100th Anniversary of the Birth of Bismarck

GERMANY. Otto von Bismarck cast bronze Medal. Dated 1915. Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Bismarck 
By P. Sturm at the Grünthal Workshop in Berlin.

Diameter: 110mm
weight: 426g 

BISMARCK, bare head right within octagonal outline / DEM SCHÖPFER DES DEUTSCHEN REICHES (the creator of the German Empire), half-length figure of the Titan Atlas left, supporting outline of Germany (inscribed DEUTSCHLAND) on his shoulders; wreath of oak leaves around his midsection. Edge: Plain.

Cf. Gorny & Mosch Stuttgart 1, lot 1008 (which realized a hammer of €375). Choice Mint State. Essentially as issued, with a darker brown nature to its somewhat matte surfaces; a powerful and majestic piece. 

A highly segmented area, the region that now comprises Germany was once broken into numerous fiefdoms under the Holy Roman Empire. As other neighboring lands in Western Europe began to coalesce their power and structure, Bismarck used his diplomacy and political skill to achieve something similar at home, forming the German Empire in 1871. From this time forward, he would be recognized and celebrated for his vital role in German unification and stature within Europe.

Bismarck, was a conservative German statesman and diplomat. From his base in the upper-class of Junker landowners, Bismarck rose rapidly in Prussian politics. He masterminded the unification of Germany in 1871 and served as its first chancellor until 1890, in which capacity he dominated European affairs for two decades. He had served as the chancellor of the North German Confederation from 1867 to 1871 and alongside the office of chancellor of Germany, he was Prussia's minister president and the minister of Foreign Affairs from 1862 to 1890. Before his rise to the executive power, Bismarck was the Prussian ambassador to France and Russia and served in both houses of the Prussian Parliament. He cooperated with King Wilhelm I of Prussia to unify the various German states, a partnership that would last for the rest of Wilhelm's life. King Wilhelm granted Chancellor Bismarck the titles of Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen in 1865 and Prince of Bismarck in 1871. Bismarck provoked three short, decisive wars against Denmark, Austria, and France. Following the victory against Austria, he abolished the supranational German Confederation and instead formed the North German Confederation as the first German national state, aligning the smaller North German states behind Prussia, and excluding Austria. Receiving the support of the independent South German states in the Confederation's defeat of France, he formed the German Empire – which also excluded Austria – and united Germany.

Bismarck was strong-willed, outspoken, and overbearing, but he could also be polite, charming, and witty. Occasionally he displayed a violent temper – which he sometimes feigned to get the results he wanted – and he kept his power by melodramatically threatening resignation repeatedly. He possessed not only a long-term national and international vision but also the short-term ability to juggle complex developments. Bismarck became a hero to German nationalists. They built many monuments honoring the founder of the new Reich. Many historians praise him as a visionary who was instrumental in uniting Germany and, once that had been accomplished, kept the peace in Europe through adroit diplomacy. Historian Robert K. Massie has noted Bismarck's popular image was as "gruff" and "militaristic", while in reality "Bismarck's tool was aggressive, ruthless diplomacy."

Collezione : Distinctive World Medals