thlessness+ -aer 1/.

#rior to bein) appointe% as #rime Minister, Bismar!k ha% al"ays ha% a lar)e role in theiet o* the 3erman on*e%eration 1/. $rin) his time on the Unite% iet, Bismar!k

)aine% attention thro$)h his spee!hes %e*en%in) the monar!hy o* #r$ssia 1&5. He also

"as part o* the !ir!le that $r)e% 6re%eri!k 7illiam I *or !o$nterreol$tion 1&5. In1&81, he "as appointe% as the #r$ssian representatie at the 6rank*$rt iet9 "hi!h proe%

to be helpin) his plan o* tryin) to !ollaborate "ith :$stria 1&5. Soon a*ter this,Bismar!k %e!i%e% that :$stria "as tryin) to a!hiee its o"n )reater po"er thro$)h the

mas;$era%e o* :$stro9#r$ssian $nion 1&5. :$stria+s e!onomi! (ba!k"ar%ness+ an% its(imperial !ommitments+ ma%e it *ar9*et!he% *or :$stria to eer hae the ability to lea%

1&5. espe!ially "hen he re!ommen%e% to #r$ssia that anallian!e "ith ?apoleon III "o$l% help "ith the :$strian str$))le 1&4. @hro$)h his loyal

*ollo"in) o*Realpolitik, his tra%itional !onseratism ha% tr$ly !han)e% an in!re%ible

amo$nt sin!e 1&4&980 1&4.


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thro$)h the personi*i!ation o* Bismar!k, "ho e=empli*ie% these ie"s an% $se% them

e=tensiely in or%er to in!rease the po"er o* his %ear #r$ssia.

Bismar!k is o* no %o$bt the most piotal part o* 3erman Uni*i!ation. @his sin)le

man or (ma!hine+ tr$ly "orke% to in!rease #r$ssian po"er, "hi!h "o$l% o!!$r thro$)h

$ni*i!ation. Bismar!k "ante% the $ni*i!ation to o!!$r *or the so$ereason o* in!reasin) thepo"er o* #r$ssia. Usin) his "its an% his tool belt o* po"er*$l belie*s Realpolitik he set

his plan into a!tion. @he sheer "it Bismar!k ha%, proe% that he "as in total !ontrol o*

the )ame.


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IB1 History B2

stoppe% Bismar!k *rom !reatin) the 3erman Rei!h, an% in 1&/1 7ilhelm I a!!epte% the

role o* the *irst Aeiser o* 3ermany.

@he problem "ith 7ilhelm I is that he "as tr$ly $st the mo%e o* transport in

"hi!h Bismar!k "ent aro$n% !ontrollin) eerythin). :lmost eery a!tion or breath that

7ilhelm I attempte% to take a*ter !allin) Bismar!k *or help "as *ille% "ith the%ominan!e an% !ontrol o* Bismar!k. 7itho$t Bismar!k, 7ilhelm "o$l% be tr$ly

no"here. Bismar!k !reate% the sit$ations in "hi!h 7ilhelm simply pla!e% himsel* as a

pla!ehol%er to a)ree "ith Bismar!k an% be on his si%e. :*ter Bismar!k ha% )otten !loseto $ni*y 3ermany an% in!rease% #r$ssian po"er to it+s a relatie peak, he allo"e%

7ilhelm to be the Aeiser o* the 6irst Rei!h. He neer p$t the 7ilhelm on the seat to )ie

him any po"er or any in*l$en!e in any lar)e %e!isions, b$t instea% p$t him there to makeit easier *or him to p$ll 7ilhelm+s strin)s a)ain an% e**e!t the entirety o* the 3erman

empire9 not $st #r$ssia.It !an be ar)$e%, ho"eer, that "itho$t 7ilhelm, Bismar!k "o$l% hae %one

nothin). It is easy to see, ho"eer, that Bismar!k+s harsh personality an% belie* inRealpolitik "o$l% hae preaile%. Bismar!k "orke% "ith "hateer he ha%, an% een i* he

%i% not hae 7ilhelm+s assistan!e, he "o$l% hae someho" bro$)ht himsel* to po"er.

7hen he "as )ien the (o**er+ o* nee%in) to "ork "ith 7ilhelm, it $st helpe% him skip astep o* ma)nit$%e, an% )ae him directin*l$en!e o* the people thro$)h 7ilhelm.

