German Confederation

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Commemorative Medal of the Rhine Confederation

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Chart German Confederation of 1815

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Prince Metternich by Lawrence

German Confederation (Deutscher Bund) was a federation of German states established after the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to coordinate the economies of separate German-speaking countries and to replace the former Holy Roman Empire, which had been dissolved in 1806. It lasted until 1866 when it was replaced by the North German Confederation following the Austro-Prussian War.

History

After the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Congress of Vienna sought to restore the balance of power in Europe and to establish a new order to prevent future wars. The German Confederation was created as a result of these efforts, comprising 39 sovereign states under the presidency of the Austrian Empire. The Confederation was a loose political association where the member states retained their sovereignty but agreed to certain collective decisions regarding defense, foreign policy, and other matters of mutual interest.

The Bundestag (Federal Assembly), located in Frankfurt, served as the confederation's legislative body, but its power was limited. The assembly was dominated by Austria and Prussia, the two largest and most powerful member states, leading to rivalry and tension between them.

Structure and Government

The German Confederation did not have a central executive branch or a permanent head of state. Instead, the presidency was held by Austria, and the Bundestag functioned as a congress of envoys from the member states. Decisions required a two-thirds majority, giving Austria and Prussia significant influence over the confederation's policies.

Cultural and Economic Impact

The German Confederation played a crucial role in the cultural and economic development of the German states. It facilitated economic cooperation and the development of a customs union, the Zollverein, which was instrumental in the economic unification of Germany. The period also saw a rise in German nationalism and the desire for a unified German state, leading to the Revolutions of 1848 in the German states.

Dissolution and Legacy

The rivalry between Austria and Prussia over leadership of the German states culminated in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. The war ended with the defeat of Austria and the dissolution of the German Confederation. It was replaced by the North German Confederation, which eventually led to the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership in 1871.

The German Confederation is remembered as a significant step towards the unification of Germany. It laid the groundwork for economic collaboration and fostered a sense of German nationalism that would ultimately lead to the creation of a unified German empire.