1871 - Unification of Germany

Marsch 'Preußens Gloria' Holy Roman Empire -- Emperor known as:  Emperor of all the Germanies -- higher nobility referred to as:     -- 'Princes of Germany'     -- 'Princes of the Germanies'   EAST FRANCIA -- lands, formerly known as EAST FRANCIA -- governed as kingdoms since before rise of CHARLEMANGE (800 AD) -- Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation -- 500 independent states -- cultural, educational, linguistic & religious minor variances gradually develop -- Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation -- effectively dissolved on abdication of:  Emperor Francis II (1806) -- during WAR OF THE THIRD COALITION -- result:  legal, administrative & political disruption -- bond:  historic, linguistic, cultural, legal -- plus shared experience of French Revolution Wars & Napoleonic Wars -- 'European liberalism' intellectual basis:  unification challenging dynastic/absolutist models 1871 - Unification of Germany -- politically & administratively integrated nation state -- on:  18 January 1871 -- at Versailles Palace, France -- in Hall of Mirrors -- princes of German states -- proclaim Wilhem I of Prussia German Emperor -- following French capitulation in Franco-Prussian War North German Confederation (NGC) (led by Kingdom of Prussia) -- chancellor Otto von Bismarck -- drawing southern German states into alliance with NGC a bonus -- Bismark may have exploited circumstances as they unfolded -- or he provoked, to encourage German unification -- General Staff - head:  Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke vs. Second French Republic -- Napoleon III -- French press and parliament demanded a war -- generals of Napoleon III assured France would win -- PM  Émile Ollivier -- political disunity in France (war solution) -- July 1870, French parliament voted to declare war on Kingdom of Prussia Franco-Prussian War (1870) -- July 1870 - May 1871 -- July 1870, French parliament voted to declare war on Kingdom of Prussia German Military Advantage -- German coalition faster at mobilising its troops -- German numbers superior -- Germans had better training & leadership -- Germans made more effective use of modern tech (esp. rail-roads & artillery) -- series of French defeats -- culminated in:      -- Siege of Metz      -- Battle of Sedan -- Germans decisively defeat Second Empire French -- Napoleon III captured at Sedan -- French Govt of National Defence declared:  Third Republic -- war continued anor 5 mths -- German victory over new French armies in northern France -- Paris falls 1871 -- revolutionary uprising ('Paris Commune') seizes power (2 mths) -- suppressed by regular French army in concert with Germans May 1871 -- German states proclaim union as:  GERMAN EMPIRE -- Treaty of Frankfurt - 10 May 1871 -- gives Germany most of ALSACE & some parts LORRIANE -- becomes imperial German territory of:  Alsace-Lorriane -- Reichsland Elsaß-Lothringen European balance of power (in existence since Congress of Vienna 1815) upset re: 1.  German conquest of France 2.  unification of Germany --  Otto von Bismarck large influence on international affairs for next 2 decades Among World War I factors relating back to Franco-Prussian War: -- French determined to regain Alsace-Lorraine -- French fear of another Franco-German war -- British apprehension re balance of power Other: -- Germans viewed French as the traditional destabiliser of Europe -- weakening of France required to prevent further breaches of peace -- Bismark had reportedly altered telegram sent by William I (Ems Dispatch) -- & released it to public -- at issue at time was throne of Spain -- Prussian prince put forward -- France anticipates encirclement by alliance b/w Prussia & Spain -- French diplomatic pressure on Prussia -- Prussia withdraws candidacy of Prussian Prince -- allegedly altered telegraph -- sounded as if Prussian king had insulted French envoy -- French public opinion inflamed -- French politicians vote for war -- French looking for excuse for war:  diplomatic defeat in 1866 -- cocky French thought they'd beat the Prussians -- plus French had growing domestic problems -- French historians dispute this ... but they would   -- Ems Telegram -- "This text produced the effect of a red flag on the Gallic bull" -- Bismarck -- French foreign minister declares he felt he received a 'slap' -- PM Emile Ollivier the war hawk -- early incarnation of CIA must have been there was well:     -- 15,000 to 20,000 bearing flags & banners     -- march Paris streets, demanding war -- French declare war -- southern German states immediately side with Prussia French Military Disadvantage French low on peacetime regulars & conscripts -- there had been the following French military actions:     -- Crimean War     -- Algeria     -- Franco-Austrian War (in Italy)     -- Franco-Mexican War        *intended reforms re universal conscription (rather than ballot)     + shorter service periods     = intended to swell French numbers     -- but Franco-Prussian War