Prussia and Bismark

To what extent was Bismarck able to consolidate German unity whilst maintaining Prussia’s unique identity in the early years of the new German nation state?

The German empire finally decided to unify in 1871, becoming known as Germany. There were many key factors towards this goal and one key figure. “The Journalist J.Froebel wrote in 1859 ‘The German nation is sick of principles and doctrines, literary greatness and theoretical existence. What it demands is power, power, power. And the man who offers it power it will offer honour, more honour than he can imagine.” (European history: 1848-1945, T.A. Morris). This is where Otto Von Bismarck came in with his aims of unifying the 25 states, mainly down to the fact that there were growing powers surrounding the German Empire. With Russia to the east, France to the west and Britain to the north-west, Germany was surrounded by nations who could ally together and invade Germany. However, after the Franco-Prussian war in 1870-71 it came clear that as a single state Prussia and its chancellor, Bismarck were a strong state and that France was not as powerful as it seemed. Nevertheless, Prussia still needed to become stronger to defeat its main rival Austria. Irrevocably this war leads to a united front and the unifying of Germany. From Bismarck’s role in the unification he soon became the German chancellor. In spite of that could Bismarck keep Prussia’s unique identity, while maintaining a strong German unity?

The national Identity of the state was a large hurdle for Bismarck, due to every state wishing to keep their own unique identity, just as Bismarck wanted to do for Prussia. For Bismarck to keep Prussia’s identity unique and strong he would have to appease the other states. King Ludwig of Bavaria was bribed by Bismarck. He was allowed to keep his postal and telegram service as long as when in time of war his army came directly under the control of the Prussian army. It seems that Bismarck was willing to do anything...