The Animated Story of German Unification | Documentary

Summary

This historical overview traces the unification of Germany from 1815 to 1871, highlighting the pivotal roles of Otto von Bismarck and key conflicts like the Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian Wars. It examines how nationalism, political maneuvering, and military strategy led to the formation of the German Empire under King Wilhelm I, reshaping European power dynamics and setting the stage for future conflicts.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Congress of Vienna attempted to restore order in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars but couldn't fully quell the rise of nationalism.
• 🔥 Nationalism and liberal reforms sparked a revolution across Europe in 1848, leading to significant political changes and movements for German and Italian unification.
• 👑 The Frankfurt Assembly of 1849 drafted a constitution for a unified Germany, but the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm IV rejected the offer to lead a unified Germany.
• 🛠️ Prussia's King Wilhelm I and Otto von Bismarck pursued a policy of modernization and militarism to achieve German unification.
• ✒️ Bismarck's 'Blood and Iron' speech to the Prussian parliament encapsulated his commitment to a strong, unified Germany under Prussian leadership.
• 🤝 Bismarck's diplomatic maneuvering, including the secret treaty with Italy, set the stage for the Austro-Prussian War.
• 🗡️ The Austro-Prussian War resulted in a decisive Prussian victory, leading to the dissolution of the German Confederation and the establishment of the North German Confederation under Prussian dominance.
• 🇫🇷 The Franco-Prussian War was ignited by the Ems Dispatch, a diplomatic incident manipulated by Bismarck to provoke France into declaring war.
• 🏰 The German Empire was proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles in 1871, with Wilhelm I as its first emperor, marking the final unification of Germany.
• 🌍 Post-unification Germany became a major world power, engaging in colonization and influencing global politics until the events leading to World War I.

Q & A

What was the main cause of the revolution that swept across Europe in 1848?

The revolution in 1848 was primarily caused by the growing sentiment of nationalism and the desire for liberal reforms against ruling monarchies and oppressive regimes.

What was the 'German Question' mentioned in the script?

The 'German Question' referred to the debate over whether Prussia or Austria would dominate a future German state, as Germany was not yet unified and was divided among numerous kingdoms.

Why did King Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia decline the offer to become the emperor of a united Germany in 1849?

King Friedrich Wilhelm I declined the offer because he found it disgraceful to accept a crown handed by the peasantry and revolutionaries, preferring a unification achieved through Prussian proficiency and victory.

What significant event did Otto von Bismarck's appointment as Prime Minister lead to?

Otto von Bismarck's appointment as Prime Minister led to a series of wars and diplomatic maneuvers that resulted in the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership.

How did Bismarck use the situation with Denmark to further Prussian ambitions?

Bismarck used the Danish November Constitution of 1863, which affected the ethnic German minority in Schleswig-Holstein, as a pretext to call the German Confederation to war with Denmark, leading to a swift Prussian victory and the acquisition of the Duchies.

What was the outcome of the Austro-Prussian War and how did it affect German unification?

The Austro-Prussian War resulted in a decisive Prussian victory. The subsequent Treaties of Prague and Vienna led to the dissolution of the German Confederation and the formation of the North German Confederation under Prussian leadership, which was a significant step towards German unification.

What was the role of Italy in the Austro-Prussian War?

Italy allied with Prussia and opened a second front against Austria, fighting in battles such as Custoza and Garda, although they were ultimately less successful and their involvement was cut short by the peace settlements.

How did Bismarck orchestrate the Franco-Prussian War?

Bismarck manipulated the situation involving the Spanish throne and the Hohenzollern candidacy to provoke France into declaring war. He then used the Ems Dispatch, which he tampered with, to further outrage the French and justify war to the German states.

What were the consequences of the Franco-Prussian War for France?

The consequences for France included the capture of Emperor Napoleon III at the Battle of Sedan, the fall of the Second Empire, the establishment of the Third Republic, and eventually the loss of Alsace-Lorraine and significant war reparations.

How did the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership impact Europe?

