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German view is that he did plan unification in detail. The revisionist view does however seem to fit in better, as described throughout.

Bismarck notices how weak Austria has become compared to Prussia and knows of Prussia's economical superiority and of large railway network with all these powers behind him, he begins to orchestrate war with Austria. The war starts in 1866 and lasts seven weeks. It is a severe blow to Austria, which is left at Prussia's mercy. Willhelm wants to invade it, but Bismarck sees the opportunity of a future alliance with Austria.

The breech loading gun created by the Prussians loaded 5 times faster than normal muzzle guns with which Austrian army was equipped. Prussia proved itself to be a strong military power, as Bismarck had made it using the financial resources.

Bismarck's manipulation of events and people is best displayed by the Ems Telegram situation. He had received a telegram from Willhelm for the French Ambassador and instead of forwarding it; he edited the telegram before sending it to the newspapers. It subtly declared war; this caused fury in France, and the public demanded war. War came, but so did defeat for the French. By The Treaty of Frankfurt, May 1871, France was fined 200 million and Germany annexed Alsace and Loraine (contained fortress of Metz and Strasbourg). Bismarck had succeeded in creating a great German Empire, but he had many great supporting factors and opportunities.

The Prussian army's fighting capacity was greatly improved by War Minister Roon and General Helmuth von Moltke. Roon ensured better training and equipment of army where as von Moltke made the General Staff the brains of the Prussian army. They could do this because of Prussian economic success and the Zollverein. The international situation and the fact that Prussia was regarded as a second-rate power also helped Bismarck bring about German Unification. His brilliant steering of these factors without even arousing hostility from Prussia's neighbours was the epicentre of the German Unification, and this would have quite possibly not have happened without Bismarck putting things in place, no matter how strong the nationalism.

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