The Role of Germany in European Affairs between 1862 and 1900 - Essay Example

The destabilization in Europe took place mainly because of the several conflicts between the neighboring European countries. The Franco Prussian War which began in 1970 and ended the following year is very significant when it comes to analyzing the role of Germany in European affairs between 1862 and 1900. The Prussians wanted to suppress the weaker states and wanted a new German state. Chancellor Otto von Bismarck spearheaded three really important wars, Denmark, Austria were comprehensively defeated by the Prussians in 1864.

The big moment for the Prussians came in the year 1871 when they managed to defeat France. The Prussians were so powerful that the French army just could not contain them; the French were defeated and not only defeated but also humiliated. This was how a unified Germany came into being. Germany would not have been the same had the Prussians not attacked Austria, Denmark and France in 1864 and 1871 respectively. Otto von Bismarck once very famously said “The great questions of the day will not be settled by means of speeches and majority decisions but by iron and blood.

” (Otto von Bismarck)  The unification of Germany was complete; Austria was not included in the unification. The French were comprehensively beaten and this called for revenge. The French were desperate to avenge their defeat. France had also lost territory during war and they were also made to pay a whopping compensation by the Prussians. The revanche movement kicked started in France, it was a political movement with an agenda of putting the newly unified country in its place. Ogden Nash once said “Now, anybody whom a German hates, He presently exterminates, But he who exterminates a French Is never safe from Gallic revenge, But he who gets even with a German Is obliterated like a vermin” (German Quotes) Germany wanted to further strengthen itself and in an endeavor to do so it started locking horns with established colonial powers.

Germany and Britain were at loggerheads in the year 1896. German Kaiser ridiculed the Jameson Raid and the same offended the British beyond the wildest of one’s imagination. A telegram was sent by Germany which was somehow intercepted by the British media and this caused wild uproar in Britain. The British took to the streets to protest against the German authorities who wrote the telegram. Weltpolitik was one of Germany’s policies; even this policy was largely responsible for creating a huge drift between the Germans and the British.

Robert MacDonald once very famously said “One German makes a philosopher, two a public meeting, three a war.” (German Quotes) The first naval law by Germany was passed by Admiral von Tirpitz, he wanted Germany to have a really strong Navy. “The son of a civil servant, Tirpitz signed up with the Prussian Navy in 1865 as a midshipman, attending the Kiel Naval School; he subsequently received his commission in 1869.  Tirpitz went on to serve as commander of a torpedo flotilla and subsequently inspector general of the torpedo fleet, during which time he developed a keen interest in the potentialities of submarines in wartime.

” (First World War) There were 17 naval ships built by Germany in seven years, these developments made caused panic and shockwaves in Britain. Britain knew that it had to do something to combat