Posted: 2/11/2017 Updated/revised: 2/12/2017
Trigger
Yesterday, I watched a recommendable biography documentary on Otto von Bismarck in German language on YouTube (Captioned: “Bismarck - Kanzler und Daemon; in German language). Here and here.
I cannot claim to be an expert on Bismarck. I also regret that my public schooling in Germany came short on this important topic.
A Few Notes
These are very selective notes. I do not even attempt here to evaluate what are widely considered to be his historical achievements in foreign or domestic policies.
- Bismarck implemented the welfare state (such as old age and disability insurance, sickness insurance, accident insurance, workers protection act) to prevent or appease future, potential uprisings by the labor class. Perfect usurpation of power by government! One apt German term for this is Staatssozialismus (state socialism, supposedly coined by the opposition, but later adopted by Bismarck himself)
- Late in life Bismarck became a serious addict to alcohol and morphine to combat his many illnesses. Further, he seems to have suffered from an eating disorder like overeating or binge eating.
- The occupation of the Alsace and northern Lorraine as a prize for the victory of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 was stupid. This unnecessarily promoted more enmity between France and Germany leading up to World War I & II.
- Bismarck bribed the Bavarian King Ludwig II (also known as the fairy tale king) to join the unification of Germany. No wonder that the Bavarians are widely considered a laughing stock to this day
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