Was Germany Unified by \

In 1871 the new German Empire was established and became one of the most important developments of the nineteenth century. This essay will outline the historical debate of whether Germany was unified by "coal and iron" or "blood and iron". The contributions of Otto von Bismarck will be looked at as well as economic, nationalist and military factors in the unification of German. Various sources will be used to show historians views on the subject and that of people who were present at the time.

Austria and Prussia where were the two dominant states within the German confederation. The 1848 revolutions had caused an emergence of a middle class who was interested in the political affairs of Germany. It also brought to the forefront Prussia's growing hostility towards Austria. This was heightened even further by Prussia's humiliation at the Erfurt Union. In which the Prussian king had proposed a "Kleindeutschland" approach to uniting Germany, which would be predominantly German and not include Austria, with Prussia as the leading force. But due to Russia's support of Austria this idea was thrown out. The treaty of Olmutz was signed in 1850 in which Germany reverted back to the German confederation of 1815 with Austria as it's most dominant.

In order to consider the "coal and iron" debate among historians and the reasons for Prussia emerging as the leading power in relation to Austria the Prussian economy will be outlined. Prussia had a rich source of coal and iron and other minerals with gain of Westphalia areas at the treaty of Vienna. These areas were extremely beneficial to the development of industry and the military in Prussia. There was also significant government interest in the development of the economy, Von Motz the finance minister(1825-30) reformed taxation laws and put into a programme specifically for the building of roads, the banking system was also reformed by Von Ruther in 1846,hence strengthing Prussia's economic even further. One the most significant economic factors was the zollverein in which Prussia was the dominant force. This was a German customs union which allowed free trade between the member states which in 1836 covered 25 German states and over 26 million people. Through Prussian negotiations it allowed the member states to trade with Piedmont, Holland, Belgium and France. In 1834 the zollverein showed a vast rise in customs revenue from 14.4 million to 27.4 million thalers in 1845.Austria was opposed to free trade and therefore did not take part, it wasn't until the success of the zollverien was evident and realisation of the growing economic and political power of Prussia did Austria try to join. The Austrian minister president Schwarzenburg proposed a zollunion between Austria and the zollverein in which Austria would be the leading force. This was quickly dismissed as the German states believed that Austria was not a dominant economic force within Europe, instead they looked to Prussia for economic and political direction, thus excluding Austria.

Equally important was the Prussian industrial revolution which saw the shift from agricultural work to industrial work such as mining the coal and iron and also the technological innovations." output of iron rose from 0.5 million to 1.29 million tons between 1852 and 1857 due to rapid conversion from charcoal smelting to coke smelting"(Morris,p82). Political reforms also played its part with mining laws of 1851 and 1860 which enabled taxes to be cut on coal output. The steel industries greatest success was the Alfred Krupp foundries in the Ruhr whose technology in artillery developments played a vital part in the strength of the Prussian military. Due to the vast military orders this foundry which employed seven went on to employ nearly 2000 of which it trebled over the next three years.

The development of the railways was also important as it enabled a link to further a field German territories and boosted the Prussian economy, 55% of Prussian railways were operated by the state in 1860.Railways were also very significant in the wars of unification as they enables Prussia to immobilise their troops far quicker than their opponents, railways had specific plans so that troops could get to specific frontiers in vast quantities. A specific department was set up in the army dedicated to study the railways and how they could be used to advance the Prussian military.

The strength of the Prussian army played a vital part in the wars of unification as did the appointments of Helmut von Moltke as the chief of staff and Albert von roon as war minister. There reforms significantly strengthened the Prussian army. By 1866 they could immobilise 370 000 troops and now outnumbered the Austrian army who having to defend on more than one frontier. There was also great organisation of the army due to its officer's high standards of professionalism and their application of using industrial and technological development with the army. Such as their use of the railways which played a significant factor in the victories over Austria and France. It took Austria 45 days for her troops to be ready to fight with Prussia whereas Prussia only took 25 due to its use of the railway. Another technological advancement that was used was the telegram. One its most famous industrial and technological advancements were their use of the Dreyse needle gun which fired 5 times factor than that of the muzzle loader which was favoured by other armies.

