Mh.. the first concept of a german nation came up at about 1800-1840, after nearly all the splitted german nations raised their weapons against napoleon. About 1848 the german citizens raised against the Kings and nobles in germany and tried to install a german state with democratic rules under the controll of prussia(little german solution) or austria (great german solution). They already had a parliament in frankfurt, but the monarchy wiped out the movement and their targets failed.

Yeah.. and then Bismarck came and did what the citizens couldn't do.