Of all the European leaders Bismarck was a class different. He with his wisdom and courage unified a multi partitioned Germany into a single nation, made it powerful and in a period of twenty years made it a major player in world affairs. His originality consisted of being neither in the camp of power nor in that of ideology. Like a physicist, Bismarck analyzed the principal elements of each situation and then used them in an overall design. Bismarck dominated because he understood a wider range of factors relevant to international affairs — some normally identified with power, others generally classified as ideals — than any of his contemporaries. Despite being an anti socialist Bismarck introduced old age pensions, accident insurance, medical care and unemployment insurance. He is anti socialist but not against the welfare of workers.his social insurance programs were the first in the world and became the model for other countries and the basis of the modern welfare state.
However he has never achieved all this without pain.The prussian king called Bismarck the ambassador to assume he position of prime minister to tame the parliament. Bismarck known to be bully and absolutist seemed the man of the hour for the king who is hell bent to get his policy accepted by the parliament. For four years Bismarck had to struggle against a hostile majority in parliament. His dream of unifying Germany was never considered. But he stuck to his course heedless of insults and unpopularity. He believed at the end of the day the success of his policy will ensure prosperity to all. He boldly and single handedly managed the difficult situation at home. He was considered a curse to liberalism.
Yet he unified Germany.He was the reason for an all round development of Germany. His policy of blood and Iron resulted in increasing militarism in Europe and there by a world war.
Bismarck Remains my ideal hero. I used to teach German unification with a panache. All my students i hope remember the way i presented Bismarck. Lots of my students changed the blood and Iron meaning from war to hard work, determination.....
This blood and iron speech was given by Bismarck after the parliament vigorously refused to pass the military bill of king Wilhelm I in 1862. Bismark appeared before the budget committee and declared
" The position of Prussia in Germany will not be determined by its liberalism but by its power ... Prussia must concentrate its strength and hold it for the favourable moment, which has already come and gone several times. Since the treaties of Vienna, our frontiers have been ill-designed for a healthy body politic. Not through speeches and majority decisions will the great questions of the day be decided - that was the great mistake of 1848 and 1849 - but by iron and blood.
