Bismarck: Master-planner?

• Bismarck boosted his reputation retrospectively by promoting the idea that he defeated Prussia's enemies & united Germany according to a predetermined plan
• While he aimed to expand Prussian territory across northern Germany & defeat Austria as early as 1862, he did not provoke the Danish War (1864) & his attempts to provoke conflict with Austria in 1866 were not immediately successful
• Bismarck became open to the idea of uniting all of Germany into a single state after 1866 but he was willing to wait on events
• He did not create the Spanish Candidacy, nor did he initially spot its advantages
• His editing of the EmsTelegram did help provoke the war but so did French actions
• Bismarck was a skilful, immoral, opportunist who can take much credit for unification, but his missteps over Austria & Spain & his inconsistent attitude to unity with the southern states & the future of Luxemburg demonstrate he was not a master-planner