Many great leaders have come from the German state area and Prussia. Two of the most known and most influential dealing with foreign affairs are Klemens von Metternich and Otto von Bismarck. Both of these leaders had big influential opinions, strategies, tactics, and power during their times. Even though they were a generation apart from each other, they still seemed to be fighting for and attempting to create the same things, mainly a unified or more friendly Europe. They both served many positions during their careers but foreign affairs and foreign policies are what they are most known for and where they did most of their work. Metternich and Bismarck had a very different approach when it came to dealing with foreign affairs and aspects of both were good …show more content…
He was an excellent strategizer and could see all the pawns and pieces and knew where and how they needed to move. He grew to power by giving advice to the German states. When Bismarck became foreign affairs chairman he had a main goal to unify Germany and then unify Europe. He succeeds at unifying Germany by alienating Austria and leaving them out of affairs. He also took on realpolitik, which was politics based on reality of the people and focused on the advancement of the nation (523). Bismarck makes a secret alliance with Italy then fires up a war with Austria in which Prussia wins over the grand Austrian army (548). France saw this as not only a defeat for Austria but a defeat for France and then France started feuds with Prussia, scared that Germany might use their power to starts taking over. Agitated with Prussia for slandering them France begins the Franco-Prussian war, which ends with France paying Prussia (551-552). Bismarck resigned at age 75 by Wilhelm II’s persistent requests and dislike of Bismarck’s policy of socialism leaving Germany in a powerful state with a monarch that believed Europe belonged to
...h Austria’s presence. Thus, in the Nikolsburg Armistice, he agreed “to make no annexations in Austria in return for a large cash indemnity and Franz Joseph’s pledge to remove Austria from the German Confederation and whatever political structure Prussia might design to succeed it.” In doing so, Bismarck removed all legitimacy of Austrian presence in Germany. No longer could Austria involve itself in German politics without violating the treaty. As a result, this exclusion would make certain that a “centralized German state under Prussian domination” would come to exist. This war went perfectly for Bismarck, for he was able to achieve all he desired in the outcome. The armistice itself helps to prove that the war was orchestrated intentionally by Bismarck, for he exacted little from his enemy but his ultimate goal – ensuring Prussian supremacy in Germany.
Bismarck believed that Germany should be united under Prussian leadership and that Austria should have nothing to do with Germany. Bismarck was chosen as chancellor by the Prussian king as he had a proven record as a monarchist and had little time for liberal and excessive parliamentary ideas. Bismarck helped his long term plan to unite Germany and to be the ruler by getting in a strong position with the king. The king owned Bismarck a 'favour´ as Bismarck had solved the king´s constitutional crisis. Bismarck played a crucial part in the unification of Germany as he helped to set up the Northern German Confederation after defeating Austria in the second of three wars.
Revised: May 30, 1998 Accessed:October 15/99 Encyclopedia Britannica Online, "Bismarck, Otto von" © 1994, Accessed Nov. 10 1999 German News. " Otto von Bismarck, Founder of the German Empire", © July 1998, Accessed : October 15/99 Gielen, Christof "The Road to National Unification" ©1995
In the late 1800s, Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck used different strategical plans in order to gain as much power possible, the majority of the plans consisted of him taking advantage of the different political parties. Bismarck used many traditional political strategies in order to gain the power he craved for, such as creating harsh laws and prohibiting certain beliefs or ideas. Unfortunately, these strategies did not satisfy the people, so Bismarck later started to increase the welfare of the working class, apologized to the Socialists, and did much more to obtain more political strength which eventually created a new conservatism. In an effort to increase political power for the Kaiser, Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck uses liberal and traditional
The controversies surrounding his life still go on between historians today. He is portrayed as a destroyer of liberty and also as a compromiser of liberalism. Some see Bismarck as trying to preserve the old order of Europe. Bismarck worked against liberal plans for unification of Germany but stood proudly in the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles as the German Empire he helped to create was proclaimed. Bismarck as man and as statesman has been a point of interests for many history scholars’ interpretations. Bismarck’s empire lasted only 20 years after him. Bismarck believed that armed force was necessary in relations among governments – Blood and Iron his methods. Through three successful wars Bismarck united Germany. With the creation of the 2nd German Reich Germany become the strongest nation on the continent. After the union of the German states Bismarck became an outspoken activist for peace on the continent. Bismarck never succumbed to the temptation of conquest. Bismarck led the German people to empire but is criticized by not training the nation in self-governing. Bismarck never talked about racial supremacy or unlimited conquest. He believed in a balance of power resting upon the existence of strong nation states.
The last battle of the Bismarck changed the tides during World War II. The Bismarck was Germany’s most famous battleship during World War Two, and was sunk on May 27, 1941. The Bismarck had already sunk the battleship HMS Hood before being sunk herself. For many, the end of the Hood and Bismarck symbolized the end of the time when battleships were the dominant force in naval warfare, to be replaced by submarines and aircraft carriers and the advantages these ships gave to naval commanders.
