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WRITE A NOTE ON GERMAN UNIFICATION

German unification was a long and complicated process. In the beginning of the 19^th century Germany was not a unified country but a collection of 39 autocratic states. Otto von Bismarck, the chief minister of Prussia, was the chief architect of the German nation. This process was carried out with the help of the Prussia army and bureaucracy. Three wars over seven years- with Australia, Denmark and France ended in Prussia victory and completed the process of political unification.

However, steps were already underway as early as during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon’s administrative measures created out of countless small principalities a German confederation of 39 states which were left untouched by the Treaty of Versailles (1815).

Economic unification preceded political unification. In 1934, a customs union (Zollverin) allowing unhindered movement of goods, capital and people was formed at the initiative of Prussia and joined by most of the German states. Growth of railroads and heavy industries by private capital in Prussia provided the German states adequate support.

Nationalist feelings were widespread among middle class Germans. Though suppressed as early as 1848 under the liberal initiative, concerted attempts were made to create the different regions of German confederation into a nation state governed by an elected Parliament (Frankfurt Parliament).