Wars of German Unification (Blood and Iron) / Deutsche Einigungskriege (Blut und Eisen)
www.tomrichey.net
In this final installment of my lecture on German Unification, I focus on Otto von Bismarck's completion of the unification process through "Blood and Iron" (Blut und Eisen). Bismarck used three wars (Deutsche Einigungskriege) to bring about German Unification: the Schleswig Wars, the Austro-Prussian War, and the Franco-Prussian War. The North German Confederation's victory in the Franco-Prussian War led to the proclamation of the German Empire in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
The Franco-Prussian War completed the process of German Unification but also sowed the seeds of animosity between France and Germany that would sprout to fruition in World War I.
Пікірлер: 225
The blood and iron vs iron and blood thing is more than just what sounds better; in German iron and blood implies heavy industry and work, whereas blood and iron implies war. At least that is what I learnt.
@kherossilverlight8400
6 жыл бұрын
Sophie Niegsch This is actually a very good point. Thanks!
MAN. This guys really is a great teacher. Keep up with your good work, teacher. I wonder why we don't study the unification of Germany here in Brazil... considering it is one of the foundations making the scenario for WWI, I guess it should be standard for everyone to know that better.
Here I am, a German who has heard all of this in school, listening to your beautiful explanation of german unification. ^^ I love your vids!
SO helpful, my exam is next week and I literally didn't understand anything before watching these videos, thank you solo much.
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
GLAD I CAN HELP!!! :D
Just stumbled upon this channel and what a great discovery. History delivered in an entertaining enthusiastic engaging and informative way. Clearly communicated easily accessible and in manageable bite sized chunks. Great to see often complicated subjects demystified. An excellent resource for any history buff. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and expertise.
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much for the kind words! I might have just found my new director of marketing!
Where has this channel been all my life, I mean I took AP history courses a long time ago in high school, I just love how you have a very engaging presence. I know what I am going to binge now.
I used these lectures and these lectures alone to get a HD on an exam on German History today. Thank you so much for releasing this amazing series of lectures to the public!
Great lecturing style, thank you. Gosh I remember the teachers going on about Bismarck in primary and secondary school here in Ireland, none of it sank in, now you've connected the dots. One of the major advantages of middle age is that history is much more interesting and easier to add context. Keep up the great work Tom 👏👏
Your videos are so awesome! Loved this German Unification series specifically. Thank you for very entertaining and informative history videos.
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
And thank you for watching and making such a kind comment! It's people like you who keep me going. :D
You were very lucidly informative. I smiled throughout this lecture. Thank you so much!
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
That is a very high compliment! Thank you! :D
great job on this topic -- looking forward to viewing more of your lectures!
Thank you for these three videos. Very interesting and informative for someone new to this topic.
Well done Mr. Richey! The timeline graphic is essential and it would help on occasion to make the maps full screen if possible. The Prussian observers sent to the US during the Civil war were instrumental in bringing improvements back to Prussia - the breechloading rifle, the importance of railways and telegraphs. I look forward to viewing more of your material. Thank you!
Unbelievable.You uploaded this just on time.I have an exam on this subject in 6 hours :D
@bhoagland8083
9 жыл бұрын
Same here!
Just stopping by to say I adore your dedication and passion keep it up mate!
This was so incredibly helpful for simplifying the content of my lesson plans. Thank you :)
Thankyou so much for these videos. I've been sitting in class every day thinking: "what??", and now I understand everything. It's so simple! My exam is in a day's time - I'm so glad to have found these. Thanks a gazillion.
This was incredibly helpful, thank you so much! I have my IB History exam tomorrow and your videos have been such a useful revision tool!
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
Glad to hear it! Good luck on your exam!
Watched all 3 in this series - good job!
As German speaker, I laugh every time he says stuff like "Shh-less-Wig"
@aiman_oofed8186
5 жыл бұрын
I spell schleswig Slezz-wig
@tivorum
4 жыл бұрын
Well, every language, without exception, mutilates phonetics of some foreign language names. But it's amusing to know that people are capable of drawing fun even out of such simple stuff... Pardon my illiteracy (if any), by the way, my native language isn't English.
@dancingwiththedead6764
3 жыл бұрын
@@tivorum there weren't any errors in your comment. I too get some amusement from hearing foreigners butchering the hell out of my language
My history professor is not at all interesed on teaching, he just comes to class and hes the least interactive one I ever had. Im really glad I get to listen to your leasons, since I love history! Thank you!
