1. A Case Study in Nationalism: German Unification, 1815-1871
Meeting of all the German Confederation monarchs, 1863

2. Setting the Scene: The Congress of Vienna
Creation of the German Confederation (GC)
39 states, led by Austria
Prussia allowed to be independent AND part of GC
Major powers of GC were rivals
Austria: Hapsburg dynasty to South of GC
Prussia
Military power in North
Blue = Prussia
Yellow = Austria
Gray = other German states

3. Austria and Prussia, mid 19th Century
Austria weak
Nature of Empire (11 nationalities, 15 languages spoken)
Struggle with nationalist movements
Lost Russia as ally in 1850s (Crimean War, Slavic nationalism
Austrian Empire Coat of Arms

4. Austria and Prussia, Mid 19th Century
Prussia strong
Most industrialized state in Germany
More coal, iron than Austria
Better and longer road, rail network
Favorable trade alliances with GC states & standardized currency
Superior leaders
Prussian coat of arms

5. Prussian Leaders Kaiser Wilhelm I (1799-1888)
Soldier, diplomat: not well educated (3rd son of dad)
“Prince of Grapeshot”: turned cannon on own people during Const. crisis in 1848
Became king in 1861
Appointed good people to run State

6. Prussian Leaders Otto Von Bismarck (“The Iron Chancellor”)
Appointed Minister-President by Wilhelm I in 1862
Conservative who supported Monarchy
Incredibly loyal to Kaiser
Goals
Unify North German States
Weaken Austria
Make Berlin center of Germany
Strengthen King of Prussia against Parliament, called the Reichstag
Bismarck as Chancellor, 1871

7. Prussian Leaders Helmut Von Moltke
Chief of Staff, Prussian Army,
Improved strategy, tactics of Prussian Army
Strategy = big picture in war – planning, etc
Tactics = actual fighting – first to use war games to practice attack plans
Created first modern General Staff, to plan war
“No battle plan survives contact with the enemy”

8. Plan for German Unification: Phase One
Prussia went to war against Denmark, took land (circled)
Then fought Austrians in 1867 (7 week war)
North German Confederation created, under Prussian control
Austria promised to stay out of NGC affairs, pay reparations ($ for war)
Red = Prussia
Salmon =Other N
German States
Gray = South
Hot pink line is
Boundary of NGC

9. Franco-Prussian War,
France was afraid of Prussia getting stronger
Bismarck used diplomacy to isolate France from allies
Russia, Italy promised to stay neutral in war
Provoked war with France: “The Ems Telegram”
Ems a resort
French demanded public withdrawal
Bismarck sent along two copies……
Germany threatening France
(French newspaper cartoon, 1870)

10. Franco Prussian War,
French mobilize 100k reg. troops, declared war against ALL of Germany
Result: Southern German states join NGC
Fr. figured their army would grow as mobilization continued
Germans reacted with swift attack
Mobilized 1 million troops in 10 days
Transported to Fr border
Paris captured in Jan 1871

11. Franco-Prussian War, 1870-71 Treaty of Frankfurt
France lost Alsace-Lorraine
Paid indemnity of $500 million to Prussia
Southern German States unified with NGC when France declared war = Germany was complete!!
Was German unification inevitable?
Yes; economic coop. = unification eventual, but Bismarck sped it up
Results of Franco-Prussian War