Edward Leopold Ottovon Bismarck was born in 1815 in an aristocratic Prussian family. He was well educated and when he was appointed as the Prussian Ambassador to Russia and later to France, he gained first-hand knowledge and experience about the European politics.
He was appointed as Chancellor of Prussia in 1862 by King William I. He made up his mind to unify Germany under the monarchy of Prussia as he believed that Prussia alone had the ability to lead the German States. He also knew that Austria was to be defeated to achieve this goal. So-he began to re-organize the Purssian military with the help of General Roon and General Moltke. Very soon, the Prussian army was among the best in Europe.
German provinces ofScheleswig and Holstein were declared to be part of Denmark by Christian IX of Denmark. In 1864, Bismarck made an alliance with Austria, attacked and defeated Denmark and captured these provinces back. Prussia and Austria split the administration of these two. Later, Prussia proposed a National Constitution and a National Diet for the German fjtates for which some of the States were reluctant to be part.
The Prussian troop movements near the Austrian borders arranged by Bismarck, made Austria declare war on Prussia and, appear as the aggressor. The hitherto reluctant States joined Prussia and the well prepared Prussian army with the support of Italy and the States won over Austria and in 1866 annexed Scheleswig and Holstein. The formation of the North German Confederation resulted in a partial Unification of Germany.
Bismarck wanted a war with France, the remaining big power in Europe to complete the German Unification. He diplomatically managed the situation in such a way that Napoleon III of France declared war on Prussia. France was alone and the South German States also joined hands with Prussia and the French forces were defeated at different fronts and even Paris was captured. The Prussian King William was crowned as the Emperor of United Germany with the title ‘Kaiser’. The unification of Germany was complete and Bismarck rightfully was hailed as the‘Architect of German Unification’.