Adolf Hitler was born in Austria-Hungary on April 20, 1889, to mother, Klara Hitler, and father, Alois Hitler; a German by blood.
During his rule, he passed legislation such as the “Law of Concerning the Equality of All Religions with Respect to Civil Rights and Citizenship of July 3rd, 1869” and the “School Inspection Law of March 11, 1872” which all contradicted traditional conservative ideology and were more socialist and liberal, respectively (Document 1). By allowing policies that were clearly against traditional conservative positions, it helped prove that he lacked any strong loyalty towards a specific side, proving he wasn’t exactly a traditional conservative. His legislation wasn’t limited to simple social institutions and structures, but also involved the use of economic reform, particularly involving worker conditions. The Emperor of Prussia spoke of the policies involving “Consistent organization to the commercial health insurance system,” “state welfare,” all based off “moral foundation of a Christian national life” (Document 5). These statements allowed Bismarck to implement policies all over the board while maintaining a general and public position as a conservative who supported religion. This directly contradicts hs policies of religious equality rather than favoritism in Document 1. But he still maintains other conservative ideas by preventing any radical reform and maintaining stability within the
The alliance system developed by Bismarck for defensive purposes was one of the major causes of the war. These alliances however took a more aggressive tone in the hands of Bismarck’s successors. Also Bismarck’s alliance system was too intricate for anybody other than himself to maintain. While he was alive the alliances preserved peace but in the hands of William the 2nd these alliance were destroyed. Bismarck’s policy was to keep France isolated however with William refusing to renew the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia. France now had an ally thus resulting in the signing of the Franco-Russian Entente in 1891. In 1904 Britain and France formed a non-military alliance called the Entente Cordial. As a result at the outbreak of war Europe was divided into two armed camps, the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungry and Italy and the Triple Entente was made up of Britain, France, and Russia. These alliances facilitated a political assassination sparking a World War.
Research will be drawn from many sources including several historical studies and online articles. The sources used revolve around Bismarck's attitudes and actions toward German unification and general policy. Sources include works by historians A.J.P. Taylor and James Wycliffe Headlam. The policies of Bismarck during the interwar period were researched as well, through several scholastic journals and written works.
Nearing the end of his life, Otto von Bismarck said, “One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans,” (History.com Staff 1). As it so happens, Mr. von Bismarck was correct. The first World War was triggered by the unmerited assassination of the Austro-Hungarian Archduke. The day Ferdinand was killed, was his and his wife’s wedding anniversary (History.com Staff 1). The couple was visiting Sarajevo in a open car, a rarity at the time (Ben Cosgrove 1). Unfortunately, this city held threatening nationalists and terrorists. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a young man named Gavrilo Princip. Princip had been trained in terrorism by the Black Hand, a Serbian secret society (The Editors of Encyclopedia
The Franco-Prussian War (also called the Franco-German War) was a military conflict between France and Germany that occurred from 1870 to 1871. The idea of a unified German nation was very popular at the time. The other major nations of Europe feared that a unified Germany would be a threat on the global stage. Germany had recently been victorious under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1864 against Denmark and 1866 against Austria. These victories helped “establish Prussia as the dominant power among the German states” (“Franco-Prussian War”). Bismarck negotiated an alliance with the southern German states and prepared the Prussian army for war against France because Bismarck saw “French opposition as a major obstacle to German unification” (“Franco-Prussian War”).
Bismarck's Foreign Policy „Versuche zu Dreien zu sein, solange die Welt durch das un sunny“ Gleichweighed the five Großmächten bestimmt! “ This was the general formula of Bismarck’s foreign policies meaning “When there are. five great powers be one of three. “ The five great powers at that time. were France, England, Russia, Austria-Hungary and the new United States.
Medlicott went further to say it was, '(Bismarck's) greatest claim to statesmanship in the last decade of his career because it offered a constructive and imaginative solution to a potentially explosive situation.' No doubt this insight can be attributed to his acts concerning all Reichsfeinde. Bismarck shaped Germany perhaps more than any other man or woman that graced the pages of history, or ever will.
... These three wars achieved Bismarck’s goals of obtaining support for the army reforms and unifying Germany under Prussian leadership (which meant the expulsion of Austria from Germany’s affairs). So, the unification of Germany in 1871 was achieved through a combination of factors: the idea held by the German people of a unified nation (nationalism), the fear held by the German aristocracy of anything which may result in a reduction to their power, such as liberalism and the ‘Napoleonic Fear’, the Prussian King William the first whose most important roles were appointing Bismarck and the introduction of the army reforms, and of course, Otto Von Bismarck. Bismarck was the reason for the three wars against Austria, France and Denmark, the implication of the Prussian army reforms and he made sure that the German states finally unified under the rule of a Prussian monarch, or ‘German Kaiser’, ruler of the newly founded German Empire in 1871.