Bismark

Otto von Bismarck, who, during his life, was also known as Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince von Bismarck, Count von Bismarck-Schšnhausen, Duke von Lauenburg, was one of those critical, larger than life, historic persons who have changed the course of history. He was also a Prussian statesman.

It was largely by his efforts that a diverse group of middle European states became united in 1871. Bismark founded the first (and last) German Empire and served as its first chancellor for 19 years.

His greatest work established, he cleverly and skillfully wove his way through the labyrinth of 19th century policies in foreign affairs, mostly to the advantage of Germany. It is to his credit that, after making war on almost every small and weak state in Europe he also succeeding in preserving the peace for about two decades.

In the time of Mendel, Bismarck was very active in foreign policy. He hoped, like many leaders before and since, that success abroad would weaken his domestic enemies at home. He found the perfect opportunity bullying a small country.

Since 1848, trouble had been brewing between the Germans living in the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein and their nominal master, the Danes. At this time, both duchies were in union with Denmark, but the majority of the Schleswig population were of German stock, and Holstein was a member of the German Confederation.

Bismark got his chance to make trouble when the Danish king acted rashly, and he struck swiftly. He saw to it that Prussia and Austria spoke out for the interests of the German citizens of these duchies, and launched a quick, successful, war against the unfortunate and ill prepared country of Denmark.

The fate of Schleswig and Holstein was now in the hands of Bismarck and the Austrians, who promptly fell to haggling over the spoils. At the time of our story, Mendel would have know about the growing stress between the "Iron Chancellor" and his own leaders of the Austrian Empire. In the very year that he gave his talk on Plant Hybridization, the Convention of Gastein (signed on Aug. 20, 1865) provided for Schleswig to be administered by Prussia and Holstein by Austria.

But back in Germany Liberals in the government were still unhappy at Bismark and by Prussian military prowess and once again handed Bismark and the Emperor a serious defeat when the army bill came up for a vote in January 1865.

Tensions between Germany and Austria continued to rise. Bismarck repeatedly told the Austrians that they would be wise not to get him angry and to yield dominance in everything to Germany. His warning and his words fell on deaf ears. So, after making sure that Russia would not stab him in the back, and after making temporary friends with Italy, he started stirring up conflict with the Austrians.

Using Hungarian nationalism against Austria as an excuse, on June 9, 1866, Prussian troops invaded Holstein, and a few days later Austria. Within six weeks Prussia had inflicted a major defeat on the Austrians at Koniggratz (Sadowa), and Mendel had a new master.

Bismarck craftily counseled moderation so Austria would not be humiliated, and he urged a quick cessation of hostilities. In this way he prevented other powers from intervening. The rest of Europe was stunned. Overnight the man of Iron and his Prussian military machine had transformed the essential distribution of power in central Europe. Austria, once a major power, was now a secondary player.

Mendel was forgotten.