bismarck, otto von

A political leader of Germany in the nineteenth century, known as the “Iron Chancellor.” After the Franco-Prussian War had brought many small German states together as allies against France, Bismarck persuaded them to unite in a single German Empire under a Kaiser, with Bismarck as first chancellor, or chief of government. Enormous economic progress took place under Bismarck’s leadership. He resigned over differences with Kaiser Wilhelm II, the emperor who was to rule during World War I.