Thank you soooooooo much for these videos. My exam is tomorrow morning and these videos really helped. I appreciate it a lot.Thank you again!
Thank you for your great help! awesome insightful and fun to watch! :)
Hello sir, I chanced upon your video after so much of stressful searches on youtube for world history lessons. These are one of the best lectures i have been through. The conceptual clarity and to the point explanations I think is your best asset. I am preparing for an Administrative head examination where they ask about world history and well i must say your lectures are just like a boon for me. Keep it up. This is Raahul from India.
@tomrichey
8 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the kind words! I'm very glad I'm able to help you. Best of luck to you on your exam!
@specialmeah1
8 жыл бұрын
+Tom Richey thank you sir..:)
@aditibhat8669
2 жыл бұрын
hey! Did you clear the UPSC exam now? Hope it went well:)
You’re amazing keep it up!!! I’ve learned so much, ready for my apec midterm tomorrow!
Great commentary. Liked it
I really enjoyed the videos. Compact, quick and very well presented, I got a good general view about the German Unification. Thank you for sharing! FYI: I'm not a student :).
I think Bismarck chose his words wisely when he put Iron in front of Blood. Iron and blood means Industry and Sacrifice , Blood and Iron means war. Both imply the same thing, but in different ways.
This is such great help!! Test coming up...thank youuu
thanku soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much.......i have been looking for such a helpful video since long tm . u r really a gooooooddddd teacher
Hi from Spain and thanks for all your videos!!! You should do a video with your top ten history based books or something like that would be cool :)
love the 3 part video. thanks
Are you going to do an Italian Unification series eventually? I just generally enjoy your videos but it seems like you are doing them for some tests so there is probably a Syllabus of sorts you are going through?
@tomrichey
8 жыл бұрын
I'll see what I can do for the rightful Lord of the Seven Kingdoms! I teach Modern European History and make several video lectures for that course each year.
@romainguiraudou103
8 жыл бұрын
Please do a video on the history of the seven kingdoms!! Just kidding, I'm french and I just finished College but I wish I could go back and attend your lessons in class, I bet they're awsome :)
Technically Iron doesn't mean weapon power but economic power.
@SiggiNebel
8 жыл бұрын
But that's not, what Bismarck meant.
@civishamburgum1234
8 жыл бұрын
Most Historicans say it other.
@jacknick7582
6 жыл бұрын
Civis Hamburgum it implies economic power but the goal is military power
You're the only reason I'm passing. Thank you
Thank you so much Tom, these 3 videos have really helped me understand the topic! I spent all day reading tones of pages of info and i understood more in the 30mins i spent watching you!!! Thanks again :)
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
So glad I could help you! This is why I do what I do.
very nice and good explanation really a understanding one
Thanking you Sir. You are doing a great job. I am from India, Thanking you and appreciating your passion🥇.
you are the god of history!
Great summary. 🌷
I’m watching this exactly 3 years later, ITS SO COOL LOL BECAUSE I HAVE A TEST TOMORROW ON THIS
Silly Prussia's not a country with an army their an Army with a country.
@Aztecsanddehydration
7 жыл бұрын
I have succeeded in spot-the-Hetalian once more!
@atic7910
7 жыл бұрын
they are*
@Jonathan_D12
7 жыл бұрын
Victor Conway haha
thank you so much , helped a lot !
When you are talking about the reperations the image showcases a modern swiss franc
I actually love him omg
Love your videos, do you think before May 8, you can make a huge review video for the exam, it would help a lot.
thanks for a good video . hey tom u r a gd communicator.
Fantastic lecture! Thank you . Do you have a video on Italian unification ?
thank you so much for doing these videos- I'm taking Euro right now and these help sooo much! Please make a video on european new imperialism in africa and asia (biased because thats what we're currently learning)
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
Anna Stroinski Thank you for watching! Imperialism is on my list, but my slides for that topic need work pretty bad, so we'll see if it happens before the exam.
YOUR VIDEOS ROCKKK 🤘🤘👌👌
I have been watching all of your videos (sorry for the lack of comments), I was wondering if, at some point, you might upload a Russian Revolution Video?
