Question

Which person played a key role in the unification of the German Empire and how?

Answer 1

Hint The unification of Germany on 18th January 1871 paved a pathway for Germany to officially become a politically and administratively integrated nation-state. This unification took place in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in France. After the surrender of France in the Franco-Prussian War, the princes of the German states gathered and proclaimed Wilhelm I of Prussia as the German Emperor.

Complete step-by-step solution
The second half of the nineteenth century is often termed as the ‘Age of Bismarck.’ Otto von Bismarck was a person who provided dynamic leadership- a trait that had been lacking during the events of 1848-89.
Bismarck wanted to unite Germany under Prussian leadership. When the Prussian king’s request to improve the army was denied by the Prussian Progressive Party, due to fear of abdication Bismarck was recalled from Paris to help them solve the constitutional crisis. The King appointed Bismarck as the Minister-President, he then provoked the surrounding foreign powers into war, the result of this being an increase in power and thus fulfilling his main aim for the unification of Germany.
So, Otto von Bismarck played a key role in the unification of the German Empire.

Additional Information There has been a considerable degree of debate saying that unification would have been inevitable and had nothing to do with Bismarck, although others argue that the unification was solely down to Bismarck’s role.

Note Bismarck was a planner, an opportunist, or merely a catalyst in the series of events is quite uncertain due to various conflicting opinions by the historians.