The official AHF Imperial Germany quiz thread

[Karl]

Thanks, that was interesting.

Let's stay with 'I am the walrus:'

Prior to German unification something happened to him that could have changed European history.

So what happened and why?

[Karl]

[- 'ole Blood and Iron seems to be made of Blood and Iron ]

[Karl]

bang-bang-bang...bang-bang!

[Karl]

As the war began, a German radical named Ferdinand Cohen-Blind attempted to assassinate Bismarck in Berlin, shooting him five times at close range. Cohen-Blind was a democrat who hoped that killing Bismarck would prevent a war among the German states. Bismarck survived with only minor injuries despite having been shot five times; Cohen-Blind committed suicide while in custody.

After graduating in March 1866, Cohen-Blind went on a hike through Bavaria and Bohemia. The growing likelihood of war between Prussia and Austria led him to the decision to kill Bismarck, whom he saw as the originator of the threat of civil war. He left Carlsbad, arriving in Berlin and checking into the Hotel Royal Unter den Linden hotel on May 5.

On the afternoon of May 7 he lay in wait for Bismarck, revolver in hand, in the Unter den Linden, a boulevard in central Berlin. The Prime Minister had just reported to King Wilhelm and was now walking home. When Bismarck was close to the Russian Embassy, Cohen-Blind took aim and fired twice from behind; Bismarck spun around and grabbed his attacker, who was able to fire three more shots before soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Guards rushed up and took him into custody. Bismarck continued on his way home. Later that night, he allowed the King's physician, Gustav von Lauer, to examine him. Lauer noted that the first three bullets had only grazed Bismarck's body and the last two had ricocheted off the ribs and had caused no major injuries. Some sources claim that Bismarck was saved because he had worn a bulletproof vest.

All from wiki

So if someone posts another question before I do, spoils go to the winner.

Karl

[Karl]

```

[Robb]

Time to get it going again. Next Question: Date of the proclamation of the foundation of the German Reich?
regards Robb

[Chris Dale]

Go on then... 18/1/1871 at Versailles.
Cheers
Chris


Painting by Anton von Werner (from Wiki Commons)

[Robb]

Hi Chris,

....Take it away! All yours.

regards Robb

[Chris Dale]

Thanks Robb,

Which German monarch was notable by his abscence from Versailles?

Cheers
Chris

[grassi]

Ludwig II, the King of Bavaria.

Best regards

grassi

[Chris Dale]

Of course, the Muenchener gets the Bavarian question correct! Ludwig was indeed not there in protest, despite having signed the Kaiserbrief in 1870 endorsing the creation of a German Empire under the Hohenzollern dynasty.

Your question Grassi...

Cheers
Chris

[grassi]

Thanks a lot!

Next question:
Driving a bicycle had political implications at that time.
Explain to which political direction those dashing bike riders belonged...

Best regards

grassi

[Galahad]

Socialism, more particularly the Social Democrats?

[grassi]

Yes, this is right!!
If you want to know more about Socialists on bicycles, read Uwe Timm's novel "Der Mann auf dem Hochrad".
Over to you, Galahad!

Best regards


grassi

[Ken S.]

I suppose the three cyclists would be an allusion to "Three Men on the Bummel"?