was nationalism more important to german unification or italian unification in the 19th century?

Question

did popular nationalism play more of a part in Germany or in Italy in their eventual reuniting in the late 1800s?

Answer 1

More in Italy, where there was actually a widespread nationalist movement with groups in all pre-unification states. The original idea of a united Italy goes back to Napoleon, who created the first unified political body on Italian soil since the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

In Germany things were more diverse and several of the German states were in fact not that keen to join a unified nation. Bavaria in particular resisted quite long, and only Bismarck's intrigues and manipulations with Bavarian politicians behind the back of (the mentally disturbed) King Louis II brought this important and strong kingdom on board.
For most of the Northern states it was more a question of financial and economic benefit than nationalism, as they could see an increase in trade in a united Germany, especially after the Kingdom of Hanover had lost independence and fell to Prussia after the War of 1866.
And even after the official formation of the second German Empire and the proclamation of Emperor William I as ruler on 18 January 1871, there was no unified German Army. In fact, that task was never achieved. During World War I the only two Imperial German forces were the Navy and the Protection Force for the Colonies (Kaiserliche Schutztruppe). Between 1871 and 1918 there were five armies in Germany: the Prussian, the Bavarian, the Saxonian, the Wurttembergian and - the smallest of them - the Army of the Grand Duchy of Baden. They wore different uniforms and had their own command structure. Only during World War I they agreed on a unified High Command.

Answer 2

Italys unification was more af a Nationalist movement. The creation of Germany was really the effects of Prussian Expansionism.

Answer 3

German unification came about more through the efforts of Prussia in bullying/conquering other small German states than in any sense of a need for national unity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_unification
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Empire

Italy's road to unification was one in which the Italian people's desire to be one and to throw off foreign powers (including that of the Roman Catholic Church) played a much greater part.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risorgimento

Answer 4

The Italians. Bismark was more important to the Germans.