In contrast with the flourishing Prussian economy and military, Austria's had been significantly harmed due to trying to deal with the unrest of 1848. Austria's resources were also seriously damaged by the Crimean war. There was no economic growth and the loss of Lombardy in 1859 to Italy was a severe blow to its economy along with the financial crisis of 1857 which had preceded it. There exclusion from the zollverein damaged Austria economy as they were no longer a significant player in the German market as it was cheaper for German states to trade with each other within the zolverein. There loss to Italy in 1859 also weakened their army as there were having to defend on more than one front. The Austrian army was also much unorganised and levels of training were very weak in relation to the Prussian army. Therefore Prussia became the dominant economic and political power within Germany. There was also a great nationalist feeling within Prussia. The failure of the 1848 revolutions had played a significant part in the growing need for a unified Germany. The invasion of napoleon had brought the German people together as they had to work together to drive out the French army. This nationalist feeling was evident even before Bismarck was involved in German unification.

The factors discussed in this section form the basis for historians such as J.M Keynes that "the German Empire was not founded on blood and iron but on coal and iron"(Morris, p83). That Bismarck was dealt a very good hand which he exploited to gain political power for Prussia and without these factors he would not have been able to unify Germany. That Bismarck was a war monger intent on using war to meet his needs for Prussia.

Bismarck was a Prussian Junker who was a supporter of the monarchy and was a coservative.He was very influential in the political world and was prominent in the far right of Prussian politics. King Fredereich Wilhelm appointed Bismarck Prussian prime minister to solve the problem of the liberals opposing his army reforms. The budget was being refused due to that fact taxes would have to rise to pay for these reforms, Liberals had also opposed the reforms due to the fact that this army had been used against the liberals during the 1848 revolutions.Bismark ignored the parliament and found a loop hole in which he did not need their consent and went ahead with the army reforms. But he would later show the liberals that he was in fact bringing lands home with the army they had paid for.Bismatck also introduced that every man should vote, this again keeping the liberals on side. A liberal after the Austrian victory "I am certainly no Bismarck enthusiast, but he has the ability to act…… I look forward to the future with pleasure" (Simon, p104).

In his first speech as minister president "the great question of the day will not be decided by speeches and the resolutions of majorities that was the general mistake from 1848 to 1849… but by iron and blood" ((Medlicott et al, pp30-31). This speech has led historians to believe that Bismarck had a specific plan or strategy to unite Germany. The only evidence that supports this is Bismarck's memoirs and by a conversation overheard by Desrailly "When the army has been brought to such a state as to command respect then I shall take the first opportunity to declare war with Austria, burst asunder the German Confederation, bring the middle and smaller states into subjection and give Germany a national union under the leadership of Prussia"((Wilmott, p24). Bismarck's memoirs have been criticised by historians such as Eyck "Whoever desires to know what really happened should not turn to this book" (class notes). The memoirs have been criticised as they were written after the unification of Germany and by Bismarck himself therefore they are accused of being biased as there is no evidence to corroborate them. Bismarck it is claimed manufactured these memoirs to establish that it was through his strategic plan and his superior diplomatic skills that Germany was unified.

According to Bismarck's plan the polish revolt of 1863 allowed him to secure neutrality in the war with Austria, as he did not want to take on Russia as well as Austria. Although this view may be challenged as the alvensleben convention agreed with Poland and Prussia was condemned by both France and Germany and it is argued this threatened Bismarck's position. Bismarck used the duchies incident to his advantage. The King of Denmark died in 1863, this left the throne peon to Christian of Glucksburg. Prussia opposed this as they wanted the territory and enlisted the help of Austria to do this. Austria agreed to this as there was great nationalist feeling on this issue due to the duchies being predominantly German speaking. Denmark were swiftly beaten in 1865 by Prussia and Austria. The gastein convention of 1865 ruled that Austria would have responsibility of Holstein and Prussia Schleswig.

In later years Bismarck would claim that he had envisaged the war with Austria and deliberately used schlesweig Holstein issue to provoke Austria. Bismarck on an assessment of Austrian Prussian affairs in 1856"in the not too distant future we shall have to fight for our existence against Austria and….. It is not within our power to avoid that, since the course of events in Germany has no other solution" (Craig, p160). Although some historians have argued against this believing it not to have been planned by Bismarck but that it was just favourable conditions that he used to his advantage." I think it more useful to continue for a while the present despite small domestic quarrels, and if a divorce becomes necessary, to take the prospects as they prevail rather to cut the bond now" (Wilmot, p255). Bismarck in 1965 on the Austria Prussian alliance. That Bismarck's options were limited due to nationalist pressure but that he made full use of the oppportununities and used the to his advantage.bismarcks main aim was to stop Austria from becoming a candidate for the leadership of the German states.

