Furthermore, the creation of a comprehensive railway system was also significant in the unification of Germany. It further underpinned the economic and military strength of Prussia, and this strength was essential in Prussia success in the wars of German unification. In 1835, there was only 6km of railway track. However, by 1846 there was more than 2000 km of track. The hub of these railways was in Berlin, in Prussia. This meant that Prussia reaped the benefits of them. The building of the railways stimulated work and the growth of towns. The railways were also good because they allowed goods, particularly heavy materials, produced in heavy industries since the economic take off, to be transported. In the event of any conflict, the railways could also be used to transport troops. This would provide Prussia with even greater military and political strength, which would be necessary to unite Germany. The social benefits of the railways were that people were no longer restricted from travelling across the Confederation. The railways brought people together, and helped to further develop German identity. This economic strength enabled the creation of a strong Prussia. Without such a strong Prussia, no one dominant German state would have been able to unify Germany by 1871. Prussia used the strength that it had developed, in the wars of unification, to successfully unite Germany.
Similarly, the creation of a customs union, the Zollverein was also useful in the establishment of a dominant Prussian state. This dominance led to Prussian success in the wars of German unification. The Zollverein made manufacturers realise that rapid progress could be made if other aspects of economic life were brought under unified control. The Zollverein was also important because it was significant in Prussian dominance over Austria. This was because Austria was excluded was the customs union, and thus it helped to establish Prussia as the dominant German state, which could go forward and unify the many states into a single Germany. Moreover, the Zollverein made the movement of goods more efficient and in turn this helped to maintain the excellent financial climate.
The economic growth that Prussia experienced, under pinned it’s military expansion which was essential in winning the wars of unification and uniting Germany. Without these longer terms economic and industrial factors, it is arguable that unification wouldn’t have happened.
One of the direct consequences of the economic growth and period of prosperity was the power of the Prussian army. Under the reforms of the Minister of War, Albrecht von Roon, the annual intake was increased by 23 000 to 63 000. The efficiency of the army was also improved by reorganising the structure and organisation of the army. Some of the funding for this expansion would have from the industrialisation and economic growth. This is therefore further evidence that the longer terms reasons such as the industrialisation enabled the shorter-term reasons, such as success in the wars of unification, to take place. These successes made the unification of Germany possible. The railways also made the transportation of the troops quicker and more efficient. This is true to the extent that Prussian troops had entered enemy territory in 1866 and 1870 before their enemies had completely mobilised. The creation of the rail system was also funded by the economic up turn and the raw materials that Prussia possessed. It is also true to say that the movement of goods on the railways also assisted the economic up turn. Furthermore, the industrialisation was also important because it enabled the Prussian army to have modern and powerful weapons, such as those displayed at Crystal Palace in 1851.
Clearly, the wars of unification were also significant in uniting Germany by 1871. One of the most important wars was the Austro-Prussian war in 1866. Austria decided to ask the Federal Diet to decide the future of the duchies. This was a breach of the Gastein Convention, and Prussia was therefore no longer bound by it. Prussian troops moved into Holstein and in only seven weeks, Prussia won. This victory is largely due to General von Moltke of the Prussian army. He was regarded as a brilliant military strategist. The victory in this war was also made possible by the superior weaponry that Prussia had. As already stated this was due to the industrialisation that Prussia experienced, and is further evidence of the importance of the industrialisation in the unification of Germany. It is significant because it helped to establish Prussia as the dominant German state, and thus the state most likely to instigate the process of unification.
The defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian war was also very important in the unification of Germany. The war was due to long running tensions between Prussia and France. She was concerned about the impacts of a united Germany on the balance of power in Western Europe. When Wilhelm refused to give the French ambassador guarantees about the choice of appointment to fill the Spanish throne, Bismarck received a telegram with an account of the meeting. Bismarck printed an edited version of the telegram, which humiliated the French. Napoleon III declared war on Prussia in July 1870. France was defeated and the path was clear for Bismarck to integrate the southern German states into a united Germany unopposed. This military victory was underpinned by the economic strength that Prussia had secured in the years before. Without such firm support, Prussia would have had inferior weaponry, less efficient organisation and less mobility of troops, which could have resulted in defeat.
Bismarck was also important in the unification of Germany. He managed to secure French neutrality in October 1865 before the Austro-Prussian war. This was significant because had France intervened, Prussia may have been defeated. This would have set back the process of unification. Likewise, Bismarck’s alliance with Austria in 1866 gave him greater military presence, which was important in defeating Austria and moving forward to unite the German states. This skilful negotiation and opportunism was significant in the progression of the movement towards German unification.
The main reason for German unification by 1871 was ‘iron and coal.’ The most important reason was industrialisation. This was because this enabled the creation of thousands of miles of railways, and helped to provide a sound, stable financial environment. This enabled a strong and successful Prussia to emerge. Prussia was then able to progress to unite Germany. This was because the strong economy permitted the establishment of a strong military force. This strong military force was then able to go forward and unite Germany by ‘blood and iron.’ This process was undoubtedly assisted by the skilful negotiation and opportunism of Bismarck. The longer-term factors – the economic and industrial factors – enabled the shorter-term reasons for unification to occur. Without a strong financial backdrop, Prussia would not have had such a powerful and efficient army, which was clearly important in the unification of Germany. It was ‘iron and coal’ that enabled the new German Reich to be proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles on 18th June 1871.
