On the 1st April 1815 Otto Von Bismarck was born in Schonhausen, Prussia. Despite hating political parties, he became a master politician and though a Prussian nationalist, he created a unified Germany.
He was a giant at 6 feet 5. He married a noblewoman and became a pious Lutherian.
He was lucky that Moltke was made Chief of Staff and Roon Minister of War, for when Prussia went to war with Austria in 1866, Prussia won quickly. France was next in 1870. They too were defeated very quickly. His king was now Emperor of a Federation of 25 states, with Prussia as first among them. He had been a Count until now, but in 1871 he was made a Prince and Imperial Chancellor. During the next few years he tried to lessen the influence of the Catholic Church, then the Socialist movement, outlawing meetings, organisations and arresting leaders.
He was not interested in gaining Colonies for Germany, thinking the pros would outweigh the gains, but public opinion was all for expansion and he had to give in to pressure. We know from our WW1 game that they gained four territories.
Bismarck was soon retired by the new, arrogant, emperor, Wilhelm II and died in 1898, aged 83.
His greatest feat was undoubtably, the unification of Germany. He also foresaw a European war and warned his emperor of the dangers of a two front war. Once he was gone, Germany, led by the younger Wilhelm, was to lose its way diplomatically with all that WW1 would bring.