Building a German Nation

Building a German Nation - Section 1

Steps toward Unity

In the early 1800s, German-speaking people lived in small and medium-sized states (as in Prussia and the Austrian empire). Napoleon’s invasions set free new forces in these territories and by 1807 and 1812, Napoleon made important territorial changes in German-speaking lands. He annexed lands along the Rhine River for France.

Germans welcomed Napoleon as a hero who has modern policies. He encouraged freeing the serfs, made trade easier and abolished laws against Jews. But not all Germans agreed with Napoleon changes.

As people fought to set free their lands from French rule, they began to demand a unified German state. And the peacemakers created the German Confederation, an alliance headed by Austria.

Prussian

Austrian

Zollverein

German Confederation

In 1830, Prussia created an economic union called the Zollverein and Germany still politically fragmented.

In 1848, liberals meeting in the Frankfurt Assembly again demanded German political unity. They offered the throne of a unified Germany to Frederick William IV of Prussia, but he rejected the throne offered by “the people”.

Bismarck and German Unity

Otto von Bismarck succeeded where others had failed. He first served Prussia as a diplomat and in 1862, King William I made him chancellor, or prime minister. Within a decade, the new chancellor has united the German states under Prussian rule.

He was master of Realpolitik, or realistic politics based on the needs of the state. Power was more important than the principles.

He wasn’t German nationalist, his primary loyalty was to the Hohenzollerns, the ruling dynasty of Prussia. Through unification he hoped to bring more power to the Hohenzollerns. So he moved to build up the Prussian army. In response, Bismarck strengthened the army with money that was collected for other purposes.

In the next decade, Bismarck led Prussia into three wars. Each war increased Prussian power and paved the way to German unity.

Bismarck first movement was to form an alliance with Austria. But in 1866, Bismarck invented and excuse to attack Austria. The Austro-Prussian war lasted 7 weeks, and ended with the Prussian victory. Prussia then annexed, and took control of some north German states. Bismarck dissolved the Austrian led German Confederation and created a new confederation dominated by Prussia.

In France, the Prussian victory worried to Napoleon III. So a growing rivalry created the Franco-Prussian War.

A superior Prussian force, supported by troops from German stated, smashed badly and poorly supplied French soldiers. So France had to accept a humiliating peace.

Delighted by the victory over France, princes from southern German states and the North German Confederation persuaded William I of Prussia to take the titlw of Kaiser, or emperor. That’s why in January 1871, German nationalist celebrated the birth of the Second Reich, or empire.

Strengthening Germany

...