Germany was part of a confederation with smaller regions. There were small uprisings that sought to unite these regions into a nation-state. But a nationwide uprising to unify the German confederation was suppressed by the Monarchical forces. Prussia’s chief minister, Otto von Bismarck, decided to lead the Prussian military and bureaucracy to fight against the Monarchy. The Prussian army won against Austria, Denmark, and France and unified Germany with William I as the German emperor.