Unification of Germany: How Prussia Reshaped Europe

The Unification of Germany was a dramatic journey from the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire to the coronation of Wilhelm I at Versailles. Under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck, Prussia turned a local conflict with Denmark over Schleswig-Holstein into a lightning war with Austria at Königgrätz, and later into a decisive strike against the French Empire at Sedan. Through the chancellor’s “iron and diplomacy,” Moltke’s modernized army, and an alliance with young Italy, the old ruling dynasties were crushed, paving the way for the North German Confederation. When the German Empire was proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in 1871, the map of Europe changed forever. Austria retreated into the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary, France lost Alsace-Lorraine and its imperial crown, and a new superpower centered in Berlin shattered the continent’s balance of power. Prussia’s three victorious campaigns marked the end of a century-long rivalry between the Habsburgs and Hohenzollerns and laid the groundwork for the conflicts of the 20th century. Related Content: 1)    • Why Prussia Made Europe So Dangerous   2)    • The Seven Years' War: The First Global War   3)    • War of the Austrian Succession: The Habsbu...   4)    • Napoleon Bonaparte: The fall of the Empire