Unification of Germany.

The German state has existed as a group of independent states under the Holy Roman Empire. However by the eighteenth century there was nothing holy or roman or empire left in it. It collapsed with the Napoleonic invasion in 1805. During that period, there was a common spirit of German nation among both the high and low born. Also during the ill-fated invasion of Russia, 125000 Germans had partaken whose loss the nation greatly lamented. Since that time, Germany had existed as a group of independent states the foremost of which were Prussia and Austria. After the congress of Vienna, the nationalists were expecting to have a united Germany but all they got was a confederation of 39 states.

A big move in the direction of unification was the formation of a Prussian Customs Union called the Zolleverin, in 1818. It aimed at levelling the customs barriers across various states to promote trade. This move got the Prussian state support of the Capitalist class and leadership of the german states. Over the next 30 years more and more German states joined and even Austria expressed interest to join but was kept out.

A big step in the direction came in 1848 when the under the demand of liberals, the Prussian king agreed to give a liberal constitution. This gave a huge boost to liberal nationalists who called the congress of Frankfurt in 1848. In the meeting it was decided that Germany was to have a Bicameral legislature, fundamental rights, a federal form of government and religious and civic equality. They also decided to have a hereditary king, which was offered to Prussian king William IV. However there was a setback when the king refused the offer. The efforts to frame a liberal constitution now failed.

Following were the events that led to the unification of Germany-

1)      In 1857 William IV died and William I became the ruler of Prussia. He was an autocrat and wanted to strengthen Prussia Militarily. In 1862, he appointed Otto Von Bismarck as the Prime Minister- President. Bismarck didn’t believe in diplomacy rather he believed that the solution to the problem of Germany lied in iron, blood and force.

2)      In 1863 he helped supress the polish revolt for Russia, thus gaining the favour of the Czar. He also made a trade treaty with France, giving her favourable terms. Italy was offered Venetia for its neutrality incase of an Prusso-Austrian war.

3)      In 1864 a new king was enthroned who wanted to occupy duchies of Holstein and Schleswig. The combined Austro-Prussian army defeated the Danish army. Holstein was to be administered by Austria while Prussia was to have Schleswig.

4)      However Schleswig was surrounded by Prussian territory which made Austria apprehensive which demanded merger of Schleswig with Holstein under Austria.

5)      This led to the Battle of Sedowa in 1866 between Prussia and Austria in which the latter was defeated.

6)      With Austria’s defeat, the northern states of Germany were united under Prussia.

Through diplomacy and militarism, Bismarck was able to unify Germany.  This however led to the Franco-Prussian war in 1870 in Sedan. Bismarck had prepared for just such a moment. After the war Austria was treated fairly and Italy was given Venetia to gain their support and Russia was fresh from the loss in Crimean wars at the hands of France but the French were duped when they were not provided the territory they had been promised. Supported with these diplomatic gains,French forces were routed and Prussia emerged as the dominant state within continental Europe.