Bismarck, Otto von

1. A political leader of Germany in the nineteenth century, known as the “Iron Chancellor.” After the Franco-Prussian War had brought many small German states together as allies against France , Bismarck persuaded them to unite in a single German Empire under a Kaiser , with Bismarck as first chancellor, or chief of government. Enormous economic progress took place under Bismarck's leadership. He resigned over differences with Kaiser Wilhelm II , the emperor who was to rule during World War I .