Unification of Germany in 1871: Sovereignty of a Unified State

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the unification of Germany in 1871 and ensuring the sovereignty of a unified state. The author analyzes the reasons, goals and conditions for the unification of German lands. The paper concludes that the unification was necessary for the further joint economic and political development of the German states, as well as for their protection from external enemies. The author concludes that external and internal independence were the most important condition for the subsequent existence and development of the German Empire. The study focuses on the personality of Otto von Bismarck — the man thanks to whom the unification of the German lands took place, because it was the «Iron Chancellor» who was the first to realize that unification could only be achieved with «iron and blood,” that is, using military power. The paper presents reforms that contribute to the consolidation of German states. Attention is focused on their legal aspect — entering into force of the constitution and criminal code throughout the entire territory of the German Empire in 1871, as well as the German civil code in 1896. Normative legal acts contributed to the formation of the common legal space of a united Germany and, as a result, to ensuring its sovereignty. The Civil Code substantiated creation of a single economic space on the territory of the country, which ensured its economic independence. The desire of the German people themselves for national unity is considered as an important factor of German sovereignty. Conclusions are drawn about the complexity and duration of the process of ensuring the sovereignty of the German Empire and about those areas of state policy and aspects of public relations that contributed to ensuring sovereignty.