Germany's Unification

What I find the most interesting about Bismarck’s unification of Germany is that he managed to do all of it while keeping the rest of Europe at bay and while synthesizing top down reform with nationalistic sentiment.  I feel as though if you had asked each European power whether or not they wanted to see a large nation just as powerful, if not more, than their own nation, most of them, if not all of them, would have said no.  Yet, despite this, Bismarck’s diplomatic skills and timing made the unification of Germany possible.  England and Russia were busy with the after math of the Crimean War, Italy had yet to come into complete formation, and France and Austria had to fight wars with Bismarck that made both of those countries look foolish.  This incredible circumstance, along with the growing feeling of nationalism among German people, helped create what would become one of the greatest powers in Europe.  Bismarck had to utilize this nationalism in very specific ways, using both wars with France and Austria as perfect opportunities to strengthen national feelings.  As if over night, the German nation arose from the Rhineland and would forever have a place in history.  But, all this incredible circumstance has to be understood within the context that early Germany, which consisted of separated states, was already an economic force.  Bismarck should be handed a medal for his skills, but he was also provided the perfect broken nation to unite.