According to Bismarck's plan the polish revolt of 1863 allowed him to secure neutrality of Russia in an impending war with Austria Bismarck did not want to take on Russia as well as Austria. Although this view has been challenged as the alversleben convention condemned Prussia for siding with Russia and placed Bismarck's position in jeopardy. Bismarck claimed that Austria had violated the convention of gastein in which Austria responded by gathering support from German states against Prussia. This led to the seven week war in which Austria was defeated by Prussia superior military which had been organised and armed in an efficient manner. It must also be noted that Bismarck held an informal meeting with napoleon 111 before the war broke out in which he concluded that if ventia was secured for Italy then France would not intervene in the war with Austria. An alliance with Italy was settled in 1866 in which it would gain Venetia if Prussia defeated Austria hence isolating Austria even further. Bismarck believed that the only way in which war with Austria would be successful would be by stopping France from intervening which he believed he had done at Biarritz. Bismarck also showed leniency towards Austria after the war which was against the wishes of the king. The only territory that was gained by Prussia was Holstein although Prussia did annex the German states that had sided with Austria. These being Hanover, hesse-cassel, Nassau and Frankfurt hence a new German confederation was born with Prussia at the head and Austria now completely excluded from any German affairs.

Bismarck had been dealt a good hand in the war with Austria and used it his advantage. For instance the neutrality of Russia which it has been argued was more because of Russia's arguments with Austria over the Crimean war than Prussia's help during the polish revolts. It has also been highlighted that Bismarck had not guaranteed French neutrality and was unsure of how long it may last. Therefore it is believed that this is why he brought the wear to an end so speedily at knoniggratze and also why he was so lenient to them." if we are not excessive in our demands and do not believe that we have conquered the world; we will attain a peace that is worth our effort. But we are just as quickly intoxicated as we are plunged into dejection. And I have the thankless task of pouring water into the bubbling wine and making it clear that we do not live alone in Europe but with three others powers that hate and envy us"(Wilmott,p257) Bismarck on being lenient on Austria. Therefore it is believed that this is why he ended the war so speedily and was lenient on Austria. He was scared that the other European powers may get involved the longer the war went on. The gains of the treaty of Prague and the creation of the new German confederation were the first political unification of Germany. But there was still great pressure being applied for Bismarck on the independent southern states by the nationalists and liberals in Prussia. Although Bismarck had set up military alliances with them. He now realised that unification could only be achieved if the southern states felt threatened by France as they would look to Prussia for protection.

In 1867 France was in the process of purchasing Luxembourg from the Netherlands. The north German federation opposed this and at the London conference it was agreed that Luxembourg would become independent much to Frances annoyance. Bismarck saw his chance of war over the controversy whether a Hohenzollern would succeed in the vacant Spanish throne historian D Thomson "It seems certain that Bismarck engineered the dispute by supporting the Hohenzollern candidate"(class notes). He doctored a despatch called the ems telegram which was sent by the Prussian king in reply to French demands on the issue. In this Bismarck made it deliberately insulting to the French people which in turn was the provocation for France to declare war on Prussia. Even before this Bismarck explained the probability of a war with France to a conservative in the landtag in 1867 "unhappily I believe a war with France before long -her vanity, hurt by our victories, will drive her in that direction"(Palmer,p133). The south German states fought with Prussia due to the high nationalist feeling and their fear of France. The Franco-Prussian war ended in September 1870 at sadowa in which napoleon was captured and Prussia was victorious. This victory was again partly due to the strength of the military in its organisation and equipment.

At the treaty of Frankfurt Prussia annexed Alsace and Lorraine which were rich in coal and iron. France also had to pay an indemnity of 5000 million francs. German unification was achieved on January 18th 1871 with Wilhelm 1 of Prussia becoming Kaiser of Germany.

In conclusion this essay has shown that Bismarck did not create a unified Germany by a master plan but that he did have a major contribution in it. The factors of nationalism, industrialisation, the economy and the strength of the Prussian army allowed him to be able to use situations to his advantage and use his skills as a diplomat. It is the opinion of this writer that Germany was unified by a mixture of all these factors not by "coal and iron" or by "blood and iron" on their own but by both.