The Unification of Germany: How Bismarck Changed the Balance of Power

How did a divided collection of German states become the most powerful empire in continental Europe?

In this episode, we explore how Otto von Bismarck used diplomacy, economic integration, military reform, nationalism, and three carefully calculated wars to unite Germany under Prussian leadership. From the Zollverein and the failed revolutions of 1848 to the wars against Denmark, Austria, and France, this is the story of how German unification transformed the political map of Europe.

We also examine why Bismarck treated Austria with restraint, how the Ems Dispatch helped provoke the Franco-Prussian War, and why the creation of the German Empire in 1871 permanently changed the European balance of power.