DBWI: The Germans unite in the late 1800's?

What if the King of Prussia denies the crown of Emperor in 1848? Would the Franco-German War still happen? When, if ever, would Germany unite and under who? Would Germany still become the dominate power on the Continent?
 
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Prussia was a militaristic state on the wane, no way could a kingdom split in two like it was have managed to achieve unity. Bavaria would later develop a good industrial base but without German unity would this have happened in the same way? Saxony was a faded power and Hannover without Britain a provincial one.

With the revolution failing, no way can I see a united Germany coming from any of these. Another revolution? Maybe if the Rhineland breaks away from Prussia and asserts its Westphalian identity?

Perhaps they even invite a Bonaparte in to unite Germany under their rule?

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
The German Empire was so short lived because Austria could never stand a Prussian emperor, so it agitated until the Empire broke when the French won the battle of Cologne in 1867.

France did win because the South Germany stood with Austria and stayed neutral until the Prussian led North German states were defeated. Austria could then take the spoils and with Russian benevolent neutrality (Vienna and St. Petersburg were allies since the days of Napoleon - nothing could change that until today) form the German Federation after pushing the French back.

SO if we had NO German Empire of 1848 - what would change - I say nothing - Russia would back Austria against Prussia, so Austria would win a conflict with Prussia about domination in Germany. - France then MUST try to prevent the German unification and likely lose against a Austro-Russian coalition (Even if the Prussians sided with France)
 
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