The role that the German military in the 18th century began with the war on Spanish succession 1701-1714. Germany and the English  and the Dutch fought together against the French. The French were successful in taking some of the German land, but in  1706 with the help of the Dutch and English they reclaimed their land.

Next 1713-40 the Prussian army gained some power with 80,000 trained soldiers with peasants being drafted into the military and trained.

1470-89 under the rule of Frederick the Great they modernized the army and doubled the size of Prussia. Fought more objective wars to force the other side to surrender.

War of Austrian succession Empress Maira Thresa of Austria fought for her succession of the throne 

The 7 year war Prussia fought alongside Britain against Russia, Sweden, Austria, France, and Saxon. In 1752 Prussia saw a lot of losses in the war. In 1762 Berlin was taken. But the Prussian army stood strong until Elizabeth of Russia died and the army dis ban.

1815 there were 39 separate German speaking states that were joined together under the German Confederation. They were lead by the Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. They defended themselves against Austria and France from 1866-1871 and were a empire until 1918.  

Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 Bismarck wanted a war with France to unify German people. In this war the German people did not turn against each other like previous wars.

The Germans lead by King William I amassed an army of 1.2 million men of containing 300,000 regulars and 900,000 reserve troops. They then took on 492,000 experienced French soldiers lead by Napoleon 3rd withing the first month the Germans surrounded the French and at the siege of Paris were defeated.

After these wars Germany had the most powerful military in Europe. Germanys economy was growing rapidly and in 1980 Germany went into a naval arms race with Britain.