Otto von Bismarck

Chancellor Bismarck (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bismarck1894.jpg)

The things I most admire about anyone is a desire and drive to accomplish something, whether it be one lifelong goal, or even things that might be finished in just one day. It is not just having a goal that makes someone a hero; it is whether or not they have what it takes to achieve it. The qualities of a hero are directly related to what that person did to become one. I chose Otto von Bismarck, not because I really have similar ambitions as him, but because he was remarkably successful in what he did, and it is hard to say that he is not a hero.

Otto von Bismarck was born in Brandenburg, in present day Germany, in 1815. He was born into a wealthy family with a high ranking military father, and a well educated mother. He studied law and agriculture at the University of Berlin, and entered the government service soon afterwards. He was trained towards a diplomatic career; in 1841 he gained a large inheritance from his father.

After helping Germany through the revolutions of 1848 he received more important diplomatic and political roles. Bismarck had mastered several European languages, and was made Prussian ambassador to Russia, then years later France. There he gained vital experience that would guide him through future conflicts. After his career as an ambassador he was made minister-president of Prussia. He led Prussia into a successful war against Denmark in 1863, where Schleswig and Holstein, two German cities lost to the Danes, were liberated. Another war against Austria in 1866 made Prussia the dominant political power in Germany. The Franco-Prussian war gave Bismarck the chance to finally unify the country into one state, in 1870. For his achievements he was made the imperial chancellor.

Bismarck with the Emperor Napoleon the 3rd of France (http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/hst329_p5.html)

Bismarck earned the title “The Iron Chancellor” for his policies and actions. Thanks to Bismarck the German Empire created the most advanced welfare system the world had ever seen. He was able to bring the German people together after hundreds of years of separation. Most importantly he kept all of Europe safe from war. His foreign policies created a perfect balance between the nations. After his death this system fell apart and the world plummeted into the First World War. Bismarck had predicted this twenty years earlier, "Jena came twenty years after the death of Frederick the Great; the crash will come twenty years after my departure if things go on like this". He said this to the German Kaiser years after his retirement, referring to Prussia’s defeat after losing their former great leader Frederick. He was just one month off, and twenty years after his death in 1898, the German Empire was defeated in the First World War.

I think that Bismarck exemplifies some of the most important traits a hero must have. He had a great sense of ambition, and set temporary and lifelong goals. More importantly he had patience, and knew when to postpone his objectives for a better day. He had seen a chance to unify Germany in 1848, but foresaw the serious problems that would occur, and knew to wait. He was unquestionably loyal. At the height of his power and career people would have more gladly called him Emperor than the current sovereign. Although he probably could have, he never betrayed his Emperor; even when the new Kaiser Wilhelm the Second came to power and began to undermine the Chancellor's decisions, Bismarck never rebelled. He even willfully resigned when the Kaiser asked him to in 1890. His skills as a diplomat and politician helped stabilize Germany, and allowed it great prosperity through his years as chancellor. I find that he can be respected as a hero even to non Germans.