Bismarck Dies: Germany's Architect Leaves a Fragile Peace
Kaiser Wilhelm II dismissed him in 1890 — a young emperor who wanted to rule, not merely reign. Otto von Bismarck was 75. He'd unified Germany through three wars he'd carefully engineered, building the first modern welfare state — health insurance, accident insurance, old-age pensions — partly to undercut the socialists. He retired to his estate and spent eight years watching Wilhelm dismantle everything. He died in July 1898. Within sixteen years, the alliance system Bismarck had built to contain Germany had collapsed, and Europe had exploded into the war he'd spent decades preventing.
July 30, 1898
128 years ago
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