19th Century Wars & Unification of Germany

Therefore, the story of the wars of German unification can be fairly said to be the story of Bismarck himself. Even with the indomitable will of Bismarck, however, there was no guarantee about the outcome for Germany and Europe in the 1860s any more than there is in the 1990s in Central Europe, with respect to the impact of German reunification.

In the Preface to his book The Origins of the Wars of German Unification, William Carr emphasizes the uncertainty of the events and consequences of the mid-nineteenth century in the divided states of Germany:

The story of the creation of a (partially) united Germany between 1864 and 1871 . . . depended upon many variables: the power-political struggle between Prussia and Austria, their divergent economic interests, the military prowess of the reformed Prussian army, and on the poli

. . .
ther Bismarck's intention was from the beginning, ever since the peace with Denmark in 1864, to make war with Austria." Still, Bismarck had at no time shown or expressed an aversion to war to accomplish his goals, and those Prussian goals, along with the enmity between Prussia and Austria, seemed clear precursors to war. England effectively withdrew from any significant role on the Continent, a step which helped bring about both the war of 1866 between Prussia and Austria and the war of 1870-71 between Germany and France. Bismarck did not have to fear British intervention. In fact, the confusing and unsatisfying conclusion to the 1864 war with Denmark left almost every leader and nation (aside from Bismarck and Prussia) disinclined to become involved in any war in Europe soon thereafter. As in the war of 1864, Bismarck in 1866 plotted his path wisely, thinking ahead, weighing the alliances and sowing the seeds of conflict among possible adversaries. He "concluded a commercial treaty with Italy," which led a threatened Austria to allow agitation against Prussia in Holstein, which in turn brought a protest from Bismarck and a strengthening of the alliance with Italy. The Prussian-Italian treaty, in fact, as much as assured war
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Approximate Pages = 17 (250 words per page)

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