It !an be !learly seen thro$)h all o* this that 7ilhelm is not a ery in*l$ential

person not nearly as !lear as Bismar!k. He %i% %o ario$s thin)s *or #r$ssia an% theeent$al $ni*i!ation o* 3ermany, b$t %i% not %o nearly as m$!h as other *a!tors. Most o*

the time $n*ort$nately 7ilhelm I "as simply $se% as a pla!ehol%er *or maintainin) the

(!oer+ *or Bismar!k+s ra%i!al !han)es an% plans.

3. %on *o$tke and mi$itary strate+ytactics

Bismar!k+s o$p e 3ra!e "as 3eneral on Moltke, an% his strate)i! brillian!e.Moltke "as the hie* o* the #r$ssian 3eneral Sta**, an% "as the e=a!t opposite o* the

%isor)aniEe% :$strian 3eneral Bene%ek -aer 10. @he reason Moltke "as s$!h a

brilliant military strate)ist is %$e to ario$s thin)s. One o* the thin)s that he realiEe% *arbe*ore Bene%ek "as that %$e mass !ons!ription, the siEe o* the ne" #r$ssian armies "as

m$!h too lar)e to be able to $se "ith ol% strate)ies 10. He also $mpe% on the ne" *a!t

that the a%an!e% te!hnolo)y o* the railroa% "o$l% allo" the army to be transporte% *rom

one pla!e to ario$s others e=tremely ;$i!kly, an% took a%anta)e o* this. 7hen helearne% o* the tele)raph, he imme%iately realiEe% that the army "o$l% be ery easily able

to !omm$ni!ate. :ltho$)h this "o$l% re;$ire (ery !are*$l plannin)+, Moltke kne"

e=a!tly ho" to plan it 10. 7hen the Seen 7eeks 7ar "as %istin!tly "on a)ainst:$stria, this proe% Moltke an% his approa!h as tr$ly %e%i!ate% to the !a$se. He $se%

(!alm an% meti!$lo$s+ %ire!tion in or%er to !omman% an army o* Flite to mobiliEe,

%eploy, an% proision all o* the #r$ssian *or!es 10. He $se% as prior stare%, theobio$sly s$perior #r$ssian railroa% in or%er to transport the army in (hal* as m$!h time+


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as it "o$l% take the enemy to mobiliEe 10. Moltke een ma%e a br$tal error in the

mi%%le o* battle, "hen hal* o* the #r$ssian Se!on% army *aile% to arrieD B$t Bene%ek

"as m$!h too (!a$tio$s an% pessimisti!+ an% did notatta!k the open hole that !o$l% haet$rne% the ti%es o* the "ar. @his le% to the arrial o* the Se!on% :rmy soon a*ter, an% "as

the $naoi%able %e*eat o* :$stria in the "ar. :lmost all "ars "ere insti)ate% by

Bismar!k, b$t "heneer they o!!$rre%, Moltkes )eni$s al"ays !l$t!hes i!tory o$t o* thehan%s o* the enemies.

:ltho$)h Bismar!k is !re%ite% "ith a lar)e maority in lea%in) 3ermany to $ni*y,many o* the thin)s that Bismar!k %i% re;$ire% a stron) military to oer!ome the enemies

"ith "hi!h Bismar!k ha% planne% "ars in or%er to (!onin!e+ other 3erman States to

oin #r$ssia in the $ni*i!ation. Bismar!k planne% eerythin) o$t almost *la"lessly, an%"hen the plans "ere han%e% oer to Moltke, Moltke e=e!$te% all o* them. Moltke "as the

entirety o* the #r$ssian armies+ )eni$s, p$t into one min%. He "as !omparable toBismar!k+s )eni$s, b$t instea% o* bein) e=tremely br$tal an% st$bborn, he "as !alm an%

!olle!te% an% pie!e% to)ether the in*ormation )ien an% a%apte% himsel* an% the armyto "hat happene%. In or%er to "in these "ars, Moltke "ent aboe an% beyon% the !all o*

%$ty in or%er to pre plan "hat "as ne!essary to "in $st like Bismar!kGs belie*s in

Realpolitik, he %i% "hateer "as nee%e% to "in. He $se% ne" inentions tele)raph an%railroa% to make the #r$ssian army so e**i!ient that all o* the pie!es o* his plan *ell

to)ether. In or%er to *l$i%ly %ire!t thin)s, he kept his min% !ool an% moe% reso$r!es

simply an% lo)i!ally *rom pla!e to pla!e. 7itho$t any o* these thin)s, it is almost a)$arantee that Bismar!k+s plan "o$l% hae *aile%. Bismar!k ha% bet many o* his (poker

!hips+ o* #r$ssian po"er on the han% o* "innin) "ars. :ltho$)h he "as l$!ky9 it is !lear

that the "its o* Moltke tr$ly helpe% him )ain more po"er an% assist in the $ni*i!ation o*3ermany.

