BISMARCK - WHO WAS HE ACTUALLY ?
TODAY: JULY 8.
I want to write about Bismarck today. Why?
Because he was a German statesman, who played an important role in Europe
during the second half of the 19th century. Not an easy politician to deal with ☹ And also now and then brutal, when he wanted
to reach his goals. But at the same time a man with a plan, which he did his
best to implement. He is perhaps by most
people remembered as a war monger. But actually, there was peace in by far the
biggest part of his time.
Bismarck was born in a Prussian noble family in
1815 – a couple of months before Napoleon’s final defeat at Waterloo. He was trained as a lawyer and later a
diplomat. And he entered the political arena in 1862, when the Prussian king
Wilhelm nominated him chancellor of Prussia.
His main aim was to unite Germany, which until then consisted of many
small states and principalities. His first move was to take Schleswig-Holstein
from Denmark in 1864. The rather pompous
Danish government had on its own decided to include Schleswig into Denmark and
thereby split it from Holstein. This
gave Bismarck the opportunity to start a war. Its result was that the whole of
Schleswig-Holstein became part of Prussia, including the Danish speaking South Jutland.
About 10 % of Denmark became German.
Bismarck’s next move was two years later, when we
won a war against Austria-Hungary. He had always been against that empire,
which he believed worked against German unity. And finally, he won a war
against France in 1870-71. This brought Elsass-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) to
Germany. And Bismarck also organised that king Wilhelm at the end of the war
was declared Emperor of Germany. It took place in the Hall of Mirrors in the castle
of Versailles. This was a humiliation
the French never forgot.
After those wars Europe by and large experienced peace
for a long period until World War I in 1914.
This period is called LA BELLE EPOQUE.
This was, of course, not only due to Bismarck and his policies. But it
was certainly in line with what he wanted to see. Trade, the economies, culture,
travelling, democracy – blossomed over most of the continent.
Domestically, Bismarck also had a plan. On it was a range of social laws, which
intended to benefit the working class in Germany. This was, of course, also part of his
political battle with the socialists.
Infrastructure projects were built, not least railways. This included a
railway connection between Berlin and Hamburg. Very practical also for Bismarck
himself. He lived at his castle Friedrichsruh in Aumühle, 25 km south-east of
Hamburg. A special train station was
built at the entrance to his castle. This made it easier for him to get to and
from work 😊
Bismarck’s close cooperation with emperor Wilhelm
functioned well all until 1888, when the emperor died. The new emperor, Wilhelm II, by the way the
grandchild of queen Victoria, was a totally different type. He was a
I-will-do-it-all-myself character. So Bismarck was dismissed in 1890. Then he
had time to write his memoires, before he died 83 years old in 1898.
Why is it in my view also important to discuss
Bismarck today? Because he is an
important politician not only in Germany, but in Europe. And because his reputation needs to be seen
with its many different angles. Yes, he
was a warrior, when he thought he needed it to reach his goals. But he was also
a reformer and a supporter of peace and cooperation in Europe. And like everybody else: he has to be seen as part of his time. Not as
part of our time today.
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