Question

The Chancellor of Prussia and main architect for the unification of Germany who believed in the policy of “Blood and Iron” was ______?
A. Garibaldi
B. Metternich
C. Count Cavour
D. Otto von Bismarck

Answer 1

Hint:
Blood and Iron or as we call it in German, Blut und Eisen, was a name given to a speech by the President of Prussia for the unification of the German territories.

Complete answer:
Otto von Bismarck, in full Otto Eduard Leopold, Fürst (prince) von Bismarck, Graf (count) von Bismarck-Schönhausen, Herzog (duke) von Lauenburg. He was born on 1st of April 1815 in Schönhausen, Altmark, Prussia (Germany). His father Ferdinand von Bismarck was a squire that had ultimately settled as estate owners in Pomerania. His financial condition was modest. Ferdinand was a below average farmer while his mother, Wilhelmine Mencken, belonging to an educated family found provincial life confining.
He was the prime minister of Prussia from 1862-73 and 1873-90. He also was the founder and first chancellor of the German Empire. He actively and skillfully pursued pacific policies in foreign affairs, succeeding in preserving the peace in Europe after the empire was established. As in case of domestic policies, he failed to rise above authoritarian proclivities.
Blood and Iron was a name given to a speech by the President of Prussia for the unification of the German territories on September 30, 1862 which later on became one of the most widely known quotations.
The Prussian House of Representatives were refusing to approve an increase in military spending. Some days later, Bismarck appeared before the Budget Committee and stressed the need for military preparedness so as to solve the German equation. He concluded his speech with the flast phrase being ‘Iron and Blood’.
Hence, the correct answer is option D.

Note:
Otto von Bismarck died on 30th July 1898. He was sick, he had difficulty breathing and lay in bed most of the time. On his last day, he had a relapse and the family gathered around his bed. He took a glass and drank it off whispering ‘Forward’ as his last words and died.