EPISODE · May 25, 2026 · 5 MIN
The Ems Telegram: Bismarck's Masterful Provocation for War
from The History of Germany: Kingdoms, War, and Rebuilding Europe — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In Episode 58 of The History of Germany, Lucas and Luna delve into the Ems Telegram — the carefully manipulated diplomatic dispatch that Otto von Bismarck used to provoke France into declaring war in 1870. They explore the background of the Hohenzollern candidacy for the Spanish throne, King Wilhelm I's encounter with the French ambassador at Bad Ems, and how Bismarck edited the telegram to inflame French public opinion. The conversation also touches on the broader context of Prussian military reforms under Moltke, the swift German victory at Sedan, and the proclamation of the German Empire at Versailles. This episode reveals how a single piece of paper can alter the course of history. #EmsTelegram #Bismarck #FrancoPrussianWar #OttoVonBismarck #HohenzollernCandidacy #BadEms #WilhelmI #NapoleonIII #HelmuthVonMoltke #Sedan #GermanUnification #Realpolitik #19thCenturyEurope #Diplomacy #WarProvocation #History #FexingoHistory #Germany Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Ems Telegram: Bismarck's Masterful Provocation for War
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