4. &ar ith /enmark 1860

@he :$stro9#r$ssian 7ar a)ainst enmark "as one o* the tri$mphs o* Bismar!k+s

*orei)n poli!y plans -aer 1&'. @his "ar "as Bismar!k+s ans"er to the !ompli!ate%

;$estion o* (S!hles"i)9Holstein+ 1&'. Both $!hies "ere lo!ate% bet"een enmarkan% #r$ssia, b$t "ere r$le% by the Ain) o* enmark the kin) r$le% ea!h o* them as his

%$kes 1&'. @he $!hy o* Holstein "as pre%ominantly 3erman speakin) an% "as part

o* the 3erman on*e%eration, an% most o* the people liin) there "ere 3ermans by

nationality. S!hles"i) "as mostly mi=e%, "ith many anish people in the north, an% amaority o* 3ermans to the so$th. @he *irst problem "as that 3erman nationalists "ante%

to p$t both $!hies into the ne" $ni*ie% 3ermany> anish nationalists ho"eer "ante%

only S!hles"i) to be "ithin enmark. Soon a*ter this, 3erman nationalists broke o$t inrebellion "ithin the $!hies, an% the nationalists "ere ai%e% by #r$ssians. #r$ssia "as

tol% to ba!k o**, an% the @reaty o* -on%on "as p$t into pla!e to preent anythin) like this

*rom happenin) on!e a)ain, an% ret$rne% the t"o $!hies ba!k to their pre9"ararran)ements. 7hen hristian I a)ree% to be!ome the Ain) o* enmark in 1&'5, the


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IB1 History B2

;$estions "as s$%%enly opene% a)ain. 3ermans %isa)ree% "ith his ri)ht to r$le, an%

"ante% the $ke o* :$)$stenb$r) "ho "as a 3erman nationalist to be!ome the ri)ht*$l

r$ler. @he anish attempte% to *or!e hristian I to p$t S!hles"i) "ith the state o*enmark, b$t this simple a!tion shattere% the @reaty o* -on%on. @his (shatterin)+ allo"e%

*or Bismar!k in interene, as the so !alle% (%e*en%er+ o* international la". 7hat he %i%

a*ter this "as "hat s$rprise% almost eeryone in 3ermany an% espe!ially the t"o$!hies. He !onin!e% :$stria by speakin) abo$t the !laims abo$t the $ke o*

:$)$stenb$r). :$stria a)ree% an% they both starte% an operation *or the inasion o*

S!hles"i). Soon a*ter this, the anish :rmy "as %e*eate% at $ppel9 b$t they %e!line% a!ompromise, hopin) that the British "o$l% interene to help their ally. Britain %i% not

sho" $p to help the anish, an% the anes "ere *or!e% to han% oer S!hles"i) an%

Holstein to #r$ssia an% :$stria.

Bismar!k+s han%lin) o* this sit$ation "as by *ar one o* the most piotal points in3erman $ni*i!ation. Instea% o* oer interenin) initially, Bismar!k "aite% *or the

sit$ation to play o$t an% allo"e% somethin) to happen "hi!h forced# the nee% *or alar)er han%. 7hen he !onin!e% :$stria o* nee%in) to "ork "ith #r$ssia in or%er to help

their *ello" 3ermans in enmark, he alrea%y !reate% a sort o* (bon%+ that helpe% $nite

both !o$ntries to)ether *or a!hiein) a similar )oal. @his also sho"e% ho" or)aniEe% the*$t$re $ni*ie% 3ermany !o$l% be, as both #r$ssia an% :$stria "ere *e$%in) *ier!ely

be*ore the "ar o* enmark9 b$t it seeme% that *or one brie* moment, the li)ht shine% on

both o* them an% helpe% them $n%erstan% that in or%er to be tr$ly $ni*ie% they othnee%e% to "ork to)ether. :ltho$)h :$stria ha% no i%ea that Bismar!k "as simply $sin)

them *or the sake o* in!reasin) the po"er o* #r$ssia, at the en% o* the %ay "hat he %i%

tr$ly "o$l% hae assiste% 3ermany as a "hole *or the lar)er )oal o* $ni*i!ation.

