I watch a lot of history based content, and it's my understanding that Bismarck was a huge contributor to the start of the Great War. Upon establishing Germany as a whole Country, he set up treaties all over Europe. These foreign affairs were all very delicate and intricate, so when he got fired, the new Chancellor had no clue how to handle them right.

This sparked war the moment an important figure ended up being murdered.

Bismarck wasn't in office at the time, but he wanted to be. Does he deserve the blame for this? On that note, without World War I, there likely wouldn't have been a II. Should Bismarck take any blame for Hitler?

The man was very prideful and staunch in his ways, I doubt he'd let anyone blame him. But the dead have no grounds to argue on, so let's hear your perception.

I love Bismarck's character. I absolutely hated history in High School but Otto von Bismarck always peaked my interest somehow.

To be clear, Bismarck wasn't a good person. He was ruthless and had no problems starting wars in places like Denmark, Austria and France, all in order to unite independent German states into one big German Empire. Bismarck also used Wilhelm I like a puppet.

That said, no I don't think he should be blamed for World War I. To begin with he didn't want a lot of, if any enemies. He supported Berlin 1878 and was allied with Russia. He set Europe up in a way only he could navigate, probably to make sure he'd remain chancellor.

In fact if you were to point at a German for causing massive rifts that could have allowed World War I to happen you should be looking at Wilhelm II. He got Bismarck out of office as soon as possible, knowing full well he couldn't engage in foreign affairs nearly as well as Bismarck, but he was too power hungry.

Not to mention Bismarck was dead before it even started, and the first declaration of war was not made by or against Germany. It still took a Gavrilo Princip killing Asutrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand for the war to officially start, after which pre-established alliances fell in place.

And saying he was ultimately to blame for Hitler is revisionist history.

I don't really know much about Bismark unfortunately. We never really got the opportunity to learn much about World War 1 in school, I haven't exactly had the opportunity to learn much about it since then either which is a shame cause I feel like I'm missing out. XD

Furret : Well the fact that he set it up in a way only he could handle kinda throws a bit of guilt onto him anyway, don't you think?

Both the case of him having a hand in WWI which led to WWII is moreso an example of the butterfly effect. But I'm at least certain neither would have played out on such a scale if not for that finely woven web. The reason the Nazis even got so much power was due to the effects The Great War had on their Country, particularly because of all the concessions they had to make. Prior to this time period, they barely had any of the vote.

As for Hitler himself, there's only one person we can blame directly. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-28593256

Damn you kindness! But really someone else would likely have acted in Hitler's place if he hadn't stepped up. All of this is really subjective, which reminds me of this one channel I enjoy watching.

Shameless Plug!

https://www.youtube.com/user/AlternateHistoryHub

He basically covers the basics of historical events, and then postulates how they could have played out differently, I've gotten quite a kick out of it.

Furret : Well the fact that he set it up in a way only he could handle kinda throws a bit of guilt onto him anyway, don't you think?

Both the case of him having a hand in WWI which led to WWII is moreso an example of the butterfly effect. But I'm at least certain neither would have played out on such a scale if not for that finely woven web. The reason the Nazis even got so much power was due to the effects The Great War had on their Country, particularly because of all the concessions they had to make. Prior to this time period, they barely had any of the vote.

As for Hitler himself, there's only one person we can blame directly. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-28593256

Damn you kindness! But really someone else would likely have acted in Hitler's place if he hadn't stepped up. All of this is really subjective, which reminds me of this one channel I enjoy watching.

Shameless Plug!

https://www.youtube.com/user/AlternateHistoryHub

He basically covers the basics of historical events, and then postulates how they could have played out differently, I've gotten quite a kick out of it.