WI: No Otto von Bismarck?

[SavoyTruffle]

Let's say that in 1815, a boy named Otto von Bismarck isn't born to his parents, or that he meets a demise early in life.

While I don't necessarily subscribe to Great Man Theory, what ramifications would a lack of Bismarck have on world history, especially European geopolitics?

 

[CaptainShadow]

Possibly no Italian unification, for a start.

 

[Comte de Geneve]

Bismarck was not in power in 1858 - 1861 and Prussia was not a player in that game. No Otto may prevent or delay the incorporation of Venezia or Rome, but probably not the creation of the KoI.

 

[Mikestone8]

The deadlock between King wilhelm and his Parliament drags on longer.

The $64,000 question is whether, absent Bismarck, Wilhelm goes to the Congress of Princes in July 1863, and if so what happens when he gets there. If Franz Joseph is smart, he will suggest a common military service law for the entire Confederation, with the term of service to be three years, as Wilhelm is insisting on for Prussia, and authorising State governments to raise revenue for this purpose. Since this would be a *Federal* law, the Prussian Parliament could not opt out, so Wiihelm is off the hook. But it's a big if, and if FJ wants too much in return, he could still snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

BTW it isn't really necessary to stop Bismarck being *born*. He doesn't become really imortant until Sep 1862 - and just a month before he narrowly escaped death by drowning while on hoiday in Biarritz. If the lifeguard hadn't got to him in time, history would need some serious rewriting.

 

[Analytical Engine]

BTW it isn't really necessary to stop Bismarck being *born*. He doesn't become really imortant until Sep 1862 - and just a month before he narrowly escaped death by drowning while on hoiday in Biarritz. If the lifeguard hadn't got to him in time, history would need some serious rewriting.

In 1851, Bismark was almost killed whilst inspecting a newly-constructed railway running along the Semmering Pass.

- from Blood, Iron and Gold - How the railways transformed the world by Christian Wolmar

 

[alexmilman]

Let's say that in 1815, a boy named Otto von Bismarck isn't born to his parents, or that he meets a demise early in life.

While I don't necessarily subscribe to Great Man Theory, what ramifications would a lack of Bismarck have on world history, especially European geopolitics?

What’s even more important, what would be the name of a pickled herring? 😢

 

[daveg1967]

On a more serious note, there was a serious structural flaw in the German Imperial Government. In the British, French, and American systems, there is a cabinet system. Everyone isn't equal, but there are formal meetings where all ministers get together and discuss policy. The German system did not have that. The only person who spoke to everyone was the Chancellor. This works when Bismarck is the Chancellor, not so much otherwise. Much of Germany's problems leading up to and during WW1 can be traced to this systematic problem.