The Frankfurt parliament was the first step of German unification but this initiative of nation building was repressed by the monarchy and big landlords of Prussia. German unification was a long and complicated process. In the beginning of the 19^th century, German was not a unified country. It was a collection of 39 autocratic states, ruled by only wealthy and powerful once. It was a difficult affair to unite Germany. The credit of unifying Germany goes to Bismark as He fought three wars to unified Germany.

(i) Danish- Prussian War in 1864: In beginning many European royals were independently having undersized territories dived by different laws, custom, and languages. When the Danish King Friedrich VII died in 1864.The Danish War helped Bismark strengthen his internal position in Prussia. Without much effort, Prussia defeated Danish.

(ii) Austro- Prussian War in 1866: In 1864 Bismark constructed an alliance with Austria to fight with Denmark. After the defeat Prussia received Schleswig and Austria administered the Holstein. But this situation could not stand for long and relations between Australia and Prussia worsened over the control of Schleswig-Holstein. As the real concern was to emerge as the dominant force in German, Bismark provoked war with the Austrians to gain supremacy in Germany. He tactfully secured Italian support and French neutrality. Prussian troops occupied Holstein the Seven Weeks War (1866), Austria was totally crushed by Prussian forces at the battle of Sadowa, and was completely removed from any involvement in German affairs. An extraordinary lenient treaty, the Treaty of Prague was signed to expel Austria from the German Confederation so that Austria did not remain an enemy of Prussia. Prussia was now able to dominate the other German states without fear of Austria intervention.

(iii) Franco-Prussian War in 1870-71: With Austria out of the Bismark’s way and to complete German unification process Bismark now had only one hurdle, and that was France. The southern provinces doubted Prussia’s commitment to unite the Germany of all provinces. Prussia’s Protestantism and historic militarism made the gulf between north and south quite serious. Therefore Bismark turned raelpolitik to unite the Germanic provinces by constructing a war against the common enemy. In 1870, Bismark forged a note from French ambassador implying that the ambassador had insulted the Prussian king. He also suggested a German candidate’s name for the vacant Spanish throne. the hidden aim behind this move was to provoke the people of France & Prussia and make the French emperor Napolean III angry and declare war on Prussia and the North German Confederation. Prussia was completely victorious over France at the battle of Sedan in 1870 and gained control over Alsace-Lorraine.

For unification Bismark followed ‘Blood and Iron’ policy. Thus, the long planned journey of German unification was completed in 1871.