broke out befor reforms implemented entirely -- Prussian Army was composed not of regulars but conscripts -- Prussia + North & South German allies = 1 million soldiers in time of war *wow, this is exciting ... Feels almost like I'm there, 'Mademoiselle la France' ... I double dare you ;)   Germans Military -- move in small groups / harder to target (verses line/column advancement) -- emphasis on encirclement tactics -- emphasis on artillery whenever possible -- German numbers advantage made encirclement tactic easier -- ageing Dryese needle gun (25-year old design), Germans -- BUT, Germans had:   Krupp 6-pounder (3 kg) steel breech-loading cannons -- equals longer range & higher rate of fire than French cannons / faulty time fuses -- Prussian army unique in Europe for being only to have 'General Staff' -- peacetime purpose was to prepare overall war strategy -- wartime purpose:  direct operational movement, logistics & communications -- officers hand-picked from Prussian War Academy (Kriegsakademie) -- Field Marshall Helmuth von Moltke, head of General Staff -- adopted new tech, esp. railroad & telegraph -- result:  large forces mobilised in coordinated & speedy fashion *Wow, I'm impressed ... now I know why the Prussians were considered militarists -- Prussians sound exactly what you want in a military force -- as exciting as this is, i need a bit of a break for the time being more https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Prussian_War NOTE:  Italians cannot be trusted in war 1.  Changed sides WWI 2.  Garibaldi pro Germans in Franco-Prussian War       goes from "war to the death to Bonaparte"       to "rescue the French Republic by very means"     Garibaldi commands Italian volunteer army France      *these volunteer Italian forces had fought during:         -- successful unification of Italy         -- in South America     -- after French surrender in Paris to Germans, army disbanded     -- Garibaldi elected to serve in National Assembly of Dijon     -- but he was shouted down & resigned his seat / returned to Italy     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_the_Vosges WWII occupation of Paris must have been of cultural, national, historical significance to the German command, military, historians etc. - goes all the way back to Napoleon & unification etc.    Timeline Leading up to German Unification 1804:      -- Napoleon Bonaparte self-crowns:  emperor of France     -- Napoleon Bonaparte begins conquests of Germanic states     -- Francis 1 of Austria, declares new Austrian Empire in response 1806:      -- Napoleon groups Germanic states into CONFEDERATION OF THE RHINE, French client-state     -- dissolution of Austrian-led HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE 1815:     -- defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte     -- Congress of Vienna:  reinstates Germanic states into GERMAN CONFEDERATION     -- under leadership of:  Austrian Empire 1819     -- Carlsbad Decrees:     -- suppress pan-Germanic activities to avoid creation of German state     -- Kingdom of Prussia institutes:  customs union with Confederation states 1834:     -- Prussian-led customs union:        evolves to Zollverein (incl. all Confed. except Austrian Empire)     -- Zollverein = German Customs Union - tariffs & economic policies management     -- Zollverein (customs union) reduces competition between Germanic states     -- Austria highly protected industry + Prince von Metternich opposed to inclusion     -- Luxembourg, although not state of German Reich, remains in Zollverein to 1919     -- Zollverein was solution to 1,800 customs barriers          in German-speaking HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE     -- cemented economic ties re Prussian & Hohenzollern territories     -- Hohenzollern family = ruling family of Prussia     -- Zollverein:  UPHELD protectionist tariff system with foreign trade partners         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zollverein 1848:     -- revolts over German Confederation     -- force King Frederick William IV of Prussia       to grant constitution to Confederation     -- Frankfurt parliament (est. 1848) attempts to proclaim united Germany     -- refused by William IV       -- question of uniting Germany under:            1.  Kleindeutch - small German          = exclusion of Austria from German unificaiton                2.  