Bismarck- Opportunist or

Architect?

Historiography
The Debate
Later in life, after Germany had been unified,
Bismarck encouraged the belief that his actions to
achieve unification had been part of a carefully-
orchestrated plan. However, in terms of
historiography, it is possible to find evidence to
support both of the key approaches
* That he had very broad goals and seized
opportunities to further these goals as and when
they arose, through his own efforts and/or through,
for example, the mistakes of others.
* That he did have clearly-defined goals and an
approximate programme for unification
Bismarck the Opportunist
 “ A statesman is like a man wandering
in the forest who knows his general
direction but not the exact point at
which he will emerge from the
wood.”Bismarck
 Bismarck’s task of unifying Germany
was made easier by circumstances. If
he played his hand with great skill, it
was a good one in the first place.”G.L.
Mosse
Opportunist contd.
 “His policies can at best be regarded as
flexible” Aronson
 “Bismarck did not fashion German unity
alone. He exploited powerful forces which
already existed – economic, liberalism and
nationalism.” Williamson
 “His diplomacy was much more subtle,
flexible and many-sided than his utterances
sometimes suggest.” William Carr
 “He did not control events, but was
influenced by them.” McKichan
Bismarck as Architect.
 “Prussia must gather and consolidate
her strength for the favourable
moment.” Bismarck
 “It was he [Bismarck] who created the
conditions which rendered possible the
creation of Great Germany.” Hitler
 “Only under the stimulation provided by
Bismarck….did German nationalism
begin to move the masses.” Pflanze
Architect contd.
 “The smith who forged the Reich.” Hitler
 “There is absolutely no doubt that he
[Bismarck] set his sights on Austria…..and
worked to isolate her from the other
European powers.” Cameron, Robertson and
Henderson.
 “I did not doubt that a Franco-German war
must take place before the construction of a
united Germany could be realised.” Bismarck