UNIFICATION OF GERMANY

UNIFICATION OF GERMANY

In the 1860s, Otto von Bismarck, then Minister-President of Prusia, provoked three short, decisive wars against Denmark, Aurtria, and France, aligning the smaller German states behind Prussia in its defeat of France. In 1871 he unified Germany into a nation-state, forming the German Empire.

Reasons for German Unification

• Situation in that area:
  • Same culture, race, and religion: People from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea and from Italy to France shared a common culture, race, and religion, creating a desire for unity.
  • Resource-rich regions: Areas like Westphalia, Prussia, Bohemia, and Rhineland had abundant resources. Exploitation of these resources by other nations pushed the need for unity.
• Exploitation: These regions were first exploited by the Holy Roman Empire and later by Austria after the Vienna Congress. This exploitation led to a rise in nationalism and a sense of unity.
• Promotion by Napoleon: Napoleon’s destruction of the Holy Roman Empire and creation of smaller states like Westphalia led to the promotion of trade, commerce, and development, inspiring Germans toward unification.
• Role of Intellectuals: German philosophers like Fichte and Hudor emphasized German culture, race, and language. Their ideas, further developed by Nietzsche, promoted the notion of a unified German identity, a task later completed by Bismarck.

Phases of German Unification

1. Political Integration:
   • Napoleon’s Rhine Confederacy (1806): Napoleon created a confederation of 39 German states, setting the groundwork for political unity.
   • German Diet: Austria established the German Diet, composed of 38 states, where decisions were made by a two-thirds majority, leading to political integration.
2. Economic Integration: Zollverein (Custom Union): The German Diet formed the Zollverein, a custom union that promoted trade and economic integration among the German states.
3. Role of Revolutions:
   • Revolution of 1830 (France): Revolt against aristocratic rule of Louis XVIII led to Louis Philip becoming the “Citizen King,” encouraging demand for constitutional reforms across Europe.
   • Revolutions of 1848: Widespread republican revolts occurred across Europe, impacting monarchies. In Germany, Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto brought attention to the working class’s role in political change.

1. Frankfurt Parliament: Representatives of the German states convened to create a constitution. Their goal was a unified German federation under Prussian leadership. However, King Wilhelm IV of Prussia discarded these plans, delaying peaceful unification.
2. Role of Bismarck: After the death of Frederick William IV, Kaiser William I took over in 1858 and appointed Bismarck as Prime Minister by 1861. Bismarck led three decisive wars to unite Germany under Prussian dominance:
   • Schleswig & Holstein (1863): Prussia, Russia, and Austria fought Denmark over Schleswig and Holstein, dividing the territories afterward.
   • Battle of Sadowa (1866): Prussia defeated Austria.
   • Battle of Sedan (1871): Prussia fought and defeated France.

In 1871, Bismarck successfully unified Germany into a nation-state, forming the German Empire.

Effects of German Unification

1. Immediate Effects:
   • Bismarck’s Resignation: Germany signed a reinsurance treaty with Russia, but Kaiser Wilhelm II rejected renewing it, leading to Bismarck’s resignation in 1890-91, triggering further diplomatic events.
   • Entente Cordiale (1894): Russia formed an alliance with France, and in 1904, the Anglo-French alliance called the Entente Cordiale was formed.
   • Triple Entente (1907): An alliance between Russia, France, and Britain, creating a counterbalance to Germany.
2. Subsequent Effects:
   • World War I: The series of alliances led to arms races and tensions that escalated into World War I.
   • Changed Power Dynamics: The unification of Germany disrupted the European power balance set by the Congress of Vienna, creating a powerful, wealthy nation in central Europe.
   • German Nation: German unification transformed the nation into a major global power in both the 19th and 20th centuries.
   • German Colonialism: A unified Germany began acquiring colonies in Africa and Asia, including East Africa, German Papua, and German West Africa.

Conclusion

The unification of Germany marked the emergence of modern nation-states in Europe and significantly shaped the region’s political landscape. It also laid the groundwork for German aspirations leading to World War I and II.