Why was Bismarck a successful leader of Prussia during the period from 1862 to 1871?

Bismarck through clever manipulation of events and opportunism provoked Austria into a war that made Austria appears as the aggressor and gives Bismarck a reason to attack Austria, removing Austria as a threat and asserting Prussian dominance over the German states of Europe. Bismarck used his provocation once again four years later leading to the Franco-Prussian war. By editing a telegram sent by William I, the famous Ems telegram to Napoleon III, he stirred anti-Prussian sentiment within France. Three weeks later due to his own anger and public pressure Napoleon III declared war on Prussia. Bismarck had once again achieved the pretence of being the defender against aggressive European nations, this time at France’s expense. Prussia crushed France in less than a year. France was forced to accept a harsh peace at Versailles and witness the rise of a new power in Europe which had used the body of France to reach. Bismarck successfully eliminated threats to German unification and his aims, by transforming the Prussian economy and military to make Prussia a formidable force. He masterfully manipulated events so Bismarck was seen as a peaceful, democratic politician within Europe. He achieved his conquests under the guise of necessary defence. He took down each threat one at a time, defeating Austria first in order to gain the support of other German states in order to defeat France. Through these means Bismarck eliminated Austria and France, those nations which stood his way of his vision of a mighty Prussia.

Additionally Bismarck took advantage of alliances, tensions and wars that were already occurring within Europe to achieve Prussian dominance on the continent. Bismarck not only used the Schleswig and Holstein crisis to push Austrian dominance from the bund. During the Congress of Princes in 1863 Bismarck insisted on popular elections in the Diet, effectively thwarting Austrian attempts at asserting itself as leader of the German states. Bismarck then set about isolating Austria. He refused to help Poland in its rebellion against Russian control and so gained a powerful ally, Russia. He then secured Frances help by promising Napoleon III help in invading Belgium, gaining a key alliance with France. Bismarck also took advantage of precarious relations between Italy and Austria, and gained Italy’s support in the Austro-Prussian war. Once Bismarck defeated Austria ND removed one block in his quest for German unification and the rise of Prussia he then set about removing the next block, France. He set about isolating France as he had Austria in order to ensure France would have no help in the event of war. His help in Italy and his negotiations with Russia gained Prussia their neutrality in the event of war with France, and he rightly assumed Britain would stay out of a war as Britain did not want to see France become any more powerful.

Bismarck was an extremely successful leader of Prussia from the moment he came into office in 1862-1871. He transformed Prussia into a formidable fighting force and ensured the necessary army reforms took place, fighting off liberal protests. He successfully manipulated European relations and the European situation, through which he managed to divide and conquer. He isolated France and Austria and meticulously defeated them one by one removing any opposition to unification, all the while making them seem as the aggressors and himself and Prussia as defenders of peace. He gained the support of the German states and appeared as the protector of their rights.

Bismarck achieved the title of ‘The Iron Chancellor’ for good reason; he achieved what many had failed to do all through his policy of “blood and iron” and with little or no compromise. He won the game of wits and politics and changed its very rules, achieving success without bending to stresses and gaining without losing. He succeeded on the battle field and off it, and gave rise to one of the greatest powers Europe has ever known.