Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) Chancellor of Germany
Otto von Bismarck was a Prussian statesman who led the driving force of unification in Germany. After a series of wars, he finally united Germany and became the first Chancellor under the unified government in 1871. He believed in "Realpolitik," which meant that if the desired results were to be met, the practical means must be taken. For example, he would believe that if he wanted a state to unite, he would need a war and soldiers would have to die to reach that goal. This gave him the nickname "The Iron Chancellor," because of his "blood and iron" speeches. He maintained a balance of peace in Europe during the 1870's and 1880's. However, he was forced to resign from office by Kaiser (Emperor) Wilhelm II in 1890.
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Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) Emperor of Germany/King of Prussia
When Kaiser Wilhelm II took office over Germany in 1888, the relations Bismarck worked to build almost instantly became strained. Wilhelm II believed in "Weltpolitik," which means world power. He didn't believe that Germany should stop expanding and focus on domestic issues. He believed Germany should reach its "true potential" and expand as much as possible and join the game of imperialism with the rest of Europe. And when Bismarck threatened to resign like with previous Kings to get his way, Wilhelm II immediately accepted his resignation in 1890, ending the Bismarck era of politics. At first, he longed to receive acceptance from his royal British family, and when that went downhill, he rejected the rest of Europe. In 1882, he created The Triple Alliance, which consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. This forced the creation of The Triple Entente consisting of Britain, France and Russia in 1907.
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