What were two ways in which germany was altering the balance of power in europe

Before 1850 Britain and France were the strongest powers in Europe, but by the 1850s they had become deeply concerned by the growing power of Russia, which had expand westward towards Central Europe, and Prussia, which was increasingly assuming control and influence over the German lands, aside from in Austria. The Crimean War of 1854-55 and the Italian War of 1859 shattered the relations among the Great Powers in Europe.

The creation in 1871 and rise of the Prussian-led German Empire (excluding Austria) as a dominant nation (Prussia had quickly defeated both Austria and France in wars) restructured the European balance of power. For the next twenty years, Otto von Bismarck managed to maintain the balance of power, by proposing treaties and creating many complex alliances between the European nations such as the Triple Alliance.

After the forced resignation of Otto Von Bismarck in 1890, the young Kaiser Wilhelm set out on his imperialist course of Weltpolitik ("world politics") to increase the empire's influence in and control over the world.