Thanks Tom. Going through your videos. So informative.Would request you to teach Indian history as well. There is a dual benefit here. We are so big in numbers. You will have a good patronage to your channel. And we will learn our history in an easy way. :)
Thank you for this lecture, I had been looking for something explaining to me why Germany was a new country when you always hear of the Germanic people. All new information to me and I love history. I would also like your insight into why countries turning authoritarian always attack the teachers. ( although I know the answer, the study of history gives away their machinations) Please expound on this in a video. It is happening now in Turkey.
When Otto von Bismark spoke of Eisen und Blut (blood and iron) he was NOT speaking specifically about war alone. He was speaking of massive industrialization, huge build up of manpower and jobs, extreme development across the nation of infrastructure and development so that within just a few years, the tiny, dislocated conglomeration of German States, German speaking peoples, had not only caught up to the industrialized world of Europe in England and France but ha surpassed it.
Just wanted to pop by and say thanks for the great content, super helpful for exam season! - from, a history major at UBC
Awesome lecture series! Just wanted to let you know that your video annotations to click to other videos are no longer working... not sure if you still manage the channel or not I am looking at pretty old videos :)
6years after u help me thank you sm
maybe its important to mention Krupp who inventend some stuff what made this unifaction possible for example with the Rundkeilverschluss , which make german weapons superior . Also Bismarks social laws are very close to the Generalregulativ from Krupp , who had many years before health insurance and stuff for his employess
right before the video played, an ad for a movie came up that starred Matt Damon... at first i thought "Tom richey is in a movie?" anyways love your videos
This is really helpful. Are you going to make a video over the Revolutions of 1848? I'm kind of confused about those.
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
I posted it the night before the exam. I hope you found it helpful!
The city of labes or lobez is known for it's thoroughbred horses, and it has a statue of Kaiser Wilhelm 1 erected in1911, the dedication was attended by Prince Oskar. Did Wilhelm go there, and where would he have stayed.
Thank u, thank u, always wondered what the impetus for franco-prussian war was (was taking sciences vs ap euro unfortunately), also not clear on what frankfurt conf trying to accomplish.
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
Glad I could deliver once again! :D
Please do one for Italian Unification!!
I like the way you say the German words. The accent is kinda funny. I myself am a German and it just made me laugh. But it’s really good. Most English-speaking people do have that accent. Still nice vid man
@tomrichey
3 жыл бұрын
This may be the first time anyone has complimented my German! Danke!
Well done. Informative and accessible. I had always wondered why the French screwed over the Germans so badly at Versailles after WW1. Now I know-it was le revanche.
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
Glad I could help make sense of this important topic for you!
Please make a video on Italy unification.
Such a great video. Congratulations! I'm making a paper as part of a subject in University. Could I have some bibliography to develop my work, please? I'd appreciate any kind of help.
Great series! I'm finally understanding the 19th century's history of Europe a little bit better with your videos! About the "Blood and Iron" that sounds better than "Iron and Blood", maybe it does not in German? I don't speak German at all though so I can't decide... Eisen und Blut oder Blut und Eisen? That is the question! ^^
@tomrichey
8 жыл бұрын
I asked a German speaker to say it both ways for me and concluded that "blut and eisen" also sounds better in German.
Wow, I wish I had found this when I was taking APEuro. I learned from an Englishman so you could probably imagine his bias take on "what happened and how did it happen" during lectures Lang lebe Preußen
@Yougottacryforthis
8 жыл бұрын
+Wolfgulfur im guessing that's long live prussia? You know that funnily enough it were the nazis who ended prussia.
this is very intresting so much mistry
On the southern thing I'm from kansas. It is kinda split over it.
+ 1 subscriber fam. Great video
Hey Tom, Could I possibly ask what sources you used for this video as I wanted to use your video as a source for my extended project qualification!! Thank you!! David Severn
What about the Italian unification?? A video for that would be great!
@mariapapanikolaou7038
8 жыл бұрын
By the way, if you need any help with pronunciation of French and German words, it's easier than you think! You write the words in Google Translate and you can press the "sound button" to hear how they are pronounced. Except for this small point, your lectures are great!!! They've come all the way to Greece.. :D and they help me so much!!
Can i get the book u got the quote at 6:45? Please I need it for my eassy
could you do a video on Italian and British Nationalism before 10 may ..... my final exams begin on the 10th of may .... PLZ i love your vids and i subbed tooo ! :D
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
It's possible!
@AbhayKumar-cm2kh
9 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much !!!!
