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RATINGS: Sites are rated from 1 owl (good) to a high of 5 owls. Read more- George Makepeace Towle, "Bismarck in the Reichstag and at Home" (1880)
There were two sides to Otto von Bismarck. In the German Parliament, he could be a harsh opponent. But at home, Bismarck was a loving husband, father, and "one of the frankest, most genial, most entertaining of men." This essay from the Internet Modern History Sourcebook describes both the "blood and iron" politician and the man who was fond of his children and dog.
- The People and Fatherland
Freedom and love of the homeland are ancient German values, according to Johann Gottlieb Fichte. Hong Kong University's history department offers an excerpt of one of Fichte's speeches that solidified a German ethos and helped lay the groundwork for the unification of Germany.
- Richard Wagner Archive
Richard Wagner: revolutionary, composer, nationalist, and self-titled "most German of men." His epic work, The Ring of the Niebelung, was conceived as a great national myth of Germany. This extensive site, from a Finnish Wagner scholar, is a starting point from which to explore many aspects of this complex artistic figure. Be sure to check out author Hannu Salmi's article on the history of scholarship regarding the relationship between Wagner and Bismarck.
- The German Reichstag in Berlin
The Reichstag became the seat of the German government in the years following unification. Since that time, the building has undergone many changes and been the focal point of many events. An independent scholar presents a history of this monumental building, from its construction under Bismarck to its restoration as the headquarters of the German government in 1999.
Reichstag during the Empire Here's a history of the Reichstag in the imperial period.
- The House of Hohenzollern
The Hohenzollerns were the ruling dynasty of Prussia, and it was one of their number, Wilhelm I, who became the first emperor of a united Germany. Follow their lineage from the beginning of the 15th century, when the town of Brandenburg first received a Hohenzollern as its ruler, to 1918, when the last Hohenzollern abdicated the throne in the wake of WWI.
- The Brothers Grimm
The Grimm brothers were ardent patriots, and their lifelong focus was on helping create a German nation. In their collection of patriotic folklore and in the German dictionary they compiled, the idea of a unified Germany was never far from their work. NationalGeographic.com presents this megasite featuring an article on the Grimms, maps, links, activities, and the original versions of famous Grimm stories such as "Cinderella" and "Snow White."
- The Ems Telegram (1870)
The infamous Ems Telegram was a cunning tool used by Bismarck not only to stir up trouble with the French, but also to take large steps toward unifying Germany. Bismarck edited the words of King Wilhelm of Prussia and one of his associates to be somewhat insulting to the French. The texts of the original and altered versions are provided here.
German Unification: The Age of Bismarck
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