Chapter 12 Iron Chancellor Bismarck

In the modern history of the world, the reunification of the German states that had been in a state of division for a long time was a major event that attracted worldwide attention.It not only profoundly affected the political map and balance of power in Europe at that time, but also had an immeasurable impact on the course of the world and even modern history.The unification of the German Empire is connected with the name of Bismarck, a generation of famous ministers.Bismarck is a pivotal figure in modern German history.As the most famous politician and diplomat of the Prussian German Junker bourgeoisie, he is the representative of the "top-to-bottom" unification of Germany. His life was the transition from feudal autocratic society to capitalism and then into the ranks of great powers. important historical period.

On April 1, 1815, Bismarck was born in a large Junker noble family in Schoenhausen, Prussia. His childhood was spent in his father's manor.During college, he had 27 duels with his classmates. After graduating from the University of Berlin in 1835, Bismarck returned to his hometown to manage his two domains.Strong physique, rough personality, cruelty to farmers, perseverance and unscrupulous pursuit of goals, and realistic attitude constitute Bismarck's distinctive character traits.In the 1840s, Bismarck was a staunchly conservative politically. During the revolution of 1848, Bismarck organized an army in his own territory, preparing to go to Berlin to "rescue the king" and suppress the revolution by force.He scoffed sharply at the rhetoric of the representatives of the bourgeoisie in the All-German National Assembly in Frankfurt, and advocated its dispersal by force.Bismarck's fanatical Junker beliefs and positions won the king's appreciation. From 1851 to 1858, he was appointed as the representative of the Prussian State to the German Confederation.Therefore, he could clearly understand the wishes and designs of the ruling classes in Russia and France.

In 1862, Bismarck was appreciated by King William I and became Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Prussia. Bismarck was a diehard who advocated the use of force, which made him know how to use force to deal with the enemy after he became prime minister.In his first week as chancellor, Bismarck delivered his first speech in the Bundestag.He said very excitedly: "The major political issues of our time cannot be resolved with empty words and majority resolutions, but must be resolved with iron and blood. What Germany is counting on is not Prussian liberalism, but his force! "This is the origin of the "iron and blood prime minister".So what was the purpose of his speech?

Since the 9th century, Germany has been in a state of fragmentation. In the middle of the 19th century, with the development of capitalism in Germany, it was urgent to have a unified country and end the feudal city-state separatism.This is consistent with the interests of the entire nation.But how to achieve unity?Bismarck believed that it was through dynastic wars to establish a unified monarchy from top to bottom under the leadership of the Junker class. The first step in Bismarck's unification of Germany was to provoke a war against Denmark in early 1864, annexing the Danish duchies of Schleswig-Holstein (most of the residents were Germans) into Germany.The second step was to provoke the Austrian-Prussian War against Austria in 1866. On July 3, 1866, at the Battle of Sadova, Prussia won a decisive victory.According to the Prague Peace Treaty in August 1866, Austria withdrew from the German Confederation, and Prussia annexed Holstein and several German Confederate states that stood on the Austrian side during the war, unified the northern and central parts of Germany, and established a state under the leadership of Prussia. of the North German Confederation.

The third step in Bismarck's unification of Germany was the war against France in 1870. On September 17, 1870, at the instigation of Bismarck, France declared war on Germany.Napoleon III boasted that it was only a "military walk to Berlin".But what he encountered was no longer the Prussia of the past, but a powerful German nation that firmly opposed secession.His continuous interference in German affairs aroused the upsurge of the German national movement.At the same time, European powers also declared "neutrality" due to conflicts with France.Bismarck took advantage of these favorable factors to achieve successive victories. On September 2, 1870, the German army won a decisive victory over France at the Battle of Sedan and captured Napoleon III alive.So far, the obstacles to the unification of South Germany have been removed, and the task of Germany's national war has been completed.But Bismarck was not satisfied with this, and drove his troops straight into Paris. On January 18, 1871, the unification of Germany was announced at the Palace of Versailles and the German Empire was established.Bismarck also served as chancellor of the German Empire.

After Bismarck unified Germany, he implemented a policy of serving the interests of the big bourgeoisie and noble landowners, which promoted the development of the German economy.But his "iron and blood" did not stop because of this. In 1871 he participated in the suppression of the Paris Commune.At home, in order to step up the suppression of the German labor movement, he promulgated the so-called "Anti-Socialist Extraordinary Law" in 1878.He organized military groups abroad and tried his best to consolidate Germany's hegemony in the European continent.At the same time, it plundered colonies in Africa, Asia and the Pacific to compete with Britain for world hegemony.By the end of the 1880s, Bismarck's domestic and foreign policies had failed, and the new emperor Wilhelm II did not like him.In this way, Bismarck was forced to step down on March 17, 1890, and finally became a victim of his own system.

The unification of Germany is a historical necessity, it is helpful to the development of German economy, and it is progressive.However, although Bismarck himself withdrew from the stage of history, his "iron and blood" policy deeply affected the future German history.After the reunification, Germany became stronger and stronger. Affected by the "iron and blood policy", Germany gradually became the source of world wars, bringing great disaster and suffering to people all over the world.