@Mr99Anthony
9 жыл бұрын
Tom Richey I would love a video on Italian unification!
You have legit saved my IGCSE ass
at 11:50 the picture shows the current Swiss Franc (not the French Franc), just a side note :)
@tomrichey
8 жыл бұрын
Haha Good to know!
Prussia pays the Iron Price for the German crown.
@Exodon2020
7 жыл бұрын
And there never were actual Imperial German Crown Jewels. So no fancy gold crown was ever seen on a Kaiser's head yet I'm pretty sure Wilhelm II. would have loved to have one being as overexaggeraterd and overcompensating for his crippled arm as his head could possibly carry.
FIRE AND BLOOD !!!
11:30 those are swiss francs in the picture :D
Bismark is a genius
How did the American Civil War and Reconstruction affect Bismarck's policy? That was current events for him, so I'm sure he was paying attention.
I think it's important to point out that Bismarck's Iron and Blood speech was largely rejected by the majority of Prussians. Especially the still large amount of National Liberals didn't agree with Bismarck like Heinrich von Treitschke, who declared Bismarck “a shallow Junker,” who “intends to bring Germany under his yoke”. Much of Bismarck's decisive military movements were only made possible by his close relationship with Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, a Prussian Field Marshall. It was only after Bismarck's death, under the disastrous regime of Willhelm II, that his policies began to be looked upon more favorably. This policy later became a cornerstone of Nazi ideology and Hitler portrayed himself as a new Bismarck, and by World War I was used as a justification for ambitious acquisition of territory. Interestingly enough, however, Bismarck was largely against pursuing territory outside of German-speaking territories under foreign rule. Bismarck opposed expansion into Africa, and discouraged expanding after the establishment of Grossdeutchland. After this establishment, Bismarck was much more concerned about developing industry in the Ruhr Valley and settling domestic issues, like you mentioned in your previous video.
@coreylevine3856
8 жыл бұрын
+Liz O if Bismarck have kept Germany out of Africa knowing now if they know then racism in Germany weren't be that bad as it is right now
Thank you so much for saving my ass for my exam tomorrow!
According to the textbook World History by Anatole Mazour and John Peoples, Denmark's King Christian IX annexed Schleswig and Holstein in 1863 under a new Danish Constitution. Your characterization of the Schweslig war thus seems quite misleading, as if they had already belonged to Denmark.
Didn't u say in the last German unification vid that u will do ww1 or have u done that?
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
I've got a Causes of WWI video lecture up now - will follow up with more WWI stuff soon.
the francs you put in your presentation are Swiss francs not the old French francs, I know this because I live in Switzerland so, I'm just letting you know
Iron and blood means wars of unification.
Didn't Prussia annex Northern Germany after Austro Prussian war and not before it ?
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
To the best of my understanding, I wouldn't use the term "annex," since even at the time of the Franco-Prussian War, the entity was still known as the North German Confederation, but yes, the North German Confederation would have existed before the Austro-Prussian War.
@felixkastellan3216
9 жыл бұрын
Tom Richey Very nice and informative video, but I believe that Viktor Salmi is correct, as much as I hate using Wikipedia as a source, according to the link here (and my personal understanding and schooling of the topic): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_German_Confederation you can see that the North German Confederation (Norddeutscher Bund) was formed after Prussia had won the 7 weeks war over Austria in 1866. In this area of the website Wikipedia references Görtemaker's work, who is a highly respected historian here in Germany and I happened to have his book here. I reread that and saw that he also claims the existence of the Norddeutscher Bund to be after the 7 weeks war.
France got noscop'd.
Today is 2/23/2022. Russia just entered “Russian Speaking” areas of Ukraine - ala - Bismarck and his reasoning for going into “German Speaking” areas administered by Denmark. Question: Will the circle be unbroken?
It should be "iron and blood". Which came first? Iron will lead to blood, not vice-versa.
@tomrichey
9 жыл бұрын
Indeed, Bismarck put it that way, but it has nonetheless been known in history as his "Blood and Iron" speech. Sometimes, you just have to go with what sounds better!
Just as the United States had their civil war which unified the north and the south, Germany had their war for unification and Italy unified as well in the mid-19th century.
"Not through speeches and majority decisions will the great questions of the day be decided but by iron and blood" That quote alone solidifies Otto von Bismarck's absolute denial of rational moral argumentation and embrace of statist chaos and immorality.