5. 3e%en &eeks# &ar 45russia %s. ustria 1866

Soon a*ter the en% o* the 7ar a)ainst enmark, the :$strian


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eent$ally lea% to somethingo!!$rrin) "hi!h "o$l% p$sh :$stria to start a "ar "ith

them> sin!e :$stria "as !learly "eaker, the p$sh "o$l% sho" #r$ssia as the m$!h more

stron) state, an% !a$se a !he!kmate that "o$l% force3erman $nity. In or%er *orBismar!k to in!reases #r$ssia %iplomati! po"er an% ens$re i!tory in the "ar he si)ne%

a military allian!e "ith Italy, an% *or!e% ?apoleon III into remainin) ne$tral i* !on*li!t

str$!k o$t "hi!h it "o$l% 1&&. In or%er to *or!e ?apoleon, he most probably )ae hima %eal to take any part o* lan% *rom the 3erman speakin) Rhinelan%. @he treaty "ith

R$ssia )ae Bismar!k assistan!e an% ai% *rom Italy i* any atta!k "as la$n!he% at #r$ssia

%$rin) a 5 month perio% 1&. Many !onseraties in #r$ssia "ere !ompletely sho!ke%"ith "hat Bismar!k ha% a!!omplishe%9 as they "ere sho!ke% at "hat Bismar!k "as

)oin) to %o "ith their *ello" 3erman brother in :$stria la$n!h "arD 1&. :s

Bismar!k+s tri$mphant $se o* his Realpolitik rampa)e%, he realiEe% that in or%er toin!rease #r$ssia+s po"er een more, he m$st $tiliEe 3erman ?ationalism. Un*ort$nately,

!lose to the start o* the "ar, many -iberals %i% not a)ree "ith "hat Bismar!k "ante% torashly %o "ith nationalism. Ironi!ally, many nationalists %i% not a)ree "ith the "ar itsel*

an% %espise% the ery i%ea o* "ar that Bismar!k "as pro$%ly mar!hin) on "ith.Bismar!k almost )amble% eerythin) on this ery last play, an% this time Bismar!k "as

st$!k to see the en%in) o* the "ar. 7hen the "ar *inally starte%, Moltkes brilliant $se o*

the :rmy tr$ly p$she% the ti%es to #r$ssia. :ltho$)h in the battle o* Aoni))ratE, amaority o* the #r$ssian army fai$ed to arri%e, Bene%ek "as too m$!h to a*rai% an%

pessimisti! to attempt to %estroy the )apin) (hole+ in the mi%%le o* the #r$ssian army. @he

"ar "as %e!i%e% a*ter this *a!t, an% #r$ssia %e!i%e%ly "on the "ar. :*ter this, Bismar!khan%le% the sit$ation almost per*e!tly in or%er, on!e a)ain, to proe #r$ssia+s %ominan!e

alon) the "ay, he %i% start to reel :$stria into the !on!ept o* $ni*yin) 10. He rapi%ly

!reate% pea!e "ith :$stria an% ma%e s$re that ?apoleon III an% his 6ran!e "o$l% notinterene in the pro!ess. Sin!e the :$strian 3ermany ha% no" lost almost all o* the

:$strian in*l$en!e, he repaire% the problem by brin)in) in #r$ssian !ontrol "hi!h at this

point +uaranteed#r$ssia+s !ontrol o* the (rei)ns+ o* 3ermany 11. @he brie*ness, an%

s$!!in!tness o* ho" Bismar!k %ealt "ith the *allba!k o* the "ar *ri)htene% an% sho!ke%?apoleon III, "ho e=pe!te% the "ar to last m$!h lon)er than Seen 7eeks. Many

:$strians "ante% his interention to preent #r$ssia *rom !l$t!hin) the po"er o* the

throne. B$t this o* !o$rse %i% not happen. Bismar!k realiEe% that he nee%e% to a!t hastilyin or%er to "in oer :$stria9 so he !reate% an% !ra*te% the treaty o* #ra)$e. @his treaty

ma%e :$stria pay an% in%emnity, b$t it %i% not s$**er any territoria$ $osses.@his le% to

total #r$ssian %omination, an% Bismar!k %ismantle% an% took apart the :$strian

on*e%eration. @he on*e%eration "as repla!e% "ith Bismar!k+s o"n !reation, "hi!hha% si)ni*i!antly more a%%itions to #r$ssia 11. : ne" !onstit$tion "as ne!essary *or

the ne" on*e%eration, an% Bismar!k %i% e=a!tly that. He *irst state% that the Ain) o*