Großdeutsch (Grossdeutsch) - Greater German         = inclusion of Austria 1861- 1862:     -- King Wilhelm I becomes King of Prussia     -- appoints OTTO VON BISMARCK, PM & Foreign Minister (1862)     -- Bismark favours:  'blood & iron' to create unified Germany 1864:     -- Danish-Prussian War, opposed to Danish Schleswig into K.Denmark     -- Austrian Empire deliberately drawn into war     -- Austro-Prussian victory     -- Schleswig (northern part)         -- governed by Prussia     -- Holstein (southern part)         -- governed by Austria     -- per TREATY OF VIENNA (1864) 1866:  Bismark accuses Austrian Empire causing troubles re Schleswig (Prussian)     -- Prussian troops take control of Austrian held Holstein     -- Austria declares war on Prussia:         -- Austro-Prussian War (Seven Weeks' War)         -- Austrian defeat     -- TREATY OF PRAGUE (1866)     -- formerly dissolves German Confederation     -- Prussia creates NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION     -- incls. all Germanic states except PRO-FRENCH southern kingdoms:         -- BAVARIA         -- BADEN         -- WURTHEMBERG 1870:     -- Napoleon III demands Rhineland territories          for neutrality re Austro-Prussian War   -- Spanish Succession Question (1868)   -- Elms Telegram (1870)     -- also at issue     -- France DECLARES WAR on Prussia   1871:  Franco-Prussian War     -- Prussians capture Paris capital (of Second French Empire)     -- TREATY OF FRANKFURTH (1871)     -- incorporates German (likely Catholic) pro-French states:         -- BAVARIA         -- BADEN         -- WURTHEMBERG     -- into NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION     -- new united Germany -- GERMAN REICH proclaimed     -- King Wilhelm I proclaimed leader by Bismarck        -- with German troops in Paris, Napoleon III dissolves Second French Empire     -- French create new republic:  Third French Republic     -- under Adolphe Thiers (Greek & Franco-Levantine heritage + Corsican)     -- Adolphe Thiers     -- various posts     -- premier + minister of foreign affairs (1836 - 1840)     -- support of pasha Muhammad Ali almost leads to war         French - British conflicting Middle East policy     -- forced to resign due to King's intent to avert war     -- various entries [skip]     -- August 1871 he became president of the republic     -- lobbying for France under conservative republic     -- first task to restore public order     -- in concert with Germans, ruthlessly used troops to defeat     -- rebellion - 'Commune' (March-May 1871)     -- destroying French socialist & workers' movements, setting back many years     -- resigned due to lack of support from monarchists     -- skilled in finance / paid off indemnity due to Germans ahead of time     -- his military law of 1872 failed to establish adequate professional army     -- 5 years conscription:  depleted labour force        -- effected return of Napoleon Bonaparte body to France from St. Helena in 1840    British hell camps - struggle for the freedom of the Boerevolk         St. Helena     -- volcanic island south Atlantic ocean, tiny:  16km x 8km     -- discovered by Portuguese 1502     -- British Overseas Territory     -- notable exile prisoners:         -- Napoleon Bonaparte         -- Dinuzulo kaCetshwayo (leading Zulu army against British rule)         -- over 5,000 Boers (Second Boer War)         -- aka  Second Anglo-Boer War / South African War (1899 - 1902)         -- British colonial might against:              Transvaal Republic 'Zuid-Afrikaansche Republic' (ZAR) (Dutch)         -- British hold large prisoners of war & families in concentration camps         -- British effect scorched earth policy:  Boer lands, stock, farms destroyed         -- farms belonging to Boers (Dutch descendants), plundered & burned         -- animals belonging to Boers killed before helpless women & children         -- intent:  deprivation of food & demoralisation         -- women & children left homeless in open field - in bitter winter (nights ?)         -- Boers continued to fight         -- British herded women & children into open cattle trucks & drove them to open concentration camps         -- British lied and claimed 'voluntary camps'         -- erected camps in most unsuitable locations:  swamp lands         -- by 1900 (Oct):  58,883 Boers in concentration camps Transvaal            & 45,306 Free State         -- tattered tends, no protection against elements, designed to kill as many women & children as possible         -- halving of rations / children death / purposeful murder              as cold-blooded British state policy         -- intended to ensure surrender of Boers British unable to defeat on battlefield         -- poison, copper, ground glass, fishhooks, razors in rations         -- lack of sanitary conditions:  epidemic / disease (eg 13 toilets to 3,500 / or 1 toilet for 170 elsewhere)                       -- British responsible for:  27,000 deaths of Boer women & children         -- so British oligarchy could claim mineral riches                   http://www.whale.to/b/british6.html             https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Helena               -- 1815 British select St Helena as site of detention for Napoleon Bonaparte     -- exiled 1815     -- Napoleon Bonaparte died 1821    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unification_of_Germany

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COMMENT

Be militarily prepared & don't declare war unless you are.  

Never underestimate British ruling class' ruthlessness and the greed.

Don't rely on Italy in war:  Italy switches sides.