The death of Prussian King Frederick William the Fourth, he is replaced by his brother William as King. The Liberals in the Prussian Parliament keep voting down the taxes needed for the Army reforms. Otto von Bismarck is summoned by the King to ne Prime Minister. Otto von Bismarck ignores the Prussian Parliament and bring in the new taxes. In a speech to the Prussian Parliament in his 'Blood and Iron' speech he speaks of the need for strong army.

The poor performance of the Prussian Army during the mobilisation of 1850, led to the need for reforms to the Army. The reservist Landwehr would be reduced in importance. The size of the Prussian army would be increased and a new Army reserve created, all this would cost money. A biography of Prussian Army Chief of Staff General Helmut von Moltke.

Prussia re-joins the Germen Confederation, Otto von Bismarck becomes Prussia's chief delegate. He is often in conflict with the Austrian delegation. Back in Berlin, Otto von Bismarck fights a duel. The biography of French Emperors Napoleon the Third, he will play an important role in the history of Germany. His aggressive foreign policy alarms the Germen states.

The Prince of Hesse Kassel tries to restore his full right to control his state, the people force him out into exile and the Prince asks Austria for help. This crises led to a confrontation between Prussia and Austria which seems likely to end in war. The Prussian Army is mobilised but then the Prussian King backs down, agrees to end the Erfurt Union and re-join the Germen Confederation.

The Prussian Government wanted to expand its influence in Germany, so it sets up the Erfurt Union but not all Germen states join. Worse still Austria now have defeated the Hungarian revolt, now wishes to regain its influence with the Germen Confederation. Otto von Bismarck is elected to Erfurt Parliament but he is opposed to the Prussian King's wish for greater Germen unity.

Prussian troops are used to help other Germen rulers to crush the Liberals such as in Baden, where the Grand Duke flee and asked for Prussian help. The Prussian Government demand the end of the Liberal Frankfurt Parliament. The First Schleswig War restarts between the Danish Army and its Germen citizens who call upon Prussian help but once the European powers demand an end to the war at least for now.

In Prussia, the fight back against the Liberals is organised by Otto von Bismarck, with the creation of Conservative Political Clubs and Newspapers. The Prussian King tried of having to work with the Liberals in the Parliament, uses the Army to supress it. The King imposed his own written constitution on Prussia. The Prussian King also refuse an offer by the Liberal Frankfurt parliament to make him the Germen Emperor.

The leaders of the Revolutions through much of Europe had seized power from the old order but they quickly fell out among themselves, there were the Liberals who wanted political reform and the radicals who wanted both political and social reforms. Then there were the Nationalist divisions, it was not long before Germen Nationalists were conflict with Czech, Polish and Danish Nationalist. It was the latter that would led to the First Schleswig War.