Germany Becomes a Nation

map of the Holy Roman Empire

Germany did not become an independent nation until 1871, after the Holy Roman Empire came to an end. From the 1600s to the 1800s, the Holy Roman Empire was still in existence in Europe. Many challenges existed though for the empire. In the text, Germany: A New History, by Hagen Schulze, we are informed of the state of the empire. He states, “The drastic decline in population and general poverty following the end of the Thirty Years’ War were matched by widespread economic stagnation, as the territories of the empire were cut off from the growing transatlantic trade and fruits of colonial conquests abroad” (70).  The empire was clearly in bad shape and appeared as weak and unimpressive to the rest of the world. Calls for reform and unification began to break out across Europe. Thirst for power and change among the principalities led to many wars throughout the empire. The shifting of national boundaries was not rare during this time, with so many conflicts taking place. 

By the late 1700s, the Germans were criticizing themselves as “a constitutional enigma, booty for our neighbors, the butt of their ridicule, divided among ourselves, weakened by our partition, strong enough to harm ourselves, powerless to save ourselves, insensitive to the honor of our name, lacking unity n principles but violent in asserting them nevertheless, a great and yet despised people, fortunate in theory but in fact most pitiable” (87). Even though they were still divided and had many other issues, the Germans were making great progress towards becoming a nation at this time. They grew, along with their culture and identity. Leaders and officials began to come to power based on training and ability, rather than inheriting power through aristocratic birth. Education became increasingly important to the German people. This cultural growth resulted in Germany being proclaimed “the new Greece” and “powerless but intellectually supreme” (91).  A German nationalism and identity had begun to take shape, but soon war broke out across Europe again. 

map of central Europe 1862-1871

Franco-German War

By 1797, the number of principalities had dropped from three hundred and four to only thirty (97). Great change and reform spread across Europe. War raged for years, leaving Europe fragmented like before. The German people wanted a free and united Germany to rise. German nationalism was reborn around 1840, but there continued to be unrest in Europe.  Demands for freedom and a federal German state became more prominent. Then the industrialization and the birth of railroads meant that a unified economy was finally possible in Germany. This transformed German society. Once again, the public was seized by German nationalism and the prospect of a new future for their country. War led to the Treaty of Prague and the new establishment of the North German Confederation. France wanted to stop a German unity from happening though. The Franco-German War resulted. In the end, a peace treaty was signed on May 10, 1871. King William I of Prussia became the German emperor and Germany became its own nation at last. 

King William I

The German state was founded after the efforts of centuries of conflict and resolution. The wars throughout Europe continually shaped the continent and its numerous territories and principalities. The hunger for power and freedom seemed to drive these conflicts. With so many different states, it was difficult for the continent to be unified. So many different cultures and ideas all mingled in a small region. Europe was continually evolving. Germany’s identity evolved along with Europe. The desire for freedom, education, and independence led Germany to unification. The people desperately wanted to be unified. They fought for what they believed in and became their own nation.

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