First printed in 1872, REALPOLITIK FOR DUMMIES followed a decade of Bismarck’s supposed success as Minister-President of Prussia and appointment to the new position of Chancellor of Germany. The text drew heavily upon the author’s experience in several accidental wars defeating and taking land from neighboring states; the unexpected unification of Germany and establishment of the Empire; Bismarck’s trapeze-artist machinations to remain in power when mistrusted by and unpopular with the House of Deputies; and his ill-conceived political partnership with Albrecht von Roon and Helmuth von Moltke as the leading figures unifying Germany under Prussian leadership through the 1860s.