The unification of Germany created a powerful new nation with a strong industrial and military capacity, which significantly altered the balance of power in Europe and set the stage for future conflicts.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Aftermath of Napoleonic Wars and 1848 Revolutions

The paragraph discusses the political climate in Europe following the Napoleonic Wars and the ineffective peace efforts of the Congress of Vienna. It highlights the rise of nationalism and its role in the revolutions of 1848, which swept across Europe leading to challenges against monarchies and foreign powers. The narrative focuses on Germany's push for unification under a constitutional monarchy and the nationalist movements within the Austrian Empire. It also covers the fall of the French monarchy, leading to the Second Republic, and the drafting of a constitution for a united Germany in the Frankfurt Assembly. The refusal of Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm I to accept the crown from the revolutionaries is emphasized, as is the eventual suppression of these uprisings by conservative forces, despite contributing to a climate of change and reform.

05:01

🤝 Bismarck's Rise and Prussian-Led German Unification

This section details Otto von Bismarck's appointment as Prussian Prime Minister and his mission to end parliamentary interference in the King's ambitions. It describes his famous 'Blood and Iron' speech and the opposition it faced from the liberal parliament. The narrative then shifts to Bismarck's strategic manipulations to justify war, including the conflict over the Schleswig-Holstein Duchies and the secret treaty with Italy. The paragraph outlines the Austro-Prussian War, the military strategies and challenges faced by both sides, and the eventual Prussian victory. It concludes with the aftermath of the war, including the treaties that led to Prussian annexation of northern German states and the dissolution of the German Confederation in favor of a Prussian-led one.

10:03

🔥 The Franco-Prussian War and its Consequences

The paragraph focuses on the events leading to the Franco-Prussian War, including the Spanish throne crisis and the role of the Hohenzollern royal family. It describes how Bismarck's manipulation of the Ems Dispatch led to a war declaration by France. The narrative contrasts the efficient Prussian mobilization with the disastrous French efforts, highlighting the organizational and supply issues that plagued the French army. The paragraph details the course of the war, including key battles and the eventual French defeat at the Battle of Sedan, which resulted in the capture of Emperor Napoleon III. It discusses the fall of Paris, the rise of the Third French Republic, and the signing of the Treaty of Frankfurt, which had significant implications for French territory and international relations.

15:03

🛠️ Post-War Germany and the Emergence of Wilhelm II

This section outlines the rise of Germany as a major world power following the Franco-Prussian War, emphasizing its industrial and military growth. It discusses Germany's colonial ambitions, including the organization of the Berlin Conference and the acquisition of territories in Africa. The paragraph also covers the succession of German emperors, from Wilhelm I to his grandson Wilhelm II, who clashed with Bismarck over governance and policy. The narrative concludes with Wilhelm II's eventual dismissal of Bismarck and his plans for the German Empire.

20:07

📢 Conclusion and Call to Action

The final paragraph serves as a conclusion to the video script, emphasizing the historical significance of German unification and its impact on world history. It invites viewers to request topics for future videos, promotes the creator's Patreon for additional content, and encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and support the channel. The call to action includes a note to include a subscribe pop-up with noise to engage viewers.

Keywords

💡Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars were a series of major conflicts pitting Napoleon's French Empire and its allies against a fluctuating array of European powers formed into various coalitions. The wars are named after Napoleon Bonaparte, who crowned himself Emperor of the French in 1804 and fought to maintain French dominance over most of Europe. In the video, the end of these wars in 1815 is significant as it sets the stage for the political changes and tensions that would later lead to the unification of Germany.

💡Congress of Vienna

The Congress of Vienna was a conference of European ambassadors convened in 1814-1815 after the downfall of Napoleon. The goal was to restore political stability in Europe by creating a balance of power and restoring monarchies that had been previously destroyed. The video mentions the Congress as an attempt to maintain peace, but it was unable to prevent the rise of nationalism and the subsequent revolutions and wars.

💡Nationalism

Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, along with the belief that the nation is the only legitimate basis for the state's governance. In the video, the rise of nationalism is highlighted as a key factor in the revolutions of 1848, driving movements for unification in Germany and Italy.

