When looking at the history of Europe, two German names loom large. One, painted a bloody red, is Adolf Hitler, one of the most successful muderers in history. The second name is Otto Von Bismarck. A political genius, a strong statesman and a competant leader, Otto Von Bismarck paved the way for the rise of the modern german state.

Born on April 1, 1815 in Schonhausen to noble parents, Biscmarck went on to study law at Gottingen and Berlin. Bismarck gained his Bar status in 1835 and then became a lieutenant of the “Life Guards.” After serving as a lieutenant, he took up residance of his families estate in Schonhausen and there he gained an interest in governmental affairs. In 1847 he was elected to the Prussian Diet.

Bismarck was very conservative in his political views. “King and Country” where his watchwords. Odd that such a man would become so successful in politics in this time period, coming hot on the heels of the american and french revolution. Political discontent and democractic libralism where spreading through the parliments and streets of europe, and a man like Bismarck, staunchly opposed to democratic liberalism, would have to work very hard to stay afloat. He did it by being a pragmatist instead of an idealist. While many conservatives and liberals spoke strongly for the therotical srength of their movement, of both “divine right” and the “rights of the people.” Bismarck was successful primarily because of his interest in political reality, what was happening in the here and now, than what the starry eyed dreamers thought the future would look like. Bismarck himself puts his views best: “Beware of sentimental alliances where the consciousness of good deeds is the only compensation for noble sacrifices.”
(Otto von Bismarck, Bismarck and the German Empire by Erich Eyck)

While he remained a political conservative, Bismarck realized that things couldn’t be the way the were before. Bismarck also believed that Prussia could lead the unification of Germany. This was considered a distincly liberal goal at the time, largley because of the noted rise of nationalism based around langauage and culture which followed the revolutions of America and France. However, Bismarck maintained that his goal was politcal and geographical, not linguistic and cultural. Bismarck believed in the rights of the aristocrat based on his belief that it was the only way to maintain the stability within the state.

Bismarck was a firm believer wars to accomplish things. He once remarked that things should be settled by “blood and iron” (World Book, 1981). This he certainly carried out in pracice. Bismarck achieved a unified Germany by starting wars. He took Schleswig and Holstein (germain provinces) from Denmark. With a peace treaty signed on October 30, 1864 in Vienna, these are still part of Germany today. How Bismarck dealt with Austria shows his commitment to maintaining boundries based on political and territorial lines. Prussia was pressuring Austria about the northern provinces of Hannover, Hesse-Kassel, Nassau and Frankfurt. In 1866, at the Battle of Koniggratz, the Austrians where soundly trounced and the “Nothern Confederation” was formed.

This Northern Confederation proved to be a catylst in finally uniting all of Germany. The Northern Confederation, in particular Bismarck, provoked France into war and in 1870 the Franco-Prussian war broke out. The southern states of Germany believed that France was the aggressor and so joined the Northern Confederation, serving France a resounding defeat. This brought both the southern and northern German states together, resulting in a modern German state, excluding Austria.

A hero to his people, having been instrumental in the creation of the what was then the German empire, Bismarck was named Chancellor. Using his authority and his diplomatic mettle, he made important and progressive decisions at home and worked to keep peace abroad.

Bismarck was very carefull of his nations place in Europe. Bismarck saw Germany’s central location geographically as potentially fatal position. He had suprising vision. Bismarck believed that if war erupted throughout Europe, Germany would be caught in the middle of maurding armies and be destroyed which was very close to what happened in World War I. Thus, Bismarck spent much time trying to maintain peace and creating alliances amongh the major powers of Europe. Unfourtunently, many of these alliances made would create the powder keg which would start the 1st world war.

Internally, Bismarck continued to fight political liberalism. Some of the methods to do so resulted in very democratic and humanitarian laws, such as “guaranteeing accident and health insurance as well as old-age pensions.” (Wikpedia, 2004). At the same time, Bismarck was having serious trouble with the Social Democrats and the Catholic Centre Party. Here is where, in part, Bismarck earns his moniker as the “Iron Chancellor.” He engaged in a “Kulter Kampf” or a culture war on the Catholics, which proved unsuccessfull. He outlawed the Social Democrats, which also proved fruitless. In 1890, the Social Democrats made significant gains in the elections and Kaiser Willhelm II insisted that Bismarck resign his post as Chancellor. Bismarck left his political career, organized his notes, memoirs and writings and died in 1898.

Bismarcks life is a portrait of a successful politician who valued his goals over ideals. As seemingly perspicacious as he was during his life time, his fairlure was his shortsightedness. All of his planning did not prevent Germany being at the center of the two most devestating wars this world had ever seen. Although being an idealist is no sure preventative to folly (Marx, anyone?), the Bible does teach us to work for heavenly riches and a heavenly kingdom, not an earthly one.

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