Otto von Bismarck 1815-1894

1
Otto von Bismarck 1815-1894

• The Architect of the new Germany ?

2
The German Bund, 1815

• Prussia clearly shown as largest German state
• Important gains in 1815
• Note also dominant position of Austria

3
Bismarck the man

• Family influences a) his father b) his mother
• Political views
• Attitude towards a united Germany

4
The German Problem

• Post Olmutz Germanys frontiers still ill-defined
• Legacy of Austrian influence
• Lack of nationalist tradition in Germany
• Weakness shown in 1848

• Prussia to echo Piedmont ?
• BUT Prussia also major European power
• Economic developments clearly favouring Prussia
  over Austria

5
King William I

• Served as King 1861-70
• Devoted to the Army
• More resolute than his brother
• Felt humiliated over Olmutz anxious for army
  reform
• Military problems highlighted in 1859

6
Bismarck Minister President

• King facing problems with Progressives over army
  budget
• Bismarck in Paris 1859-62 (comment by king)
• Bismarck anti-liberal ..Germany does not look to
  Prussias liberalism
• The great questions of the day will not be
  decided by speeches and resolutions of majorities
  but by blood and iron.
• William persuaded to impose new taxes without
  consent of Diet

7
Bismarcks Ideology

• Since 1851 had pushed for the exclusion of
  Austria from German affairs
• Bismarck NOT a German nationalist -Far more a
  Prussian nationalist
• Aware of need to maintain balance of power in
  Europe

8
The International Situation

• All in Bismarcks favour in the 1860s
• Austria Russia on poor terms
• France and Russia both seeking to change balance
  of power
• What of GB?

9
The Polish Revolt

• Poland divided between Austria, Prussia Russia
• Feared revolt would spread
• Supported Russia not popular

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Bismarck Austria (1)

• Persuaded William not to support proposed change
  to Bund
• 1863 Danish king attempted to overturn the Treaty
  of London annex Schleswig-Holstein
• Provinces claimed by German prince
• Great upsurge in national feeling

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Bismarck Austria (2)

• Bismarck probably had designs for duchies
• However followed cautious approach
• January 1864 joint Austro-Prussian force went war
  against Denmark
• Following Convention of Gastein Prussia to
  administer Schleswig, Austria Holstein
• papering over the cracks

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No chance of help from Russia
GB unwilling/ unable to help
Austrias position by 1862
Napoleon III persuaded to remain neutral
French support unlikely!
13
War with Austria, 1866

• Duchies split by Convention of Gastein
• Bismarck had meeting with Napoleon III
  agreement made concerning Venetia
• Alliance made with Italy
• Bismarck manoeuvred Austria into declaring war
• Many German states sided with Austria!

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The North German Confederation

• Austrians defeated at Sadowa
• War ended by Treaty of Prague
• Austrians ceded Venetia, agreed to Prussian
  annexation of Schleswig-Holstein agreed to the
  end of the German Bund
• To be replaced by the North German Confederation

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War with France

• South German states excluded from new union
• France unhappy with new situation
• Hohenzollern candidature gave Bismarck
  opportunity to provoke war
• Doctored the Ems Telegram
• Napoleon III provoked into war

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Proclamation of the Empire

• SGS sided with Prussia at outbreak of war
• French surrendered after defeat at Sedan
• German Reich proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors at
  Versailles

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Key Issues

• How necessary was war with France to Bismarcks
  plans?
• Why did Bismarck's blood and iron speech caused
  so much controversy in the period 1862-71?
• Did Bismarck have a clear aim or a clear strategy
  with regard to the four south German states?

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Key Issues (2)

• How important was the army reform issue to the
  position and power of Bismarck in the period
  1862-66?
• How important was the development of the
  Zollverein to the unification of Germany ?
• How far did the outcome of the war of 1866
  marked the defeat of German liberalism ?