💡German Confederation

The German Confederation was a loose association of 39 German states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to replace the former Holy Roman Empire. The video discusses how the German Confederation was seen as an obstacle to German unification by Prussian statesman Otto von Bismarck, who sought to replace it with a more centralized German state under Prussian leadership.

💡Otto von Bismarck

Otto von Bismarck was a Prussian statesman who served as the first Chancellor of the German Empire. He is known for his policy of 'Blood and Iron' and his pragmatic diplomacy which led to the unification of Germany. The video emphasizes Bismarck's role in orchestrating wars and diplomatic maneuvers that ultimately led to the creation of a unified German state.

💡Austro-Prussian War

The Austro-Prussian War, also known as the Seven Weeks' War, was a conflict in 1866 between the Austrian Empire and the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. The video describes this war as a pivotal event in the unification of Germany, as it resulted in Prussian dominance over the German states and the dissolution of the German Confederation.

💡Franco-Prussian War

The Franco-Prussian War was a conflict in 1870-1871 between the Second French Empire of Napoleon III and the German states of the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. The video highlights this war as the final step in Bismarck's plan for German unification, as it resulted in the proclamation of the German Empire and the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine by Germany.

💡German Empire

The German Empire was a historical period in German history when Germany was a unified nation under the leadership of an Emperor. The video discusses the proclamation of the German Empire in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in 1871, marking the culmination of German unification efforts and the establishment of a powerful new player in European politics.

💡Treaty of Frankfurt

The Treaty of Frankfurt was the peace settlement signed in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War. The video mentions the treaty as a significant event that solidified German dominance over France, with France ceding the territories of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany and paying large war reparations.

💡Wilhelm II

Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, ruling from 1888 to 1918. The video discusses Wilhelm II's ascension to the throne and his eventual conflict with Bismarck, leading to Bismarck's dismissal. Wilhelm II's reign marked a new era in German history, characterized by his ambition to expand Germany's colonial empire and naval power.

Highlights

The Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815, leaving a lasting impact on Europe.

The Congress of Vienna attempted to restore order but could not quell the rise of nationalism.

1848 saw a continent-wide revolution against monarchies and oppressive regimes.

In Germany, a movement for unification under a constitutional monarchy emerged.

Nationalists in the Austrian Empire sought independence, autonomy, or liberal reform.

The Second Republic was proclaimed in France after the monarchy fell in 1848.

The German tricolor became a symbol of unity amidst the drive for a constitutional German state.

The Frankfurt Assembly drafted a constitution for a united Germany, proposing Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm I as emperor.

Friedrich Wilhelm I declined the crown, seeking a unification led by Prussian might, not revolution.

Uprisings across Germany called for the establishment of the Frankfurt-proposed constitution.

Prussian military suppressed revolutionary movements, seeking to maintain the status quo.

Despite the failure of German and Italian unification movements, they spurred reform across Europe.

Prussia began a massive program of modernization in 1862, shaping its history.

Otto von Bismarck was appointed Prime Minister with a mission to end parliamentary interference.

Bismarck's 'Blood and Iron' speech outlined his militaristic vision for Prussian-led German unification.

The Danish November Constitution of 1863 provided Bismarck with a casus belli against Denmark.

The Treaty of Vienna led to the Danish cession of Schleswig, Holstein, and Saxe-Lauenburg.

Bismarck orchestrated the Austro-Prussian War, leveraging conflicts over Schleswig and Holstein.

The Prussian victory in the Austro-Prussian War led to the dissolution of the German Confederation.

The Ems Dispatch, altered by Bismarck, was a pivotal act leading to the Franco-Prussian War.

The Franco-Prussian War began with French mobilization and ended with a decisive Prussian victory.

The Treaty of Frankfurt resulted in the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine, sowing the seeds for World War I.

Germany's unification led to its emergence as a major world power with significant industrial and military capacity.

The Berlin Conference of 1884 set rules for colonization and established German spheres of influence.

Emperor Wilhelm II's rise to power marked a shift in German governance, leading to Bismarck's dismissal.

