The military leader who played a key role in the unification of Germany was Otto von Bismarck. Serving as the Prime Minister of Prussia and later the first Chancellor of the German Empire, Bismarck employed a series of strategic wars and political maneuvers to unite the various independent German states under Prussian leadership. His use of "Realpolitik," a pragmatic approach to politics, included manipulating conflicts such as the Austro-Prussian War and the Franco-Prussian War. Bismarck’s efforts culminated in the proclamation of the German Empire in 1871, fundamentally altering the balance of power in Europe.