#r$ssia "as to be the ne" #resi%ent, "ith total !ontrol o* the army "hi!h "as e=a!tly"hat 7ilhelm I "ante% as "ell. 7ilhelm I also ha% the ability to dismiss Bismarck

"hi!h o* !o$rse "as somethin) to sho" that Bismar!k !o$l% be "eakene%. Ho"eer, the

Bismar!k+s ra" po"er in!rease% proportionally "ith #r$ssia9 so it "as !lear that there"as no !han!e o* a %ismissal. @he !at!h in this "as that on$y &i$he$m '!o$l% %ismiss or


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%eal "ith Bismar!k as Bismar!k only "orke% *or an% sere% &i$he$m '.@he Rei!hsta)

!o$l% not %ismiss him or %eal "ith him in any "ay. Speakin) o* the Rei!hsta), Bismar!k

!reate% a #arliament o* sorts that "as ele!te% by (the $niersal manhoo% s$**ra)e+ 12.@he only %ra"ba!ks o* the Rei!hsta) "ere that they !o$l% not !ontrol Bismar!k an% they

ha% minimal !ontrol o* the spen%in) on the military. 7ith the Rei!hsta), the B$n%esrat

"as also !reate% "hi!h "as !ompose% o* 45 %ele)ates *rom the on*e%erations states.


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"hether it "as %iplomati! himsel* or military Moltke an% the army -aer 14. He

also !al!$late% that "ith a i!tory oer ?apoleon III, the national proe!t !o$l% be

reie% an% the !o$l% ("rest+ the politi!al initiatie in Berlin an% M$ni!h 18. Sin!erelations bet"een 6ran!e an% #r$ssia ha% been %e!linin) sin!e the i!tory o* the Seen

7eeks 7ar, it ha% soon be!ome !lear that Bismar!k m$st assert #r$ssian %ominan!e.

?apoleon III at the time "as attemptin) to be !ompensate% *or "hat ha% o!!$rre% *romthe "ar. He %e!i%e% that -$=embo$r) "as per*e!t *or his means o* !ompensation 18.

@he o"ner o* -$=embo$r) "ante% to sell it to repay his %ebts, b$t sin!e it "as a member

o* the 3erman on*e%eration9 #r$ssia still ha% po"er oer it. Bismar!k seeme% to not!are m$!h abo$t this i%ea9 b$t soon in the Rei!hsta) a torna%o o* opinions an% ar)$ments

be)an to rip the pla!e apart. on Moltke %e!i%e% that this "as a per*e!t start *or a "ar

"ith 6ran!e, as the a!;$isition "as ille)al 18. :*ter a brie* !on*eren!e to attempt to!ontrol the problems *rom the storm that ha% arisen, #r$ssian troops "ere remoe% *rom

-$=embo$r). ?apoleon III *elt that 6ran!e "as h$miliate% by "hat ha% o!!$rre% oerthis small area o* lan%, an% %i% not a!!ept the territory an% %i% not take it oer 18.

Bismar!k kne" that the ne=t iss$e "ith 6ran!e "o$l% be ery important, so "hen theHohenEollern !an%i%a!y *or Spain *inally !ame $p, he attempte% to !onin!e 7ilhelm I

that he sho$l% rally "ith the !an%i%ate to take the seat. Bismar!k starte% to stir the pot o*

international !on*li!t, b$t %i% not kno" the res$lt o* his stirrin). It !o$l% be "ar> it !o$l%!a$se the Se!on% Rei!h to *all. :*ter %i**i!$lt !onin!in) o* 7ilhelm I, the rallyin)

leake% o$t an% 6ran!e hear% o* it. 6ran!e ble" into a sort o* hysteria, an% the response

