Here you go Barney. Some reading references below. Unification in a brief overview ~
Germany (Deutschland) as we know it is a relatively modern state. In the mid-nineteenth century, Germany was a collection of smaller states that were linked as a German confederation. This confederation was dominated by Austria, which as a large imperial power was politically and economically superior to the smaller Germanic states. In the 1860's, the dominance of Austria was ultimately challenged by Prussia.
In 1862, Count Otto von Bismarck was named Chief Minister of Prussia. He had an amazing career during which he resolved many constitutional conflicts and brought about German unification under the Prussian banner. Bismarck's "Realpolitik" political program was simple, namely, he believed that every increase in the power of conservative Prussia was for the good of Germany, and every limitation of that power harmed Germany. He felt Austria would have to be defeated by force of arms to achieve German unification.
The New German Empire (1865-71) was established under Prussian leadership with Bismarck as Chancellor, and the King of Prussia, Wilhelm I, as its President. This was the product of three wars: the Danish War of 1864, the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. The Seven Weeks War in 1866 with Austria effectively removed Austria, the principal country resisting Germany unity, from leadership in the Germanic states. Bismarck then orchestrated the formation of the North German Confederation (Norddeutscher Bund) with the states that had supported Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War. These 22 (or 25, depending on calculation) Germanic states, all north of the Main River, were now referred to as 'Prussia', and maintained a loose knit alliance with the southern German states.
After victory over France (and the the French Emperor, Napoleon III) in 1871, Prussia was able to persuade her allies within the North German Confederation that unification with the rest of the German states was desirable. As a result, Wilhelm of Prussia was proclaimed Emperor of Germany in 1871, and the Second German Reich (Deutsches Kaiserreich, 1871-1918) was born. After unification, what was Prussia accounted for some two thirds of the Empire's size and population, but the force of Prussia's personality was even greater. The German identity in the large part became Prussian identity. Moreover, Prussian consolidation created a de facto world power.
It is here we see the final formation of a German nation rather than the continuation of individualistic Germanic provinces, states, duchies and kingdoms as their own separate sovereignties. Each of these, however, retained its own Prince, as each had previously been a Princedom. These states were represented on a National Level by the Reichsrat, the upper house of legislative Parliament. The Head of State was the Kaiser. This role was an hereditary one based upon the old Kingdom of Prussia. While the states retained their own governments, Prussia nonetheless exercised predominant influence.
Hannover was one of the most important kingdoms in Imperial Germany, but ceased to exist in 1866. This kingdom had one of the finest militaries of the period. Hannoverian units fought with distinction during the Napoleonic Wars at Waterloo in 1815. Unfortunately for Hannover, it fought with Austria and most of the other German states against Prussia in 1866. Hannover was probably the biggest loser of the war. With its defeat, Hannover�s king, George V, was forced into exile, and the territory of Hannover and its fine military came under Prussian control. The Prussian tax system and military service, as well as many Prussian laws, became the "law of the land" in Hannover. Naturally, some hard feelings resulted. But as was stated earlier, with it came the process of unification and codification of German law, and as time went on, enhanced feelings of German Nationalism.
In 1897 Kaiser Wilhelm II did what he could to defuse long held feelings of resentment in the Hannoverian military. While it may have seemed like a small gesture, the return of the Waterloo, Peninsula, Venta del Pozo, G�hrde, El Bodon, Barossa, Garzia-Hernandez, and Colberg 1807 bandeaus (battle honors affixed as banners to the wappen - or insignia - of the headdress) to the appropriate regiments allowed Hanoverian officers and soldiers to take greater pride in the Prussian Army in which they served (and had been for nearly 30 years).
Kaiser Wilhelm II ruled until Germany's defeat in World War I (1914-1918), when he was forced to abdicate and driven into exile. After its defeat, the German Empire was forced to give up the Danzig Corridor (western part of East Prussia) to Poland. This caused the province of East Prussia to be separated from the rest of the German Empire. After Germany's defeat in World War II (1939-1945), West Prussia and East Prussia were divided and given as retribution to Poland and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union annexed the portion of Eastern Prussia that included Prussia's old capital of Konigsberg. The Prussian provinces west of the Oder-Neisse line were distributed between East and West Germany. In 1947 the Allied Control Council officially proclaimed the dissolution of Prussia, and the land of the Preu�ens ceased to exist.
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German Unification