Wilhelm I, Bismarck, and Prussian Politics

• Wilhelm I became the regent of Prussia in 1858 and king in 1861.
• He aimed to strengthen the army, especially following Prussia's military weaknesses exposed during the Franco-Austrian War in 1859.
• Wilhelm I planned to double the army's size, increase service terms, and integrate the Landwehr, requiring a 25% tax increase.
• Liberals in the Landtag opposed his plans, fearing army suppression and disapproving of reducing the Landwehr, which represented the middle class.
• In 1862, the liberals gained more seats, clashed with Wilhelm over the budget, leading to a constitutional crisis and his consideration of abdication.
• Otto von Bismarck was appointed to resolve the crisis.
• Bismarck came from a Junker landowning family.
• He was known for his conservative views and loyalty to the monarchy.
• He was known for his defiance of liberalism.
• He portrayed himself as a straightforward country squire.
• He was intelligent, cunning, and pragmatic.
• He favored a monarchy with limited constitutional constraints.
• He had little regard for parliamentary rule.
• Before becoming Minister-President of Prussia, Bismarck served as a diplomat, gaining a reputation for boldness.
• Bismarck was appointed Minister-President of Prussia in 1862 to address a budget crisis and fortify the army.
• His appointment was controversial due to his views.

Bismarck's Role in German Unification

• Bismarck played a pivotal role in German unification through strategic wars against Denmark (1864), Austria (1866), and France (1870-71).
• Some historians view him as opportunistic, focused on Prussian power rather than German nationalism.
• He favored a Kleindeutschland solution, excluding Austria from a unified Germany.
• He often adapted to circumstances pragmatically, seizing opportunities as they arose.

Bismarck, the King, and the Liberals

• Bismarck's relationship with King Wilhelm I was often tense.
• He often manipulated the king through emotional outbursts and threats of resignation.
• Bismarck bypassed parliamentary approval by collecting taxes without a budget agreement.
• He aimed to appeal to liberals by linking German unity with military strength.
• He suppressed liberal values through censorship and force.
• His conflict with the liberal Progressives in the Landtag continued, but they couldn't stop him.
• Both sides supported German unification for different reasons, allowing for a potential compromise.

Bismarck and the Prussian Army

• The Prussian army was critical for Bismarck's goals, respected, and well-organized.
• Rigorous training was expected for officers.
• Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke (chief of the general staff) and Albrecht von Roon (minister of war) supported Bismarck.
• Their leadership was essential to his success.

War with Denmark (1864)

• The war began over the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein.
• Bismarck wanted them under Prussian control but avoided acting alone to prevent Austrian opposition.
• He proposed joint action with Austria, ensuring European neutrality and counting on French and British non-interference.
• Prussia and Austria quickly defeated Denmark.
• The Gastein Convention (1865) provisionally divided control: Austria administered Holstein, and Prussia controlled Schleswig.
• This arrangement allowed Bismarck to prepare for a future conflict with Austria.

Preparing for War with Austria

• Bismarck deliberately provoked Austria over Schleswig-Holstein.
• He sought foreign allies to isolate Austria.
• He secured French neutrality through vague promises to Napoleon III.
• He allied with Italy, which agreed to join the war against Austria in exchange for Venetia.
• Bismarck moved quickly, understanding Italy's support was time-sensitive.
• Despite doubts within Prussia and Europe about the war's outcome, Bismarck was determined to proceed.

Austro-Prussian War (1866)

• The Austro-Prussian War lasted seven weeks.
• It ended in a decisive Prussian victory.
• Austria was hampered by slow mobilization, poor leadership under Ludwig Benedek, and strategic disadvantages.
• Prussia, under Helmuth von Moltke, used superior logistics, including railways and the electric telegraph, to move troops quickly and coordinate attacks.
• The Prussian army had advanced weaponry, notably the Dreyse needle gun.
• The key battle at Königgrätz resulted in Austria's defeat.

Outcomes: Treaty of Prague and North German Confederation

• Treaty of Prague (August 1866): Bismarck imposed lenient terms on Austria to avoid hostility.
• Austria ceded Venetia to Italy but kept its territory.
• It agreed to withdraw from German affairs, allowing Prussia to dominate northern Germany.
• North German Confederation: Bismarck replaced the Austrian-led German Confederation with the North German Confederation.
• It consolidated Prussian power over northern Germany.
• Governed by a Federal Council (Bundesrat) and a parliament (Reichstag).
• Prussia, under Bismarck, controlled foreign policy and military spending.

Political Impact and Strategy

• Bismarck secured military alliances with southern German states without unifying them to avoid provoking France.
• He strengthened ties through economic measures, including the Zollverein, and defensive military alliances.
• This strategic restraint allowed the North German Confederation to stabilize.

Domestic Political Consequences

• Victory over Austria increased Bismarck’s popularity.
• Many liberals supported his success in achieving partial German unification, leading to the formation of the National Liberal Party.
• Bismarck passed the Indemnity Bill, legalizing his earlier tax collections without parliamentary approval.
• His political maneuvering isolated hard-line opposition and united moderate liberals and conservatives.

Long-term Impact

• Bismarck positioned Prussia as the dominant power in northern Germany, permanently ending Austria’s influence.
• He aligned German nationalism with Prussian interests, paving the way for further unification.
• The status of the southern German states remained unresolved, setting the stage for future conflicts and the eventual unification of Germany under Prussian leadership.