Transcripts

We begin in 1815. The Napoleonic Wars have,  after two decades, come to a close. But despite  

the attempts made at the Congress of Vienna, the  shadow of the French Revolution and Napoleon’s  

conquest linger over Europe. The effects of  nationalism are exponentially increasing,  

and the continent is bound for new and rather  unwelcome change. Nations are simultaneously torn  

apart and drawn together by the common goals  and culture of regional peoples now against  

the ruling monarchies that are hellbent  on maintaining their total authority.

In 1848 these sentiments explode into  a continent-wide revolution against  

ruling monarchies, oppressive regimes, and  foreign powers. In Germany, a united sense of  

identity drives a movement for unification under  a constitutional monarchy. In the Austrian Empire,  

German, Hungarian, and Italian nationalists  rise up against the state, advocating for  

either independence, autonomy, or liberal reform.  . During these uprisings, as we look to France,  

after a series of protests against French  Ministers and upper-class authority,  

the monarchy falls once more, and on February  24th, the Second Republic is proclaimed.  

The nationalist fervor spread, encompassing the  disunited states of Germany and its people. . The  

black, red, and gold German tricolor is flown  throughout the small German kingdoms as monarchs  

are forced to grant significant concessions to  the masses of protesters marching the streets  

of their major cities. The liberal endeavor of  a unified Germany is discussed at the first and  

short lived national assembly held in Frankfurt  as a constitution is drafted, and there is further  

discussion of the “German Question,” the query of  whether Prussia or Austria will dominate a future  

German state. Prussia, the largest of the German  kingdoms, is at first spared by the developments  

arising in the heartland of the region; however,  protesters quickly rise in the capital city of  

Berlin, and conflict erupts between them and  soldiers stationed in the city. A year later,  

in 1849, the National Assembly in Frankfurt  has come to an agreement, proposing a new  

constitution for a united German state, led by  an emperor. The man asked to take this position  

is none other than the Prussian king, Friedrich  Wilhelm I. This offer is declined by the king,  

who found it a disgrace to his image and  royal lineage to accept a crown handed by the  

peasantry and their revolution “from the gutter.”  Prussia wanted Germany united by their own hand,  

through proficiency and victory, not through the  uncivilized protest and objection of the middle  

classes. While this event mostly killed the  possibility of a united constitutional German  

Empire, new uprisings across Germany, most  importantly in Dresden, still call for the  

establishment of the constitution. These  revolutionaries are then put down by the  

local military garrisons with assistance from the  Prussian military, who, amongst all, most greatly  

desire an end to these insurgencies against their  status quo. After a series of conflicts throughout  

the continent, most of these uprisings are crushed  by the conservative ruling classes, but the ends  

of these protests have not left Europe without the  side effects of their actions. The movements for  

German and Italian unification has failed, but  their movements have made large strides toward  

reform across the continent. A movement for  change is growing, and soon, it would succeed.

But to find this change, we must fast forward.  Germany would soon be united, but not by the hand  

of the people but by the prowess of the Prussian  Kingdom. The people want change; it is coming,  

but not in the way that anyone expects. The  Prussians want reform, on their own terms, not by  

the “insignificant” working classes of the nation,  but by the will of the state and its authority.  

In 1862, the Prussians begin a massive program  of modernization that would forever shape its  

history. King Wilhelm l does not want political  reform, but rather a modernization of the state  

through might and power, and unification by  the ability of Prussia and its constituents.  

The nation and its liberal politicians do not  want such militaristic and authoritarian action  

to be taken, so in order to achieve his dream of  unity and power, King Wilhelm appoints a man who  

would change the world. Arguably the greatest and  most renowned statesmen of modern history. One  

Otto von Bismarck. In the words of Bismarck  himself, because “It is not by speeches and  

majority decisions that the great questions  of the day be decided…. but by iron and blood.  

And this is exactly what he intended to  do, in the name of Prussia and its glory.  

Bismarck is appointed to the position of  Prime Minister in 1862 with one mission.  

Ensure the end of parliamentary interference  upon the will of the King and his ambitions.  

Bismarck appeared in parliament, giving one of the  most renowned and powerful speeches in history,  

with the title taking reference to the speech  itself and its most famous line. Blood and Iron.  