"as somethin) that Bismar!k !o$l% hae neer pre%i!te%. @he )ame ha% on!e a)ainbe)$n, b$t Bismar!k kne" that he ha% in*l$ential *a!tors in his po!ket 18. He kne"

that #r$ssia "as a m$!h more po"er*$l %iplomati!ally, an% kne" that there "as a hi)h

probability that the same thin) that o!!$rre% to enmark mi)ht o!!$r to 6ran!e. @he6ren!h "ere be)innin) to bein) playe% into "ar, an% "ere !ommittin) n$mero$s

bl$n%ers "hi!h sho$l% not hae o!!$rre% alon) the "ay. Instea% o* attemptin) a

pea!e*$l %iplomati! sol$tion "hi!h !o$l% hae happene%, ?apoleon III trie% to $mp a

step too *ar 1'. $rin) this 6ren!h pon%erin), the se!ret ne)otiations bet"een Berlinan% Ma%ri% leake%9 6ran!e "as appalle% at "hat #r$ssia "as attemptin) to %o, an% )ae

them a sli)ht opport$nity to !at!h Bismar!k. Bismar!k re*$te% the a!!$sations, b$t it "as

"ell kno"n that he "as the !reator an% !ra*ter o* the %eio$s s!heme "hi!h "as *ol%in)o$t 1'. 7ilhelm )re" %eeply embarrasse% *rom this, an% "hen -eopol%+s *ather

resi)ne% the !an%i%a!y, he )ae *$ll help to the retreat. @his *ail$re !a$se% #aris to be

e!stati!, an% almost lea% to Bismar!k+s resi)nation. :*ter all o* this Bismar!k starte% to

!onsi%er "hat ha% o!!$rre%, "hi!h "as ;$ite !learly, the (!limb %o"n+ *or #r$ssia. Herelease% a response to the


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IB1 History B2

not hae een starte% "itho$t the an%i%a!y iss$e an% the @ele)ram o!!$rrin), so it is

ery !lear that they assiste% in the $ni*i!ation o* 3ermany. @he "ay Bismar!k han%le%

the sit$ation "as ery a%herin) to Realpolitik, as it "as !lear that he stirre% $p ario$sthin)s on p$rpose in or%er to p$sh the sit$ation *or"ar%. His blin% *ollo"in) o*

Realpolitik le% him to *or)et abo$t 7ilhelm I, "ho ma%e a terrible bl$n%er "hi!h ha%

!a$se% 6ran!e to )ain a sli)ht a%anta)e prior oer Bismar!k. Ho"eer, 6ran!e %i% notsee that it "as !lear that #r$ssia "as stron)er as they ha% %e*eate% many other !o$ntries

in similarly starte% "ars. ?apoleon III an% the 6ren!h 3oernment seeme% to a!tin) o$t

o* *ear or simply sho!k in or%er to respon% to the pre!ario$s sit$ation. Bismar!k "as alsopreparin) *or "hat he nee%e% to %o i* "ar str$!k o$t prior to both sit$ations. @he

an%i%a!y an% @ele)ram "ere both $st t"o e=tra p$shes "hi!h helpe% him a!hiee that

)oal "itho$t nee%in) to *or!e "ar %ire!tly $pon the 6ren!h.

".


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Rohan Joshi


IB1 History B2

3erman states, an% anythin) that Bismar!k later %i% to t"eak the Rei!h "as ne)li)ible

1.

@he 6ran!o #r$ssian "ar "as $st the )$arantee% !onse;$en!e o* ho" 6ran!e ha%

brashly han%le% the sit$ation o* the HohenEollern !an%i%a!y. It "as also ne!essary, as it

"as !lear that 6ran!e tho$)ht it "as stron) eno$)h to !hallen)e Bismar!kGs r$thless3ermany at this point, he "as "orkin) *or the in!rease in po"er *or both 3ermany an%

#r$ssia, b$t more *or the 3erman $nity, as #r$ssiaGs po"er ha% been peakin). 6ran!e

!learly %i% not hae any military po"er, an% they ha% alrea%y sho"n relatie "eakness%iplomati!ally they %i% ho"eer, someho", almost p$sh Bismar!k to resi)nation. 7hen

6ran!e %e!lare% "ar a*ter somethin) "hi!h !o$l% hae been resole% by simply

%is!$ssin) the !on%itions "ith Bismar!k, it "as !lear that this *ast %e!ision ha% le% to3ermany "innin) the "ar a$ready. Instea% o* makin) a ery tho$)ht*$l %e!ision, they

$st ass$me% that Moltke an% his ne$y +reatenedarmy "ere "eaker than the )lorio$s6ren!h. I* they ha% een looke% oer "hat ha% happene% in enmark an% the Seen

7eeks 7ar, they mi)ht hae realiEe% ho" ri%i!$lo$s they "ere bein). ?eertheless, theyma%e the attempt, an% absol$tely *aile%. @hey $st be!ame the la$)hin)sto!k o* his enemiesprior to each of the three ars.

