What is the "who, what where when and why" of the unification of germany in 1871?

Question

What is the "who, what where when and why" of the unification of germany in 1871?

Answer 1

The main player in this story was Otto von Bismark, Chancellor of Prussia and it was mainly a military story. the first act was the second Schleswig war with Denmark (1864). When the Danes claimed Schleswig for themselves, Prussia, allied with Austria, fought and won the war with Denmark. Later von Bismark realized that Austria would never allow unification of the German states, jeopardizinf theit hegemony in the region. Thus von Bismark, with the help of the Italians, managed to get Austria to declare war on Prussia (1866), which they won at the battle of Koniggratz, effectivelly knocking Austria forever from the main role in Central Europe.In 1870, von Bismark managed to get Napoleon III of France to declare war on Prussia (the Ems Dispatch affair). This solidified the relations between Prussia and the rest of the German states who united with Prussia against France. Prussia Swiftly defeated France, capturing Napoleon III at Sedan and in a meeting of the victorious Gernam states at the Versailles Palace, declared the birth of the German Empire (January 18, 1871) and the king of Prussia, William I as emperor of Germany.

Answer 2

Who - Otto von Bismarck

What - unification of German states into one nation

Where - Palace of Versailles

When - 1871

Why - political reasons