This militaristic statement is met with  uproar from the rather liberal parliament,  

which opposed the proposed army reform. The  bounds of the liberal German confederation,  

born of a poor attempt at restoring unity and  stability, confined the will and aspirations of  

the growing Prussian Kingdom. 4 

But, this confederation is just what Bismarck  needed to secure war justifications to ensure  

Prussian-led German unification. You see, during  the 1848 revolutions, the Kingdom of Denmark  

defeated Prussia during the First Schleswig War,  and relations had never really healed since then.  

Tensions arose once again due to  the Danish November Constitution,  

which is pushed through by  Danish nationalists in 1863.  

The constitution violated the London Protocol  due to its major impacts upon the ethnic German  

minority living in the Schleswig-Holstein  Duchies. As as result, conflict quickly  

erupt in 1864. Bismarck seized this opportunity  by calling the Confederation to war with Denmark,  

swiftly defeating and humiliating them despite a  desperate last stand by the Danes at the island  

of Als (alce). The Treaty of Vienna in October  of the same year saw the Danish cession of the  

Duchies of Schleswig (schleesch-wvich), Holstein,  and Saxe-Lauenburg to a separate but coordinated  

occupation by Prussia and Austria. 5 

Bismarck however, is left dissatisfied by this  peace, but within it, saw an opportunity to once  

and for all settle the (saw this with a pause  between German and Question) “German Question.”  

Conflict soon arises over the future of Schleswig  and Holstein as Austria wants to unite the  

two occupation zones into a single independent  entity, while Prussia wishes to either ensure its  

influence over Schleswig and Holstein or to annex  the duchies outright. To ensure their victory,  

Prussia sends a secret treaty to the recently  unified Italian Kingdom, which states that in  

the event of war, Italy would join Prussia against  Austria in return for ethnically Italian land held  

by the Austrians. Specifically, the region of  Venetia, a territory long cherished by Austria  

for its strategic importance and it being the  last remaining Italian territory for the Empire.  

It remained as a pitiful remnant of its once  grand authority the Holy Roman Empire held over  

the Italian peninsula. The Italians were eager  for another war against the Austrians, as they  

had technically defeated them in the 2nd Italian  War of Independence in 1859. However, the French,  

Italian allies, did the important fighting, and  were the only reason the Sardinians won. Without  

French support, Austria would have crushed the  Italians. As a result, Sardinia took Lombardy  

from Austria, and formed the Kingdom of Italy in  1861. Now, back to 1863. Bismarck is preparing  

Prussia for war, and this does not go unnoticed by  fellow statesmen and political figures of Europe.  

The liberals, keen on preventing a conservative  and militaristic Prussia from securing its hold  

over a future Germany, side with Austria because  had recently undergone major political reforms.  

On February 26, 1861, Austria adopted the  February Patent as the Imperial Constitution,  

creating a House of Lordsand a House of Deputies  to give the peoples of the empire representation.  

Additionally, the Austrian’s lack the expansionist  ambitions that pose a major threat to liberal  

reform in Europe. The wars that are coming are not  ones by the will of the people but orchestrated by  

a select few statesmen, hellbound on attaining  further power and authority. Bismarck’s  

manipulation is both masterful and meticulous,  driving Austria right into his trap, ensuring  

that his war is quote-unquote justified. He first  accuses Austria of violating their occupation  

treaty, then to evaluate and review the situation,  Austria goes to the German Confederation for  

arbitration and clarification, which is then a  legitimate violation of the treaty of vienna,  

leading to a now valid war justification. 6 

The Prussians then seize the Austrian-occupied  Holstein and then propose a motion to remove  

Austria from the confederation entirely. This  sparks war, and just as Bismark had planned,  

conflict begun, and his conviction in Prussia’s  military power facilitated his confidence.  

The Austro-Prussian War has begun as  German brothers fought in an ethnic war  

for a superiority that would decide the  fate of modern Germany. During this war,  

the Prussians fight alongside many of the small  Northern Protestant German states and later Italy,  

while the Austrians mostly have the Southern  Catholic German states and the confederation.  

