Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 26, 1990 TAG: 9004260551
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Otto von Bismarck, who became chancellor of Prussia in 1862, wanted to unite the German states under the Hohenzollern king. Bismarck knew, however, Austria would not allow the loosely organized German Confederation, in which she had the most power, to fall into the hands of the Prussians.
His plan to expel Austria and take control revolved around three wars. In 1864, Prussia overran the provinces of Holstein and Schleswig, which were ruled by the King of Denmark in the name of the German Confederation. Bismarck knew this would cause friction between Austria and Prussia. Because of disagreement about what to do with the provinces, the two states went to war (Seven Weeks' War). Prussia won and the confederation was dissolved.
Prussia annexed 30,000 square miles of German territory and invited 21 German states to join Prussia in a new union called the North German Confederation. Now Bismarck's plan turned to obtaining the southern states. His idea was to go to war with France and let nationalism unite Germany.
In 1870, his opportunity came. The German prince of the Hohenzollern family was offered the throne of Spain. France protested and the prince declined.
Tension eased, but Napoleon III sent a message demanding that Wilhelm I assure him that if Spain renewed the offer it would be rejected. Wilhelm was outraged. Bismarck edited the Ems telegram to meet his liking and released it to the press.
At this point, both sides were overcome with nationalism. War was inevitable. Bismarck's plan had worked, and nationalism was the tool by which he obtained his goal. STAN PARKER SALEM
by CNB