Briefly trace the process of German unification.

 Nationalist feelings were widespread among middle-class Germans who in 1848 tried to unify German-confederation into a nation-state governed by an elected Parliament.  Failure of Frankfurt Parliament meant that German Unification had to come through combined forces of monarchy and the military supported by large landowners (called Junkers of Prussia.  In 1848, Prussia took leadership of movement for Unification.  Its Chief Minister, Otto Von Bismarck along with Prussian army and bureaucracy helped in unification.  3 wars over 7 years – with Austria, Denmark and France – ended in Prussian victory and completed the process of unification of Germany.  On 18 January 1871, an assembly comprising the prices of German states, representatives of the army, Prussian ministers including Otto Von Bismarck gathered in Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles to proclaim new German Empire.  Hence, on 18 Jan 1871, the Prussian King, Kaiser William I, was proclaimed German Emperor. read less