Germany didn’t just “unify” — it was engineered through secret deals, ruthless power grabs, and reckless ambition that exploded into global war.

In this episode of Why Wars Happened, historian Katja Hoyer reveals how Bismarck’s strategy and Wilhelm II’s rise lit the fuse for World War I. Once you hear it, you’ll never look at Europe the same way again.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:58 Europe After Napoleon

01:48 The German Question

03:14 How the Great Powers Reacted

04:36 Prussia Steps Up

06:35 Life in a New Germany

12:52 Bismarck’s Strategy

15:43 Why His Legacy Still Divides

21:19 Wilhelm II Takes the Throne

25:44 Tensions Before the Great War

28:52 Social Friction and Culture Shifts

30:25 Final Thoughts

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