Bismar!k "as one o* the most reso$r!e*$l an% int$itie %iplomats that helpe%

)ro" 3ermany9 b$t it "as !lear that not all o* the thin)s he %i% "ere solely base% o** o*his intelle!t. : maority o* it "as a!t$ally l$!k -aer 201. He took a%anta)e o* the

(amate$r anish *orei)n poli!y+, (!on*$se% :$strian poli!y+, an% o* !o$rse the (nae

6ren!h *orei)n poli!y+ in or%er to shape the "ars "ith ea!h o* them. He "as alsoe=tremely l$!ky in the *a!t that Britain an% R$ssia %i% not interene at all %$rin) these

times. @hey simply a!!epte% the *a!ts, an% allo"e% 3ermany to %o "hateer ne!essary

202. Bismar!kGs )eni$s "as that he $se% all o* these thin)s to !reate a sit$ation in

#r$ssia an% 3ermany that "as *aorable *or them %iplomati!ally. He also a!!epte% the*a!t that there "as no *orm$la *or s$!!ess in politi!s, b$t instea% the politi!ian m$st a%apt

to ho" thin)s !han)e in *ront o* them 202. @his !ame into play %$rin) the 7ar a)ainst

enmark in "hi!h he in)enio$sly !reate% an allian!e "ith Italy, "hi!h preente%enmark *rom oere=ten%in) its army 202. Bismar!k also soon realiEe% that #r$ssia

!o$l% not $nite all o* 3ermany, an% kne" that he "o$l% nee% help *rom the 208 states an%

:$stria. @his all o* !o$rse le% to Bismar!kGs eent$al realiEation that the )ro"th o*#r$ssian po"er "as the same as ho" lon) it took *or 3ermany to $ni*y. :t the en% o* the


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Rohan Joshi


IB1 History B2

%ay it is !learly sho"n that all o* the plannin) that Bismar!k took to set $p the plans to

$ni*y 3ermany "ere ;$ite e**e!tie 208.

Bismar!kGs "ay o* settin)s thin)s $p "ith his enemies "as e=tremely important.

7itho$t his meti!$lo$s plannin), it is hi)hly likely that the "ars mi)ht not hae been

"on. :ltho$)h it !an be sai% that Moltke "o$l% hae "on the "ars any"ay "ith hisbrilliant "ay o* han%lin) the army, it is stron)ly s$))este% that Moltke "as listenin) to

or%ers *rom Bismar!k an% learne% many o* his in)enio$s ;$alities *rom Bismar!k

himsel*D #rior to the 7ar "ith enmark, Bismar!k allie% "ith Italy. @his allian!e "ase=tremely si)ni*i!ant to allo" the "innin) the "ar, an% )ainin) tr$st "ith many so$thern

states an% lea%in) %ire!tly to the ne=t "ar he ha% planne% "hi!h "as the Seen 7eeks

7ar. @he Seen 7eeks "ar "as the one "ar "hi!h "as important into )iin) Bismar!kin*l$en!e oer the :$strian states, an% )ainin) more po"er *or #r$ssia. I* he ha% not

planne% %eeply into the *$t$re *or this "ar, he mi)ht hae lost. :lso this "as the one "arin "hi!h Moltke ma%e his one *atal error "hi!h l$!kily playe% o$t "ell, %$e to the timi%

nat$re o* Bene%ek. :*ter ie"in) 6ran!es rea!tion a*ter the "ar a)ainst :$stria,Bismar!k imme%iately starte% to think abo$t "hat to %o abo$t the arro)ant shortsi)hte%

!o$ntry. :*ter 6ran!e %e!lare% "ar on #r$ssia, an% !onse;$ently lost, "itho$t kno"in)

Bismar!k ha% $st )$arantee% 3erman $ni*i!ation. :ltho$)h $ni*i!ation may not haebeen, he !ertainly proe% his point "ith all o* this pre plannin). :n% it is ei%ent thro$)h

this reasonin) that Bismar!k+s "ay o* (rea%in) the enemies han%+ an% (!allin) their

bl$**s+ tr$ly helpe% prepare the path to 3erman %ominan!e in the $p!omin) !ent$ries.


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years of ambition final

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