Unification of GermanyBackground

Middle ages – 1800s: GE made up of 390 states Ruled by prices, dukes No proper govt Most influential state: AUSTRIA (dominant one)

o Biggest territoryo Strongest army

Early 1800s, Napoleon = emperor of Franceo Spreading into EU, tried to conquer EUo Takes over state of GE and reorganises themo Changes from 390 states to 39 states

Does this for easier controlo Unite everyone under French lawo Started unification process for GEo Problem?

Didn’t last long before he got defeated Sent back to France GE states free

GE Confederation (1815)

All little GE states = HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE Vienna Settlement:

o Met with Austria to decide what to do about GEo GE confederation (bund) established

Grouped most GE states togethero Under napoleon, ideology of nationalism and liberalism

BUT Prince Metternich, didn’t encourage nationalism Karlsbad Decree

o Censorshipo Ensure people didn’t talk about unification

o AU most dominant member of Bundo At this time, Prussia had

Growing population Many resources

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Growing industry

Zollverein (1834)

Unified GE economicallyo Similar currencyo Excluded Austria = was invited to join but rejected. Underestimated this union.o Became focal point of GE nationalism

Wanted to form one countryo BUT FAILED. Just because they were economically unifying, they didn’t have same

political views

Revolution (1848)

Problems?o Bad harvest – food prices increasedo Rising population – overcrowding and poor hygieneo High cost of livingo Low wageso People felt strain on freedom of speech in govt

1848 – year of revolution in EUo FR revolution encourage GE revolution

Vorparlament took over Diet of Confederation – set up Constituent Assemblyo Vorparlament took over Diet of Confederation - set up Constituent Assembly

Frankfurt Parliament – created constitutiono Central govto One Kaisero Reichstag – parliament that was set up

Problem?o Boundaries of GEo Options

a) Include GE-speaking AU (Grossdeutschland) b) don’t include them (kleindeutschland)

o Solution? Decided without AU = kleindeutschland PR had more power now!

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REVOLUTION FAILED. Why?

Many GE felt no sense of identity Disunity in parliament Lack of support – especially from PR king Thus, aristocracy went back to normal

PR’s Dominance over AU

PR/Zollverein flourishing Industrialising happening High food production AU’s weakness:

o Agriculture not developed/not industrialisingo During the Crimean War(1953), they played both sides and alienated both

BR and FR RU

Many resourceso Raw materialso Trade internally and externallyo Expansion of railways

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1) Olmultz (1850) Frankfurt Parliament dissolved GE confederation back in power = AU dominant PR did not want to send representatives

o Did not want to be under AU controlo Wanted to be more modern

Hesse-Cassel (area between Prussia)o AU sent troops in as a s threat/ultimatum to accept GE confederationo Troops occupied HC for a while = PR weak/tension/embarrassed

Thus, PR accepts ultimatum at a place called Olmutz and AU reasserts its strength

2) Crimean War (1853) AU lost allies – BR, FR and RU

3) The Zollverein (1856) Economically unified GE states EXCEPT Austria AU becomes isolated and does not industrialize

4) The 2 nd war of Italian Independence (1859) AU lose territories & prestige & $$ HUMILIATING! Italy wanted to unify North-east region of Italy FR army help IT PR offered AU help – but rejected after too many conditions

5) Otto Von Bismarck (1862) Chancellor/president of Prussia Comes from a wealthy Junker class Intelligent, well-educated, ruthless, arrogant and multilingual Believed in Realpolitik (do what’s best for Prussia) Wanted to strengthen Prussia and believed in Prussia’s nationalism E.g. of his ruthlessness

o Made people pay more tax – military spending increase Shows how he’s controlling and demanding

6) Austria’s Reform Plan (1863) Wished to establish executive body

o Reassert AU’s dominance Bismarck threatened to resign if Kaiser joined in

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Kaiser did not and thus, PLAN DIES! MUAHAHAHA!7) Danish War (1864-1865)

Danish King had control over 2 independent stateso Schleswigo Holstein

Wanted to incorporate territory King Denmark dies during decision-making. Two possible successors:

o Prince Frederick (GE like!)o Prince Christian (Danish like!)

