OBSTACLES / FACTORS THAT DELAYED THE UNIFICATION OF GERMANY

OBSTACLES / FACTORS THAT DELAYED THE UNIFICATION OF GERMANY

1. Religious Difference

Religious difference divided the Germans and made it difficult to achieve unity by 1860. The northern German States e.g. Prussia, Saxony, Holstein, Brunswick and Hanover were Protestants while the Southern German States e.g. Bavaria, Wurttemberg and Baden were Catholics. The predominantly protestant northern States were conservative and more affiliated to Prussia while the Catholics in the South had closer ties with France and Austria. The Pope and the German Catholics greatly opposed war against Austria that was intended to expel her out of the German confederation. This was because of Austria being a strong Catholic State and such a war was bound to weaken the Catholic Church in favour of the Protestants. Thus, religious difference divided the Germans and made them incapable of forming a strong nationalistic movement by 1860.

2). Ideological difference

Difference in political ideology amongst the Germans also delayed the unification by 1860. German nationalists and liberals disagreed on the strategy of achieving unity. The conservatives in the North led by Bismarck wanted a "little Germany" under the leadership of Prussia without Austria while the liberals in the south wanted a "big United Germany" with Austria as the leader. Radical liberals who dominated the parliament opposed and blocked crucial reforms that were intended to "Push" the unification of Germany ahead. The moderates in Germany dismissed these extreme political ideologies and wanted a republican government with an elected president. This difference in ideology divided the Germans and made them unable to forge a common plan that could have brought unity by 1860.

3. Opposition from the Liberals and Conservatives

Besides, the German unification was opposed by the liberals and conservative Junkers. The 1848 revolutions failed because the liberals wasted a lot of time discussing useless issues and opposed crucial issues such as raising a strong army at the Frankfurt Assembly of May 1848. Even after 1850, the liberals still obstructed crucial reforms such as increasing taxation, raising and maintaining a big army which would have smoothened the path towards German unification. Worst of all, the conservative Prussian Junkers who dominated key Government positions opposed any unification in which Prussia would be submerged into a "big Germany". They were not very serious with unification because it would make the economically prosperous Prussia responsible for the general poverty of the southern German states. These problems persisted until it was radically addressed by Bismarck's policy of blood and iron.

4. Weakness of the Frankfurt Parliament Le. German Diet

The German confederation parliament, created inl815 had serious weaknesses that contributed to the failure of German unification. The parliament was used by Metternich to give the 39 German states a false sense of unity. This was because Metternich appointed an Austrian as the president /Speaker of the diet which he used to manipulate the parliament to block pro-unification reforms. The diet was used by Metternich to support anti-unification policies such as the Carlsbad decrees of 1819 that crippled German quest for unity. The constitution adopted by the diet stressed the independence of individual states and that no member state was to wage war against another. This promoted disunity and consolidated Austria's dominance of German affairs since she was one of the German States. Above all, the parliament was dominated by the liberals, middle class and Junkers who wasted time discussing unserious issues and blocked pro-unification reforms. They were also the ones who influenced King William IV to use the army to suppress the 1848 revolution in Prussia.

NB It should be noted that Bismarck's role in the Frankfurt Parliament before 1848 was negative about the total unification of Germany. He opposed the inclusion of non Germans and Southern German States as part of a united Germany. He wanted a smaller Germany under the leadership of Prussia.

Bismarck's anti liberal and anti Catholic views in Parliament created unnecessary arguments and antagonism amongst the parliamentarians that made the parliament unable to effect Pro-unification reforms.

5. Lack of foreign Assistance

Lack of foreign support also contributed to the failure of the unification of Germany. The Germans fought without foreign assistance and yet Austria was too strong that she could not be defeated by revolutionaries without foreign backing. Governments are always removed by revolutionaries supported by other governments and only in very special cases by revolutionaries alone. As the Germans fought alone in 1848, Austria was backed by Russia who suppressed the revolution in Hungary and reduced pressure on Austria, setting her free to release troops and suppress the Germans.

6. Failure of the 1848 revolutions

The failure of the 1848 revolutions in the German States was a serious setback that frustrated the unification of Germany. In 1848, German nationalist mobilized the various German states to revolt against Austrian and Metternich's oppressions. This was intended to eliminate Austria from the German confederation and unify the different German States. However, the revolution was crashed by Austrian troops and by 1849 had collapsed. This frustrated and demoralized German nationalists whose hope was to over throw Austria and proceed to unite the German Slates.

