What is german confederation?

The German Confederation was a loose association of German states that existed from 1815 to 1866. It was created by the Congress of Vienna in order to maintain the balance of power in Europe after the defeat of Napoleon.

The Confederation consisted of 39 states, including kingdoms, duchies, grand duchies, principalities, and free cities. The most powerful states within the Confederation were Austria and Prussia.

Each member state retained its independence and sovereignty, but they were required to come to the collective defense of the Confederation in case of attack. The Confederation was governed by a Federal Diet, which was a permanent assembly that met in Frankfurt and was made up of representatives from the member states.

The Confederation faced challenges in maintaining unity and stability, as there were tensions between Austria and Prussia, as well as differing political, social, and economic systems among the member states. These tensions ultimately led to the dissolution of the Confederation in 1866, following the Austro-Prussian War.

The dissolution of the German Confederation paved the way for the unification of Germany under the leadership of Prussia in 1871.