Briefly trace the process of Germany unification.

• With widespread nationalist feelings among the middle-class Germans, the first major step towards the unification of Germany was taken in 1848. This was done through the convening of the Frankfurt Parliament through which the German people tried to unite the different regions of the German confederation into a nation-state governed by an elected parliament. But the monarchy and the military with the aid of the large landowners called Junkars of Prussia thwarted this attempt of nation-building.

• After this failed attempt, the process of unification of Germany was taken up by Prussia, whose Prime Minister, Otto von Bismarck was the main architect of the process. He was aided by the Prussian bureaucracy and the military in his effort.

• Bismarck’s main objective was to unify Germany, and he believed that this could only be done through military power and not by the common people. This led to three wars over seven years against Austria, Denmark, and France.

• The wars ended with Prussian victory and led to the unification of the German Confederation.

• The process of unification ended in January 1871, when the Prussian king William I was crowned the German emperor in a ceremony at Versailles.