In World Civilization II class the other day we discussed a primary source document entitled, "Bismark 'Goads' France into War." This document showed the way that a telegraph written for those in charge in France as sent by King William I of Prussia, and it showed the document after being altered by Bismark. He deleted some key phrases that ultimately changed the meaning of the document.
The situation was that Karl Anton, the son of a Prussian prince was a candidate for the throne of Spain. Napoleon III feared such a move. Already uneasy at the prospect of northern and southern Germany (Prussia included with northern Germany), he now had to worry about being even more outmatched. So, Napoleon sent his ambassador, Bendetti, to ask King William not to allow Anton to take the throne. The king sent him away without meeting with him physically, saying that he didn't want any involvement in the issue. Bismark, as Foreign minister was charged with translating this message into French so the telegraph could be dispatched to Paris. His version simply said that the King sent the ambassador away without seeing him and did not want to hear any proposals (true, but the meaning was changed). Not only did Bismark do this, but the telegraph reached Paris on the eve of Bastille Day, a day celebrating French patriotism.
This was the smoking gun that ignited the Franco-Prussian War which lasted from 1870-1871. Prussia won with relative ease after they had already taken parts of Denmark and Austria. King William I was crowned emperor of the new unified German Empire at Versailles. Bismark was named Chancellor, a position he maintained until his death in 1898.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/bismarck_otto_von.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R_jcZHuBTc&feature=related
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