Zollverein

How was the German customs union formed, and why?

In 1818, after the financial losses and soldiers due to the wars of liberation, the Prussia decides to tighten its economy by establishing only one customs tariff on the whole of its territory, which constrained small German States landlocked in the kingdom to pay very important taxes of transit. Being in a financial dead end, the latter seek agreements with Prussia, which then includes them inside its customs limits: it is the starter of the German customs union. This union, or Deutscher Bund , thus originates in an economic problem.

An expansion policy

The Prussian Minister for finances, Friedrich von Motz, decides to follow an expansion policy with the Deutscher Bund , with the support of France. Thus, after having absorbed Anhalt-Bernburg in 1825 and Anhalt-Köthen in 1827, it is with the tower of Hesse-Darmstadt to be absorptive in 1828. The other States of German space try to react: the Bavaria and the Wurtemberg are linked to give rise to the Mitteldeutscher Handelsverein , or Partnership of average Germany, which includes thereafter Saxony, Hesse electoral, several States of Thuringe, the Hanover, Oldenburg and Brunswick. Motz counter-attacks then by threatening these associations antiprussiennes to strike them very high rights. Prussia gains, Bavaria and Wurtemberg signs a reciprocal treaty of exemption in 1829, which involves désagrégement fast Mitteldeutscher Handelsverein . The majority of the States which composed this last sign commercial treaties with Maasen, new Prussian Minister for Finance, who then decides to create the Deutscher Zollverein .

What the Deutscher Zollverein ?

Zollverein, or Customs union, under the aegis of Prussia, between in force on January 1st, 1834. It includes/understands Prussia, Wurtemberg, the Saxony, the States de Thuringe, then attracts, so much its attractivity is large, Bade and Nassau in 1835, Frankfurt in 1836, Brunswick in 1842. The goods can circulate freely inside the confederation, which adopts the Prussian Thaler like common currency. High rights especially protect German industry incipient from the competition of the foreign, British products. Industry and the German trade know, thanks to the Zollverein , a very strong rise. However, the gaining main thing of this Zollverein is Prussia, which seeks before very carrying out the political union of Germany.

The direction of the Deutscher Zollverein

The German liberals have at the base for goal to create, starting from the economic union which is the Deutscher Zollverein , a German political union, materialized by the birth of the German national feeling, which would end up including all the German States, including Austria, to create only one German political power thereafter. This idea will be carried out only in 1938, during the creation of large Reich by Hitler. The Zollverein thus well strongly contributed to the realization of the German unit at the end of the XIXe century. One can also say that Zollverein was economically on the scale of Germany what is the European Union on the scale of Europe.

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