Actually, a lot of the French wanted Napoleon III to finish what uncle Bonapart failed to do: take Prussia. They started it so this blaming on Germany doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
@heco1235
8 жыл бұрын
+manu de backer Actually it does. When the queen of Spain was overthrown one of the next in line was a relative of William 1st. Yet, France did not want more german influence at its doors, especially after they lost a lot of their political and military power with the wars in Italy and the Congress of London. So Napoleon III met with William 1st who basically told him his relative won't become king of Spain and that he considered the subject to be closed on his part. Napoleon III wanted more guarantees. He sent some of his demands by telegram and Bismarck used it to ridicoule him. Consequently, France basically had to declare war to save its honor. Even more so since a bunch of french liberals were starting to stand up against the regime. The french knew the couldn't take Prussia. The army showed its limits in Italy in the 60's
@SiggiNebel
8 жыл бұрын
Napoleon I defeated Prussia in 1806, forced it to be his ally and later support him with troops, when he invaded Russia. So he didn't "fail" to "take Prussia". However, as a consequence of Napoleons defeat in Russia, Prussia turned against Napoleon and joined the anti-napoleonic alliance in 1813. There can be no doubt, that Bismarck personally (not the Prussian king, by the way) triggered the Franco-Prussian war.
@SiggiNebel
8 жыл бұрын
"Consequently, France basically had to declare war to save its honor." Well, if you like to put it that way. Napoleon III had not been very successful in foreign affairs in the recent years and the opposition against him increased. So he tried to achieve an easy diplomatic victory, by urging the Prussian king to use his influence to prevent that a - quite remote and actually rather pro-French - relative of his (and, by the way, also a remote relative of Joséphine de Beauharnais), Leopold von Hohenzollern, would become king of Spain. As Wilhem I did so and Leopold resigned, the whole issue could have been settled. But Napoleon, not content with this small success, further demanded from the Prusssia to agree that no member of the Hohernzollern familiy ever would apply for the Spanish throne again, even threatening with war. His goverment issued this public declaration: « La France ne tolérerait pas l’établissement du prince de Hohenzollern ni d’aucun prince prussien sur le trône espagnol. Pour empêcher cette éventualité, il [the French government] comptait à la fois sur la sagesse du peuple allemand et sur l’amitié du peuple espagnol. S’il en était autrement, fort de votre appui et de celui de la Nation, nous saurions remplir notre devoir sans hésitation et sans faiblesse.» Wilhelm I stayed in in Bad Ems, then a fashionable a spa near Koblenz, at the time and the French ambassador came to see him, addressed him in the street and asked him to agree to the French demand. The king denied this, rather annoyed by the ambassador's behaviour, and sent a message about the incident to Bismarck. Bismarck took the chance to change this message (the "Emser Depesche" or telegram of Ems) that the kings denial appeared like an insult and made it publish in this form. Now, Napoleon, not a very clever man, as it seems, had no other option than to declare war, unless he would have lost all political support in his country. This was exactly, what Bismarck had tried to achieve, knowing that the German unification emplied a victorious war against France, which he was confident to win.
@juppjames9635
7 жыл бұрын
+SiggiNebel Really? If you say to your wife, that her sister made you to put your ... into her ... , the normal reaction will be a kick in your ...But in this case everyone seems to accept, that it is the fault of the sister. The fact is, that Bismarck didn't stood behind Napoleon III and pointing a gun to his head to force him declaring war on Prussia. The fact is, Prussia accepted the demands of France, and STILL France declared war on them. Oh, they were not polite enough giving in this demands, so they had no choice but going to war... It would be nice to get rid of this myth, that poor France, beeing a world super power, somehow was bullied by Prussia, witch was at best a major european power.
@SiggiNebel
7 жыл бұрын
Jupp James Did you understand at all, what I tried to explain before? And do you really mean to say that Bismarck didn't intend France to declare war?
And then there were 2.... quick vote now on your phones to see who will win uh oh, everyone voted so hard the palace of Versailles expelled but Otto didn't care he was getting his Prussian on
Homework time
I really don´t understand why EVERYONE takes Alsace-Lorraine as one territory. In Alsace the majority was german, while Lorraine is more francophone.
@georgek.9394
7 жыл бұрын
NJSM1995 has a nice shape i guess
@praeceptor
7 жыл бұрын
Because people are rather clueless and immature.
Blame Napoleon not the Germans.