Catholic v Protestant

German states had once shared the Catholic

religion but this changed after the Reformation.

Germany became divided between Catholic and

Protestant.

North v South

The religious divide split the German states:• Northern states

tended to be Protestant (and support Prussia)• Southern states tended to be Catholic (and support Austria)

Main obstacle? Yes

Religion is one of the features that many assign

to a nation (along with language, race, etc).

Religious divisions could help to keep states

separate as undermined the idea of a German

nationality/race.

Main obstacle? No

Although 30 Years War had religious focus, much

less religious division since.

Prussia and Austria were rivals because of power – religious differences were incidental rather than a

cause.