‘Blood and Iron’ masterfully describes the pre-WWI rise and fall of the German Empire

by Chuck Wisman

A book titled “Blood and Iron: The Rise and Fall of the German Empire 1871-1918” ordinarily evokes images of a mind-numbing tome with half-page paragraphs, an over-abundance of footnotes, way too many pages, and the driest of writing. To many, such books would serve a better purpose as a door stop or an antidote for insomnia.

Surprisingly, Katja Hoyer’s book is none of the above. It’s a quick read of only 250 pages masterfully describing the creation of Germany, its evolution into a world power, and the tragedy of WWI.

I have always favored German history, especially the years in the lead-up to WWII and during the war itself. The classic book for that period has been “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,” by William Shirer, a journalist posted to Germany prior to the WWII. That book is a fascinating history of how a country became engulfed in the horrors of war, racism, and megalomania. Yet, I’ve never really understood Germany’s earlier history beginning with its founding as a country and through the lead-up to The Great War (WWI).

In “Blood and Iron,” the reader learns Germany only identified as a distinct country in 1871. Prior to that, the area was composed of 39 countries, all operating independently with distinct cultures, histories, and economies. Two key real-life characters, Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and Kaiser Friedrich Wilhelm II, both from Prussia, worked together to form Germany’s constitution, its parliament—the Bundestag—with representatives from the original 39 territories, and the Reichstag, where the Bundestag held their meetings.

Through Hoyer’s writing, the reader learns that the impetus for the founding of Germany was a fear of its neighbors (real and unreal), glorification of the greater German culture, and its future as a European power. “Blood and Iron” moves deftly and chronologically in describing the difficult formation of Germany, its growth and ultimately the trauma of WWI, including the abdication of its Kaiser.

Hoyer describes how Bismarck was successful in bringing both the Catholics and the Protestants together under one umbrella as a future, powerful Germany, even moving toward state socialism by bringing the working classes to his side.

“Blood and Iron” tracks Bismarck’s passage of the Sickness Insurance Act in 1883, which provided up to thirteen weeks of sick pay and an Accident Insurance Act funded by employers that improved the health and safety conditions in workplaces. In 1889 Germany, the Old Age and Disability act was enacted providing pensions to those over 70 and those unable to work. In contrast, it’s worth noting similar benefits weren’t introduced in the United States until the 1930s and later; in fact, Michigan just passed a sick leave law for businesses this year.

Hoyer is a 40-year-old, German born historian who has received numerous accolades for her writing, especially for “Blood and Iron.” Historian and podcaster Mike Cote wrote this cogent review regarding this book:

If you want a broad tour of the German Empire and its impact on European history, modern German society, and world politics and culture, Blood and Iron is a fabulous read.  … One of the things about the book that really endeared it to me was its use of anecdotes and stories to flesh out the ideas presented in the text; these brief human moments are relatable, often humorous, and bring the past to life in a way that is not only appealing to those who study history for a living, but also to those who wish to learn for pleasure.

If you’re interested in a quick and easy read about German history and its birth as a world power, I highly recommend Hoyer’s “Blood and Iron.”  The author’s next  book, scheduled for release in 2026, follows the history of the German Weimar government, which was established after WWI but ended in defeat with the appointment of Adolf Hitler as chancellor in 1933.

“Blood and Iron” is available on order from the Stockbridge District Library.