Description
Otto von Bismarck (1813-1898) is one of German history’s leading political figures. He became Germany’s first Chancellor in 1871, after Prussia’s King Wilhelm I was crowned Germany’s first Kaiser. Bismarck was greatly involved in Germany’s unification, as She worked her way through the unification wars of 1864 and 1866, and the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War, which was the final step. He was a master of foreign policy. He was also at the forefront of social welfare changes made in Germany. He was retired from his post in 1890 by Kaiser Wilhelm II. This followed Wilhelm’s 1888 assumption of the throne, after the deaths of his grandfather, Wilhelm I, and his father, Friedrich III. Wilhelm II and von Bismarck had monumental differences regarding the future role of Germany’s foreign policy. A key difference was Wilhelm II’s desire to expand Germany’s overseas colonies. Bismarck felt strongly that this would bring Germany into conflict with other European powers, especially Great Britain. The last five years of von Bismarck’s life were relatively quiet. This pose shows him in retirement at some point after 1890.
