The German Confederation (German: Deutscher Bund) is the loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to coordinate the economies of separate German-speaking countries.

It acts as a buffer between the powerful states of Austria and Prussia.

Britain approves of it because London feels that there is a need for a stable, peaceful power in central Europe that could discourage aggressive moves by France or Russia.

According to Lee (1985), most historians have judged the Confederation to be weak and ineffective, as well as an obstacle to German nationalist aspirations.

It collapses due to the rivalry between Prussia and Austria (known as German dualism), warfare, the 1848 revolution, and the inability of the multiple members to compromise.

In 1848, revolutions by liberals and nationalists are a failed attempt to establish a unified German state.

Talks between the German states fail in 1848, and the confederation briefly dissolves but is re-established in 1850.The dispute between the two dominant member states of the confederation, Austria and Prussia, over which has the inherent right to rule German lands, ends in favor of Prussia after the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, and the collapse of the confederation.

This results in the creation of the North German Confederation, with a number of south German states remaining independent, although allied first with Austria (until 1867) and subsequently with Prussia (until 1871), after which they become a part of the new German state.