The obstacles to the unification of Germany were numerous and complex. Some of the key obstacles are:

• Divisions among the nationalists: Nationalists were divided on the issue of unification. Some wanted a unified Germany under Prussian leadership, while others wanted a federal Germany with Austria as a partner.

• Austrian strength: Austria was a powerful state that was opposed to German unification. It saw itself as the natural leader of the German states and was unwilling to cede this position to Prussia.

• German princes and resentment towards Prussia: The German princes were opposed to unification because they saw it as a threat to their power. They were also resentful of Prussia, which they saw as a rival for leadership of the German states.

• Economic issues: The German states had different economic systems and interests, which made it difficult to create a unified economic policy.

• Religious issues: The German states were divided along religious lines, with some states being predominantly Protestant and others being predominantly Catholic. This made it difficult to create a unified national identity.

• Indifference of the masses: The general population was largely indifferent to the idea of German unification. They were more concerned with their own local issues and did not see the benefits of a unified Germany.

• The weakness of the German Confederation: The German Confederation, which was created after the Congress of Vienna in 1815, was a loose association of 39 states that was designed to coordinate the economies of separate German-speaking countries. However, it was weak and ineffective, and most historians have judged it to be an obstacle to the creation of a German nation-state.

• Opposition to Prussia: Apart from Austria, Prussia was the strongest German state and the only state that showed any real ability to unite Germany. However, other German states were opposed to Prussian leadership and saw it as a threat to their own power.

In summary, the obstacles to the unification of Germany were numerous and complex, including divisions among nationalists, opposition from Austria, the power of the German princes, economic and religious issues, indifference of the masses, the weakness of the German Confederation, and opposition to Prussia.