Prussia’s military high command, while  less experienced on an actual battlefield,  

has a stockpile of more modern weaponry, and  a much more coordinated and organized command  

structure. While Austria, on the other hand, has  a rather outdated military system but has much  

more experienced generals and officers, with both  sides relying on basic inexperienced conscripts.  

Another leading challenge is Austria’s  multiethnic empire. Conscripts can’t  

solely be from German-speaking territories,  but rather the army, like the empire itself,  

is made up of many different languages  and peoples who will either have troubles  

communicating with the rest of the army or will  lack the loyalty necessary to sustain a conflict.  

This highlights many of the challenges Austria  faced and why it is so desperate to stay out  

of conflict with Prussia. It is also important to  note that this is the first major use of a “needle  

gun,” a new type of breech loading firearm  that could shoot preprepared cartridges that  

included gunpowder and the bullet within a small  little container, then using a needle to poke the  

cartridge, firing the bullet. 7 

The war begins with fierce fighting beginning  in Hannover and Bohemia, with both sides facing  

issues from communication, to lack of rations.  The Prussians do not have a decisive victory  

on the Northern front, but due to a Bavarian  withdrawal and the division of confederation  

forces in the region, the Prussians manage  to sweep through, taking the key and historic  

city of Frankfurt as the Bavarians retreat to  defensive positions in their own territory.  

Prussia then sees successes in Bohemia due to its  superior weaponry, leading to the famous Battle of  

Königgrätz in early July that saw heavy casualties  on both sides but still a major Prussian victory.  

As we turn to the South, Italy maintains its  commitment and, on June 19th, joined the conflict,  

opening a second Southern front for the Austrians.  A battle immediately begins in the border city of  

Custoza that raged on for an entire day, with both  sides trading key positions on the battlefield and  

making numerous mistakes that could have turned  the tide of the battle. By the end of the day,  

the Italians were forced to retreat, but despite  their loss in the battle, they took around 20,000  

fewer casualties and showed that they had been  underestimated by the Austrian high command. 

Italy then makes a successful push at the city  of Garda but is stopped once news is heard of  

the beginning of peace settlements. The war  officially comes to an end on July 26th,  

with the conflict only lasting seven weeks  as an explicit and decisive Prussian victory.  

The Treaties of Prague and Vienna are signed,  and rather than imposing harsh punishment and  

humiliation upon the Austrian Empire, Bismarck  insists that the peace is to be mild without any  

harsh penalties so as not to isolate Austria from  Prussia as a future ally. Even going as far as  

threatening to resign when his requests were not  met by King Wilhelm. The King is forced to concede  

after his son pressures him to accept Bismarck’s  proposal, seeing the value in an Austrian ally.  

As a result, Austria simply had to pay financial  reparations to Prussia, cede Venizia to Italy,  

and dissolve the German Confederation in favor  of one led by Prussia. With this peace, Prussia  

annexed many northern German states allied with  Austria, such as Hannover, Schleswig-Holstein, and  

Frankfurt. With Prussia also forcing its influence  on the Southern German states in preparation  

for a full unification. But to do this, Bismarck  had one last cunning plan, with one goal, and all  

he had to do is wait for the opportunity. 8 

In July of 1870, he got precisely what he needed.  You see, during this time, the Spanish throne had  

been left vacant and was offered to Prince Leopold  Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, a member of the Swabian  

branch of the Hohenzollern royal family, the same  dynasty that ruled the Prussian Kingdom. Once  

news reached France that Prince Leopold actually  accepted the offer, the public was in outrage at  

the prospect of having the same aggressive royal  families rule two countries neighboring France.  

Obviously, not wanting to fight on two massive  fronts in the event of war, leading to many major  

political figures in France denouncing Leopold’s  decision and calling upon King Wilhelm to prevent  

him from taking power. Agénor de Gramont, French  Minister of Foreign Affairs, made a powerful  

speech about the dangers of Hohenzollern  leadership in Spain, then sending Count  

Vincent Benetdeti as an ambassador to speak with  King Wilhelm in the city of Bad Ems. Benedetti  

requested the King negate Prince Leopold’s claim  to the Spanish throne and force him to decline  

the offer. King Wilhelm is furious that he  has to manage such a crisis but does ask  

Prince Leopold’s father to refuse the Spanish  throne on behalf his son, which he obliges to.  

