Which of the following statements best describes napoleon's role in the nineteenth century movements to unify germany and italy? napoleon supported independent nations within his empire and encouraged italian and german unification. napoleon stirred feelings of nationalism in that people in the italian and german states admired him and wanted to copy him. napoleon's conquests stirred feelings of nationalism in that people began to experience a new sense of unity. napoleon led his army against both bismarck and garibaldi but could not defeat them.