In the modern history of the world, Germany is a country that cannot be avoided in any way. With the help of the spring breeze of the second industrial revolution, the rising Star Germany quickly overtook the old Britain and France. "Claiming for yourself territory in the sun", Germany was present in both world wars. The Allies and allies during World War I, the fascist countries and anti-fascist alliances during World War II, and the figure of modern Germany are always active in the historical stage.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="3" > was born in Prussia and conformed to the trend of the times</h1>
Speaking of the unification of Germany, we have to mention the Kingdom of Prussia. Born in the early 18th century, the country first lived in the vast area from the middle of the Elbe to the Oder, under the rule of the Hohenzollern family. From tiny Brandenburg to the Kingdom of Prussia, it gradually became a large state in Europe. On the road to Prussia's growth, army building and armed conquest played an important role.
If the rich country is to strengthen the army first, the history of Prussia is the history of military expansion. Advocating force and striving for hegemony, Prussia has always maintained a strong competitiveness. Although Prussia felt like it was thriving, the whole of Germany was divided. There was once a set of data that there were 360 independent states and 1500 semi-independent territories in Germany, and many of the states were very small, but the small states went their own way and created divisions.
After entering the 19th century, capitalism developed rapidly throughout Germany, and a unified market, a strong central government, and a stable social order became the common aspiration of the people. However, the reality is that there are many states, each building a fence. To take a simple example, how can a commodity develop its economy by going through 10 countries, exchanging 10 currencies, and paying 10 tariffs to get from Berlin to Switzerland?
The times call for heroes, and the great cause of unification can only be accomplished by the strong, and Prussia is the best. At that time, there were capital to complete the unification, mainly two countries , Prussia and Austria. The former was a capitalist power, both militaryly and economically at the forefront of Europe; the latter was a bastion of feudal society, supported by many states. Judging from the historical trend, the only way to complete unification is for Prussia to defeat Austria.
< h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="5" > unified by force and defeated Offa successively</h1>
When the two powers formally confronted each other, they first joined forces to wage war against Denmark in the north. The trigger of the war was the Schleswig-Holstein problem. As two states in northern Germany, prussia and Denmark have always been important places of contention between Prussia and Denmark. In 1863, Denmark blatantly merged the two places, which was strongly opposed by Prussia. The following year, after Prussia formed an alliance with Austria and easily defeated Denmark, Schleswig and Holstein returned to The Arms of Germany.
After this battle, Prussia officially embarked on the pace of unification. After the recovery of Schleswig and Holstein, prussia's contradictions with Austria grew. Nominally it was shared between the two places, but how could Prussia's ambitions be shared? The Austro-Prussian War was inevitable, and Prussia, which was more militarily and economically powerful, was destined to defeat Austria, which was more populous and geographically dominant. With active offense on one side and passive defense on the other, the balance of war is already predestined.
The Battle of Pu'ao ended with the prussian quick battle. Post-war Germany has completely taken the form of unity, and Prussia is the hero. A large number of states and territories belonged to Prussia, and the North German Union was formed with Prussia, which signed treaties with the principalities of southern Germany to attack and defend the alliance, all of which were excluded by Austria. Victorious Prussia began to set its sights on the position of European hegemon, and inevitably competed with France for hegemony.
Although the Second French Empire was not yet consolidated at this time, and Napoleon III himself had many problems, France's ambitions as a continental power never wavered. At this time, Prussia and France had reached a state of tension. In July 1870, France declared war on Prussia over the succession to the Spanish throne. Prussia, which had long been prepared, finally defeated France, not only received huge reparations, but also completely thwarted international intervention from France.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="31" > militarist tradition and a hidden crisis of rule</h1>
The German Empire, which completed its unification, quickly promulgated a series of policies and regulations. The 5 billion francs plundered by France were transformed into capital for economic development; iron ore and potash mines in Alsace and Lorraine provided raw materials for the development of heavy industry in Germany. The technological innovations and production changes brought about by the Second Industrial Revolution have revitalized germany as a whole. At the same time as the economy took off, the militaristic Germany eventually fell into the quagmire of foreign expansion.
Prussia, as a unified subject, has its absolutism and militarism deep into the marrow. Beginning with William I, the successive monarchs of Prussia pursued the path of internal and military rectification and external aggression and expansion. They allied themselves with the Junker bourgeoisie, giving them economic benefits in exchange for the prussian aristocracy's economic resources for military expansion. Prussia, which believed in rough rule and established centralized power, interacted with the prevalence of militarism.
Looking back at the road to German reunification, Bismarck and Moltke were two key figures. One of them is the iron-blooded prime minister, who is in charge of the government inside and outside; the other is the chief of the general staff, who is world-famous throughout military history. Bismarck's political skills enabled Prussia to successfully complete its unification, whether it was to stabilize the country or to cross the international, it was a well-known figure. As for Moltke's exploits, the Austro-Prussian War was mobilized by railroads and the reuse of telegraphs; the Battle of Sedan in the Franco-Prussian War became famous in World War I.
When people attribute the unity of Germany to Bismarck's power politics, "power is the determining factor of all politics." Moltke and the Minister of War, Ron, owe it to militarism. As the king said at the feast, "You, General Ron, sharpened the sword; you; General Moltke; the sword was used correctly; you, Count Bismarck, have been in charge of my policies so brilliantly for many years." Whenever I thank the army, I think of all three of you in particular. ”
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="43" > postscript</h1>
Despite Bismarck's painstaking efforts for the Empire as a whole, and in particular his efforts to restrain the militarist tradition and create a favourable international environment for Germany. But the young and vigorous Wilhelm II will not give in, the ambitious generals will not stop, militarism has long been engraved in the blood of Germany, and the wheel of war has begun.