The German states prior to 1870 had retained separate political structures and goals, and German foreign policy up to and including the age of Otto von Bismarck concentrated on resolving the "German question" in Europe and securing German interests on the continent.
1870年前，德意志邦国保持独立政治体制和目标；而德国统一前后的外交政策，包括奥托·冯·俾斯麦的政策，都集中于解决“德国问题”，纯粹追求德国在欧洲的利益。