‘As soon as the army shall have been brought into such a condition to command respect, then I will take the first opportunity to declare war with Austria, to burst asunder the German Confederation, bring the middle and smaller states into subjection and give Germany a national union under the leadership of Prussia.’
There was always a main and vital part of Bismarck’s plans, and that was Prussian domination. He initially wanted Prussian domination of north Germany rather than full national unity. He was essentially a Prussian patriot rather than a German nationalist, his loyalty was to the Prussian King, not to the German people. By the late 1850’s, Bismarck’s views began to change, he was aware of the popular appeal of German nationalism, he realised that the movement might be manipulated in the interests of Prussia’s accumulation of power. He saw Prussian and German interests as one and as the same. He was determined to make Prussia as mighty as possible, Prussian leadership in Germany would ensure Prussian might. Bismarck was determined to end Austrian primacy in the Confederation, however was not committed to war, but would seek a more diplomatic resolution. Bismarck was characterised as Realpolitik, referring to realistic and often ruthless policies, whose sole aim was to increase the power of a state. Further diplomatic brilliance shown by Bismarck is seen at the signing of the Treaty of Prague further strengthening a Prussian dominance. The treaty was set up after an armistice was signed between Prussia and Austria in July after the war with Austria, the main concerns were over the remodeling of North Germany as Prussia wished. Prussia gained vast lands including Schleswig and Holstein, as well as Hesse-Cassel, Hanover, Nassau and Frankfurt, along with their four million inhabitants. The other German states to the north of the River Main, including Saxony, were to be formed into a North German Confederation under Prussian leadership. Bismarck had careful analyses of the religious and political situation, with French intervention and within Germany. The predominantly Protestant authority of Prussia taking over the predominantly anti- Prussian Catholic south German states would lead to greater problems. Bismarck had the German states south of the River Main retained to their independence. Yet, these states had to sign a secret military alliance with Prussia, whereby, in the event of war, these states would not only fight alongside Prussia but allow their armies to be under the command of the King of Prussia.
Prussia had become a powerful empire by the 1850’s, it’s economic achievements outstripping those of Austria and France. By the mid-1860’s Prussia was producing more coal and steel than France or Austria, also having a more extensive railway network. This gave Prussia the military resources needed to challenge Austria nad then France. Bismarck slowly came to the realisation that diplomatic policies was not going to be the only way to achieve success, stating in 1862;
‘ Germany does not look to Prussian Liberalism, but to her strength, the great question of the day will not be decided by speeches and resolutions of majorities but by blood and iron.”
The success of the three great wars, Denmark 1864, Austria 1866 and France 1870-71, created Prussian stronghold for those diplomatic achievements made by Bismarck to come to a success. The Prussian army thus made Germany a reality. The failure of the revolutions in 1848 had a serious blow to German nationalism, and therefore many nationalists coming to the conclusion that nothing could be achieved without power, and only Prussia seemed to have that power. In 1862, however strong Prussia’s military status may have been, Prussia was still regarded as a second-rate power, this helped Bismarck. He was able to achieve supremacy in Germany without creating a feeling of hostility to neighbouring countries. Russia had little interest in central Europe but had pity on Prussia, and had not forgiven Austria for her policy during the Crimean War and there was a growing clash between the two over the Balkans. This Austro-Russian tension aided Bismarck in further domination.
War had been a primary intervention for the success of Bismarck’s political endeavors. Had it not been for the victory over Denmark 1864, for the defeat against the French in the seven weeks war and their surrender in 1870, no diplomatic arrangements could have been made and therefore a Prussian decline would have altered the nationality of the Kaiser. Diplomatic ties with Napoleon III were growing thin, Bismarck was longer willing to befriend Napoleon, however he had wished for peace. However, Napoleon had foolishly tampered with Bismarck’s stance, and soon war broke out, 1866, which was only to be victorious for Prussia.
From the start of the war, Bismarck had determined that King William I of Prussia should become Emperor of Germany. This was not so easy, for William himself was reluctant to except German title. October 1870, Bismarck once again began his complex negotiations. Bismarck was helped to due the fact that war over France had created German patriotism and popular pressure grew in the four southern German states to form the wartime alliance into a permanent union. In November 1870, separate treaties were signed with each of the four southern German states by which they agreed to join the German Empire. Further political prowess shown, was the confiscation of money from the King of Hanover in 1866, was used to bribe King Ludwig II of Bavaria to agree to his terms. The Reich was a federal state; the constitution states retained their monarchies and had extensive power over internal matters. The real political power was in the hands of the Emperor, his army officers and his handpicked ministers of whom, Imperial Chancellor, Bismarck would be chief. Ludwig II agreed to put his name down to a letter asking William to accept the title of Emperor. The other princes were then persuaded and the document was sent off to William. William was finally proclaimed Kaiser or German Emperor.
Bismarck’s political brilliance, as proven over the Treaty of Prague, and his motives had enabled a dominating Prussian state to hold a strong position of German leadership. However, without a strong military force and without military victory, e.g. the seven weeks war, these diplomatic intentions would not have been possible, and it would not have been possible to appoint the position of Kaiser to William I of Prussia.