7. Austrian imperialism /Domination of German States Austria's opposition also delayed the unification of Germany. The Austrian empire comprised of Germans and non Germans, which made Austria, determined to maintain a divided Germany because a united Germany would disintegrate her empire. Although she was the leader of German confederation, she still opposed the unification because it would weaken her and lead to her exclusion from the German confederation. It should be noted that Austria successfully used her economic, political and military power to block all efforts to unify Germany beforel860.

8. Military weakness

Lack of a strong liberation army was a serious setback in the unification of Germany by 1850. The poor and quarrelsome German states could not raise and maintain a strong army that could challenge Austria's military might. That is why the movements of 1817-1819, 1830 and 1848 were silenced with a lot of ease by Austria. Thus, Austria took advantage of the Germans being "defenseless" and dominated her for long.

9. Unreliable leadership

Lack of reliable leadership in terms of a person and a state was yet another obstacle in the unification of Germany. The German nationalists had in principle agreed to the idea of the unification. The question of all questions was which state and person should spearhead the unification as a base and coordinator respectively? Neither William III nor his successor F. William IV could provide an appropriate leadership to offset Metternich and Austria's opposition. Fredrick William IV was a strong Austrian ally and that is why he said," Germany without Austria would be worse than a face without a nose". Although he accepted to lead the revolution in 1848, he was nevertheless threatened by Austrian forces that he changed his mind and used his troops to suppress the movement. On the other hand, German leaders in other states felt secured and independent within their territory. They opposed unification because it threatened their power.

10. Economic backwardness

Economic backwardness of the German states hindered the unification. The German states were poor and could not finance a long and protracted war for unification. Most states apart from Prussia had no industries and depended on weak and disorganized agriculture. Roads and railway networks were not developed and this made it difficult to mobilise the Germans for unification. It also became impossible to train, equip and modernize the army that could have challenged Austria successfully.

11. Inadequate politicization and poor mobilization

Inadequate politicization and poor mobilization was also responsible for the delay of the German unification. The Germans were not fully sensitized about the advantages of a united Germany as opposed to a divided Germany dominated by Austria. This was why the 39 states had strong beliefs in the Confederation Parliament as the best uniting organ yet it only strengthened Austria's dominance over German affairs. This is also why the unification was dominated by a few middle class plus intellectuals and opposed by the peasants.

12. Metternich System

Metternich and his system were serious obstacles to the unification of Germany. Metternich used a combination of force and diplomacy to keep the Germans divided and dominated by Austria. He headed the Confederation Parliament for the 39 states, which he used to pass anti-unification policies. He also influenced the German Princes to pass the 1819 Carlsbad Decree that made it impossible to organize a serious movement for unification up to 1848. The fact that German nationalism triumphed after his downfall was a clear testimony that his presence was not a small problem to the Germans.

13. Imperialism and foreign interference

The interference and interest of foreign powers was an issue that delayed the unification of Germany.

France oppressed and exploited the Germans between 1807-1815 leaving them too weak to organise an effective unification by 1850. France also had claims over the southern German states up to 1871.

Denmark was in control of Schleswig and Holstein, Holland was in possession of Luxembourg and Britain had political influence in Hanover since the Royal family of Hanover originated from Britain. Russia had imperialistic desires to conquer her neighbours and the rise of a powerful Germany would frustrate her imperialism. These foreign powers therefore opposed the unification of Germany because it would distort the Balance of Power against them. States like France, Denmark and Holland were not ready to peacefully surrender the German states and this delayed the unification up to 1871.

14. The Vienna Settlement of 1815

The Vienna Settlement of 1815 became a big problem in the unification of Germany. In an attempt to re organise Europe and create peace, the “Vienna tyrants" made the German states part of the Austrian empire, which was ruled from Vienna. An Austrian representative also became the President of the German confederation parliament that was used to frustrate the German unification. It is upon this background of subjecting the Germans to Austria's control that Austria became a problem in the unification of Germany.

By legalising Austria's control over German affairs, the Vienna Settlement also made it impossible for foreign powers to support the unification (by 1848) since such support would be destroying the international setting i.e. Vienna Settlement.

15 .Social conflicts and tension

Lastly, the unification of Germany was delayed by social conflicts and tension. The industrial revolution had created two distinctive social classes in the German states. These were the wealthy middle class industrialists and the poor proletariats (workers). There was a serious tension and conflict between the two classes. This made the middle class to ally with Austria against the workers who were agitating for unification and a communist revolution. This also explains why the members of the Frankfurt Parliament were dispersed on 5^th Dec 1848 by the loyal Austrian forces supported by the middle class.