WI: Bismarck died just after his German Unification project was completed

Thomas1195

Banned
What would have happened to Germany if Bismarck somehow died in 1871, some time after the Franco-Prussian War ended and Germany unified? Let's say he was drown ITTL.

How would post-unification Germany develop economically, socially and politically without Bismarck?
 

Thomas1195

Banned
I think industrialization would not differ much from OTL.

Who would be the Chancellor ITTL?

Would weltpolitik have become a thing earlier ITTL?

How would things like Kulturkampf (and together with it the rise of Zentrum) develop ITTL?
 
Would weltpolitik have become a thing earlier ITTL?
Possible germans did wanted colonies but whatever Wilhelm I first to sucess, Wilhelm will not care that much
How would things like Kulturkampf (and together with it the rise of Zentrum) develop ITTL?
They would have less support as less radicalism and mostly being more desorganized..heck i can see and early CSU..
 
This depends on how Kulturkampf plays out ITTL. If things are like you say, we could see longer Liberal dominance of the Reichstag.
There will not be a Kulturkampf, that was how bismarck played conservatives about colonies and other things, here i can see liberal becoming the force over socialist when the conservatives wanes and without KK, the catholics are weak and unorganized
 

Thomas1195

Banned
There will not be a Kulturkampf, that was how bismarck played conservatives about colonies and other things, here i can see liberal becoming the force over socialist when the conservatives wanes and without KK, the catholics are weak and unorganized
I mean, background issues that led to Kulturkampf like anti-clericalism, separation of the church and the state, secularism, education and so on were still there even if we remove Bismarck. Kulturkampf and similar movements also occurred in Belgium, France and Italy.
 
I mean, background issues that led to Kulturkampf like anti-clericalism, separation of the church and the state, secularism, education and so on were still there even if we remove Bismarck. Kulturkampf and similar movements also occurred in Belgium, France and Italy.
Yeah but without bismarck using it to dodge the colonial and prussia question...other Kanzler will not care that much. And Bismarck did was disliked among some sector in rhineland, here the lack of that figure weak those movements so will be not as powerful as OTL
 

raharris1973

Gone Fishin'
Donor
Monthly Donor
I don't think France is in a good shape to wage another war during the 1870s.

And what do you think about German internal developments, both economic and politic?

I'm imagining Moltke advises going to war to preempt French revival in 1875, or he advises going to war with Russia on the side of the Austro-Hungarians and Ottomans in 1878. Not France starting the fight.
 
Possible germans did wanted colonies but whatever Wilhelm I first to sucess, Wilhelm will not care that much
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Actually it's possible that he would.

Istr that after the acquisition of Germany's first colonies in 1884/5, he expressed satisfaction to Bismarck that "At last I can look the Great Elector in the face" The GE had acquired several African trading posts in the 17C, but his grandson had sold them.
 
Actually it's possible that he would.

Istr that after the acquisition of Germany's first colonies in 1884/5, he expressed satisfaction to Bismarck that "At last I can look the Great Elector in the face" The GE had acquired several African trading posts in the 17C, but his grandson had sold them.
So that is unique germany pushing colonies early and now via Wilhelm I
 

Thomas1195

Banned
How would the tariffs issue play out ITTL by the 1880s? Butterflying away the marriage of iron and rye and the absence of agricultural tariffs would have really screwed the Junckers.
 

raharris1973

Gone Fishin'
Donor
Monthly Donor
This depends on how Kulturkampf plays out ITTL. If things are like you say, we could see longer Liberal dominance of the Reichstag.

What does an absence of Bismarck mean for right wing German politics of the day? Conservatives have lost a capable leader. Would any other conservatives be clever enough to outflank liberals by starting a rudimentary welfare state? Would other conservatives have used colonialism for tactical political purposes?
 
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What does an absence of Bismarck mean for right wing German politics of the day? Conservatives have lost a capable leader. Would any other conservatives be clever enough to outflank liberals by starting a rudimentary welfare state? Would other conservatives have used colonialism for tactical political purposes?
Colonialism was always for tactical political purpose..but the former might be harder to pull..
 
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