Page "Revolutions of 1848 in the German states" Paragraph 77

Meanwhile, outside the Frankfurt Assembly, the rulers of the German states gradually realised that their positions were no longer under threat.

The King of Bavaria had stepped down, it was true, but that was only partly the result of pressure from below.

As the threat of an armed uprising receded it was clear that German unification was a dead letter.

The princes were unwilling to give up any power in the pursuit of unification of the whole country.

Some princes were so firmly opposed to the Frankfurt Assembly that they had only tolerated its existence while they quelled rebellions in their respective territories.

As soon as they had crushed the rebels, they followed the example of Prussia, recalling their deputies from the Assembly.

Only Prussia, with its overwhelming military might, was able to overcome the objections of local princes to the unification of Germany and protect the Frankfurt Assembly from military attack by the princes.

But Prussia's motives with regard to the very existence of the Frankfurt National Assembly were always questionable at best.