1. Otto von Bismarck. As Prime Minister of Prussia, Bismarck was the key figure in the creation of a united German empire, for which he served as Chancellor. Having led Prussia through a series of successful wars in creating the empire, Bismarck worked hard to maintain the European status quo and avoid major conflict so the German Empire could grow and become commonly accepted.
2. The battleship Bismarck. The pride of the German fleet and a symbol of Nazi Germany’s imperial ambitions, the battleship Bismarck had a short career. It was launched in 1939 and scored a great success by sinking the British ship Hood, itself a symbol of empire, in 1941. Shortly afterwards a concerted effort by the British involving multiple ships and planes sunk the Bismarck. The event has been immortalised in British military folklore, thanks partly to a film.
The battleship Bismarck was named after Chancellor Bismarck.
