The process of unification of Germany:
(i) Nationalist feelings were widespread among middle class Germans, who in 1848 tried to unite the different regions of the German confederation into a nation-state governed by an elected parliament.
(ii) This liberal initiative to nation-building was, however, repressed by the combined forces of the monarchy and the military, supported by the large landowners called Junkers of Prussia. From then on, Prussia took on the leadership of the movement for national unification.
(iii) Otto von Bismarck, the chief minister of Prussia, was the architect of the German unification. He did this with the help of the Prussian army and bureaucracy.
(iv) Three wars over seven years with Austria, Denmark and France—ended in Prussian victory and completed the process of unification.
(v) In January 1871, the Prussian King, William I, was proclaimed German Emperor in a ceremony held at Versailles.