Despite this, Foreign Minister Gramont is still  dissatisfied and still sees a future possibility  

of a Hohenzollern Spain, prompting him to  send Benedetti to King Wilhelm once again  

to have him announce and assert that no member  of the Hohenzollern dynasty will ever again lay  

claim to the Spanish throne. King Wilhelm  quickly refuses to make such a statement,  

having the information of this altercation  relayed to Bismarck famously by telegram. 

Receiving the message, Bismarck alters the  telegram to make it appear that King Wilhelm  

had greatly disrespected Benedetti during their  confrontation, sending this tampered version of  

the dispatch to diplomats, foreign embassies, and  to the media by the evening of July 13th. The next  

day, the news of this telegram reaches France,  and the people are outraged by this artificial  

and altered act of contempt by King Wilhelm. So as  to resolve the increasingly precarious and hostile  

situation, it is decided that a council be formed  to resolve the crisis. Unfortunately however,  

the French Minister of War, Edmond Le Bœuf,  convinced French Emperor Napoleon III to mobilize  

the army and prepare for war against Prussia  rather than peacefully resolving the situation.  

The following day after a debate over the matter  within parliament, the government voted to  

formally declare war against Prussia. A patriotic  sentiment that had already begun the day before  

due to the altered Ems Dispatch reaching France on  Bastille Day, sweeps across the nation as the men  

prepare for a valiant and noble war against  Prussia, wishing to defeat the growing Kingdom and  

secure their influence in Europe. Soldiers march  through the streets leading patriotic parades  

as bands play the French national anthem as the  nation prepares for a war that will define modern  

history. In Prussia, a similar sensation is seen  as soldiers and working men alike parade through  

the streets, singing songs, and celebrating both  their King and Otto von Bismarck. The Prussians  

then mobilize their army in conjunction with other  German states such as Bavaria, Hessen, Baden,  

and Wurrtenburg. War then begins, and the North  German Confederation joins together against France  

(talk slower with a sadder and kinda remorseful  tone, like you feel bad for France) as the Second  

Empire will stand alone on the battlefield,  without allies or large military capability  

against an enemy hell-bent on French  humiliation and German expansion.

9 In the Prussian camp,  

mobilization is proceeding in an efficient and  timely matter due to the use of faster trains  

and greater military organization, with Prussian  forces arriving at the frontlines a mere two weeks  

after the government ordered mobilization. The  confederation army is made up of a combination  

of armies from each of the participating German  states, all commanded under Prussian leadership,  

specifically all under the larger command of  Prince Frederick Wilhelm and Field Marshall  

Helmuth von Moltke The Elder leading the first  and second German armies. With this combined  

army totaling to approximately 520,000 men.  In France, mobilization has gone disastrously,  

with much of the imperial army having to travel  from across the country to reach the frontlines,  

leading to major delays and disorganization among  the troops and complete chaos in concentration  

points. With soldiers who are near the frontlines  being forced to deploy with either minimal  

training, without full strength and organization,  or simply departing before receiving all necessary  

equipment. Overall it is a complete disaster that  would define French performance in this conflict.  

Despite this, there is confidence among  the French high command due to their  

approach of having pre-stockpiled supply  depots near the frontlines as to ensure  

efficient and rapid deployment  of weapons and other supplies.

This plan was initially deemed rather good, but  it remains unknown to many that corrupt officials  

diverted the allocated funds for set aside  for filling the depots with supplies. Instead,  

they selfishly appropriated the  money for personal gain. This  

misappropriation has led to another  disastrous outcome for the French.

The military high command then send urgent  messages back to the capital to mend the  

situation, but by this point, it has become too  late. There are serious shortages of weapons,  

food, ammunition, uniforms, and general equipment  that can not be supplied, as war has already  

broken out, and any attempt to supply these  soldiers as they get mowed down by the superior  

German infantry would simply be in vain with the  French army still being outnumbered nearly 2 to 1,  

having only 300,000 men. But now, war has  begun, and the conflict is beginning to unfold. 

