For centuries, the German people held fast to the dream of uniting Germany. But with fragmentation at home and powerful nations abroad, breaking the existing order seemed almost impossible. Great times make great heroes, and great heroes shape history. Through a series of reforms, Bismarck and Moltke led Prussia to victory in the Austro-Prussian War and the Franco-Prussian War, uniting the German states and turning back foreign foes. At last, Germany was unified. Though the German Empire lasted only 48 years before its defeat in World War I brought it to an end, this increasingly powerful nation had already established itself among the world's great powers.