PR felt it should be theirs and Danish people shouldn’t have a say Brings tension between AU and PR

o AU tries to support PR = avoid waro Also takes away glory from PR

PR and AU agreed to split it!o Schleswig – PRo Holstein – AU

8) Seven Weeks’ War (1866) Bismarck wanted AU out of Holstein AU defeated in seven weeks:

o Had no allies – FR had promised to stay neutralo Was attacked on 2 sides (IT helped PR)

Kaiser wanted to defeat AU and take over them o BUT Bismarck stops him

Saves diplomatic ties with AU Prevented EU resistance

PR able to annex more lando North-GE confederation formed

*Peace of Prague

GE confederation didn’t exist anymore North-GE created (AU not part of it) AU lost a lot of territory – which PR got instead

9) N-GE Confederation (1867) Starts unifying kingdoms together, not by force Bismarck = chancellor of confederation Reichstag = parliament helping unification King Wilhelm = king of confederation

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10) Luxemburg Crisis(1867) PR expanding = threat to FR Napoleon III wanted Rhineland but Bismarck doesn’t want to give it up

o So he chose Luxemburg insteado FR paid King of Holland a lot of $$ and offered protection

King of Holland checked with Bismarck if ok, but he says no!o Thus, had a conference to discuss about territoryo Result?

Luxemburg neutral and independent PR army out FR cannot buy

o Thus, tension between Bismarck and Napoleon III

11) Hohenzollern Crisis (1869-70) Spain had queen who was overthrown Prince Leopold Hohenzollern = possible heir

o Bismarck :Do Napoleon III >:( o Prince = didn’t care

Bismarck bribed Spain to give Leopold the position Problem?

o Bismarck was caught before Prince got positiono France uproar!

Thus, Kaiser Wilhelm stopped and pulled Prince out – no war with FR over Spaino Bismarck SO ANGRY. Threatened to resign.

12) Ems Telegram (1870) FR request Wilhelm to make a public apology

o Kaiser saw this unnecessary – met in Ems to decide what to doo After meeting, Kaiser sent Bismarck telegram to inform about issues discussed

Bismarck edited/shortened telegramo Made Kaiser superior to FRo Publishes letter in newspaper before king’s returno FR read it and RAWR! Furious!o = WAR!!!!!!!!!! On N-GE confederationo PR made FR seem like the aggressor

13) Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) Bismarck managed to rally up all state

o Unified country greatly

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o PR army led everythingo PR captured 100 000 people, including Napoleon III (overthrown by FR people)

GE Armyo Strong leader – General Moltkeo Effective equipmentso High moraleo Advantage with transportation

14) Frankfurt Peace Treaty (1871) Extremely harsh terms – beginning of GE and FR tension

o GE takes Alsace-Lorraine (bufferzone)o GE army stayed in East FR until large sum of money paido OVERWHELMING VICTORY = unified GE!

JANUARY 1871 = GERMANY UNIFIEDKaiser Wilhelm = Kaiser of GE (who was crowned in Versailles – humiliation for FR)

Summary:

1. Olmutz (1850)2. Crimean War (1853)3. Zollverein (1856)4. The 2nd war of Italian Independence (1859)5. Otto Von Bismarck (1862)6. Austria’s Reform Plan (1863)7. Danish War (1864-5)8. Seven Weeks’ War (1866)9. N-GE Confederation (1867)10. Luxemburg Crisis (1867)11. Hohenzollern Crisis(1869-70)12. Ems Telegram (1870)13. Franco-Prussian War (1870-1)14. Frankfurt Peace Treaty (1871)

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Historiography Orthodox

o Bismarck was the driving force behind the unification o Driven by a master plan to accomplish this aim

Others o Bismarck seen as opportunisto Step by step, changed his aims and finally support the national dream

Revisionisto Strong economy and social forces created unification

“The German empire was built more truly on coal and iron than on blood and iron” – Keynes

“The German empire was built more truly on coal and iron than on blood and iron” – Keynes

“The German empire was built more truly on coal and iron than on blood and iron” – Keynes

“The German empire was built more truly on coal and iron than on blood and iron” – Keynes

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