With the northern states secure, Bismarck once again needed to invoke German nationalism to bring Baden, Württemberg and Bavaria into the fold and complete German unification. Just like in 1866, he harnessed the passions aroused by war to achieve his aim – and for this he turned to France.
It was not difficult to pick a fight with Emperor Napoleon III: he had been brooding for years after not being given Luxemburg for mediating the Treaty of Prague. But the direct
