German Unification refers to the process that led to the formation of a unified Germany in 1871. Before this, the region was made up of numerous independent states and territories, many of which were part of the German Confederation. The push for unification was driven by a growing sense of national identity and the desire for political and economic unity among the German people. The key figure in this movement was Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian Prime Minister, who used a series of wars and diplomatic strategies to bring the German states together. The unification was officially completed after the Franco-Prussian War, culminating in the proclamation of the German Empire in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.