10 The war begins,  

and the French makes a quick breakthrough into the  city of Saarbrucken, but they soon unnecessarily  

retreat and abandon the city, likely in fear that  they would soon be ambushed as, without sufficient  

supplies, they would not be able to launch the  major offensive, they had planned. The Germans,  

realizing the French have no ability to  perform their large assault across the border,  

start engaging the French for key cities on the  French side of the border, beginning at the key  

railway hub city of Wissembourg, which the Germans  take in less than a day. Securing a major point  

that will be used to supply and transport more  soldiers to the frontline to perform quick and  

rapid assaults on the French lines. Despite this  victory, the Germans suffered heavy losses due  

to the superior range of French rifles, leading  to similar results for each coming battle.  

The French would take defensive positions on  territory that favored their superior range,  

causing the Germans to have to attack and rush  through open enemy terrain to even get in range  

because while the German rifles were superior at  their effective range, they would lose nearly 50%  

of their men just to get to that point. Creating  a cycle of near-suicidal German victory, but at a  

very heavy price that would define German military  reputation during this conflict. The end of most  

organized French resistance came at the Battle of  Sedan, during which the entire city is surrounded,  

leading to the capture of over 100,000 French  soldiers and even Emperor Napoleon lll himself.  

This would cause a massive uprising in Paris  that deposed the emperor, that installed the  

Third French Republic. The combined German  armies then began sweeping through the country  

and laying siege to Paris. During this time,  on January 18th, 1871, in the Hall of Mirrors  

in the Royal Palace of Versailles, the German  Empire is proclaimed a nation that would finally,  

after millennia, truly unite the German people  with Prussian King Wilhelm l as its emperor.  

Paris would fall soon after on January  28th, despite fierce civilian resistance.  

Leading to the new President Adolphe Thiers being  forced to negotiate with the new German Empire.  

An armistice is signed in February, during  which a socialist French Revolution,  

aka the French Commune, rose up in Paris but  is soon crushed by the new government. Then  

on May 18th, the Treaty of Frankfurt is  signed, leading to the German occupation  

of much of Northern France, a large sum  of war reparations, and most importantly,  

the annexation of Alsace-Lorriane, a French  territory with a sizeable German minority,  

with a desire for the return of this territory  leading French revenge leading up to World  

War l and its decision to harshly punish  Germany at the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

Germany would become a major world power with a  massive industrial and military capacity fueled  

by its growing population that would define  its politics and foreign policy for the coming  

decades. The Germans then began to colonize,  organizing the Berlin Conference in 1884 to  

set rules for colonization and create trade  regulations, as well as establishing spheres  

of influence and claimed territories  for those invited to the conference.  

The Germans would take territory in  modern-day these modern day african nations.  

In 1888, Emperor Wilhelm l died at the age  of 90, followed by his son Emperor Frederick  

lll who only reigned for 99 days, dying of  throat cancer. Leading to his son Wilhelm  

ll taking the throne at the age of 29 on June  15 1888. Unlike his grandfather, Wilhelm II  

was determined to actually rule Germany, which  put him in immediate competition with Bismarck,  

who clung onto his power and believed he  could manipulate and control his young kaiser.  

While Bismarck was instrumental in unifying  Germany, he had used classical liberals,  

socialists, and catholics, as scapegoats  to hold onto power, engraining division in  

the very essence of German culture, and he was  staunchly against the minor liberal reforms that  

Wilhelm believed in, such as labor unions, and  better workers rights. Wilhelm II, always eager  

to prove himself, finally removed Bismarck from  power on March 20, 1890, after being undermined  

by the Iron Chanceller for the previous 2 years.  Wilhelm II had new plans for the German empire,  

and was ready for his moment in the sun. German  unification is an event that changed history,  

and its importance must not be understated. A  nation now finally born out of Iron and Blood!

If you want to see a video on the  German Empire or any other topics,  

let me know in the comment section. If you  are interested in my maps, sources and more,  

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