Final answer:
The correct answer is option a) Otto von Bismarck and Wilhelm I.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two major players in the unification of Germany were Otto von Bismarck and Wilhelm I. Otto von Bismarck served as the Chancellor and was the primary architect behind the unification, implementing what came to be known as Realpolitik—a pragmatic approach to politics. He focused on strengthening Prussia and used wars with Denmark, Austria, and France as means to unify the German states under Prussian leadership. King Wilhelm I of Prussia, later becoming the first German Emperor, supported Bismarck's policies and maneuvers that ultimately led to the declaration of the German Empire in 1871.
Contrary to the ideals of liberal nationalism and major decisions by speeches and majority, Bismarck believed that 'iron and blood' would determine the great questions of the time—thus leading to his strategy of war and power politics aimed at unifying and empowering Germany. His successful exclusion of Austria from German affairs, the acquisition of territories like Alsace-Lorraine, and the solidification of power within the Prussian-led German Empire marked a shift in the European balance of power, with Germany emerging as a strong, industrial nation-state.