Germany didn’t just appear on the map — it was forged through power struggles, secret deals, and dangerous ambitions that set the stage for global conflict.
In this episode of Why Wars Happened, we sit down with historian and author Katja Hoyer (Blood and Iron) to uncover how a scattered patchwork of states turned into a mighty empire. From Bismarck’s ruthless moves to Wilhelm II’s reckless rise, this is the hidden story of how Germany’s unification unleashed the tensions that led to World War I.
This is the blueprint of how power is built, abused, and lost. Once you hear it, you’ll never look at Europe the same way again.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:58 Europe After Napoleon
01:48 The German Question
03:14 How the Great Powers Reacted
04:36 Prussia Steps Up
06:35 Life in a New Germany
12:52 Bismarck’s Strategy
15:43 Why His Legacy Still Divides
21:19 Wilhelm II Takes the Throne
25:44 Tensions Before the Great War
28:52 Social Friction and Culture Shifts
30:25 Final Thoughts
#GermanyHistory #Bismarck #HistoryPodcast #WhyWarsHappened #WWI
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.