German Unification

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German Unification
2
Germany 1815
? Creation of the German Confederation under the
presidency of Austria. Prussia and Austria were
the two most powerful German states.
Traditionally Austria was recognized as the most
important.
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Europe 1848
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Europe today
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Otto Von Bismarck The Iron Chancellor1815-189
8See Flagship p71
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Bismarck and Realpolitik

• Realistic Politics based on the needs of the
  state
• Whatever actions necessary to achieve his desired
  goals.
• Power more important than principles
• Blood and Iron Philosophy
• He wanted to eliminate Austrian influence and
  bring about unification on Prussian terms.
• Expand Germanys Economy and Industrial base with
  use of its resources.
• Do not make the same mistakes that were made by
  the French in 1848-1849.

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3 Wars for Unification

• 1st An 1864 Austrian-Prussian invasion of
  Schleswig-Holstein led to the end of Danish
  control of these provinces. Prussia gained a lot
  of support especially among German nationalists
  who wanted to see these provinces come under
  German control.
• 2nd 1866 Austro-Prussian War results in Prussian
  control (Annexes) of several northern German
  states.
• Dissolved the old confederation and establishes a
  new one dominated by Prussia
• Southern states were left independent, form
  military alliances with Prussia
• 3rd 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War results in the
  completion of German Unification
• William I of Prussia assumes the role of Kaiser,
  or emperor of Germany, with Otto Von Bismarck as
  Chancellor.

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Tension After 7 Weeks War - Prussia v Austria,
1866

• Napoleon III (France) was shocked by speed of
  Bismarcks victory against Austria
• Bismarck excluded Napoleon III from treaty
  negotiations (between Prussia and Austria)
• Napoleon was looking for territory in the
  Rhineland as reward for staying neutral while
  Prussia fought Austria

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Franco-Prussian War, 1870

• Newspaper reports of German governments
  anti-French statements caused fury in France.
  French public and newspapers demanded war.
• Napoleon III declared war on 19 July and Bismarck
  gained the support of all German states by
  claiming that Napoleon was the aggressor

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Franco-Prussian War, 1870

• French mobilisation was chaotic Prussian swift
• Nap. had no aptitude for military affairs
• Moltke led the Prussian forces

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Franco-Prussian War, 1870

• Foreign powers remained neutral
• Russia promised to fight with Prussia if Austria
  joined France both stayed out
• Italy made too many demands of France for their
  support
• British interests were not affected

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Franco-Prussian War, 1870

• Prussian technology (especially breech-loading
  rifle) and tactics were far superior.
• Prussia used 6 railway lines, France had 2
• Major defeats for France occurred at Metz and
  Sedan
• Fearing defeat, Nap. rode around at Sedan
  looking for a bullet.
• Sept. 1870, Bis., Moltke and Nap. met to agree
  the surrender

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Meeting at Versailles
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French Surrender

• 84,000 French prisoners (inc. 39 generals and the
  Emperor)
• Nap. imprisoned at Cassel until 1872 then exile
  in Britain died 1873
• Revolution in France replaced 2nd Empire with 3rd
  Republic.
• War continued for a further 6 months and was
  ended in Jan. 1871 when Prussia laid siege to
  Paris.

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Treaty of Frankfurt, May 1871

• France fined 5000m
• Germany annexed Alsace and Lorraine (buffer-zone
  contained fortresses of Metz and Strasbourg
  rich in iron ore)
• Peace terms led to long lasting enmity between
  Germany and France
• Von Moltke What we have gained by arms in half
  a year, we must protect by arms for half a
  century.

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Germany 1871
? The new German Empire emerged as Europes
foremost military power. Prussia dominated this
new German state.
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United German States

• Prussia dominated the new Germany that was called
  the Second Reich.
• The new constitution drawn up by Bismarck was a
  Federal system.
• Each of the twenty-five states had considerable
  control over their affairs and decided their own
  form of government e.g. Bavaria and Saxony were
  ruled by kings.
• Under the constitution there were to be three
  branches of the Federal government

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The Presidency

• The Presidency which was held by the King of
  Prussia (now German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm I).
  The German Emperor had considerable powers. He
  had personal control of the armed forces. He
  appointed and dismissed all ministers including
  the Chancellor (Bismarck 1871-1890).

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The Federal Council

• The Federal Council (or Bundesrat) represented
  the different states of the Empire. It had
  fifty-eight members. Seventeen were from Prussia,
  six from Bavaria, four from Saxony. It had the
  power to change the constitution. However no
  change could be made to the constitution if
  fourteen delegates objected. This in practice
  meant that Prussia could always stop change.

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The Parliament

• The Parliament or Reichstag was elected by
  Universal Male Suffrage (all males over 25 could
  vote) and Secret Ballot. It voted on the Federal
  budget and its consent was needed for all
  legislation. This was the most advanced system in
  Europe at this time.
• However, the powers of the Reichstag were
  limited
• It could not initiate legislation.
• The Kaiser (and in effect Bismarck) could
  dissolve it any time with the agreement of the
  Bundesrat.
• It had no say in the appointment or dismissal of
  the Chancellor or Imperial ministers. The
  Imperial Chancellor was appointed by the Emperor
  and was in charge of foreign policy.