The Formation of Germany under Bismarck until his Resignation in 1890:.
Until the 1860's, Germany was a loose collection of States with little power. King Wilhelm I and his Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck ruled Prussia, the most powerful of the German states. It was Prussia who had an ambition to rule all of the German states, and in 1864, the first off three wars was fought against the minor states Schleswig and Holstein. Next, in 1866, Prussia overwhelmed Austria, the second largest state in six weeks, resulting in the North German Confederation that united all of northern Germany under Prussian leadership. Prussia then defeated the South German States and seized Alsace Lorraine, creating a single German nation by 1871. The new German states were ruled like Prussia, Wilhelm I became Kaiser of Germany, and Bismarck became Chancellor.
Bismarck, having masterminded the plot to unite Germany, was desperate to protect it. A nation of 40 million in central Europe would be distrusted and feared by all its neighbours. France, especially, would not forget the loss of Alsace Lorraine in 1870-1871. Bismarck was certain that if France were ever able to ally herself with another powerful country, then Germanys resistance would be threatened. Germany, under Bismarck, therefore, began to construct an elaborate series of Alliances to ensure Frances solitude. In 1873, Bismarck created the Dreikaiserbund (League of Three Emperors) which bound the leaders of Austria-Hungry, Germany and Russia into an agreement that ensured neutrality and friendship. It also created a pact of consultation within the league to discuss matters of mutual interest. This agreement lasted until 1878, when Russia and Austria Hungry quarrelled over the Balkans, and the league crumbled. To replace the Dreikaiserbund, Bismarck drew up the Dual Alliance in secret in 1879. This was a defensive alliance between Germany and Austria which guaranteed collective security if attacked by Russia.
