EOA 208: Austrian – Prussian War / Battle of Konnigratz 1866 Operational Approach (Broad Actions) Direct Approach – Battle of Annihilation Commander’s Intent The expanded purpose of the operation was to secure Prussian dominance over the German states.. Operational Framework Decisive to the operation was the defeat of the Austrian Army. Shaping operations will isolate the Austrians from their allies and protect Prussian LOCs. Sustaining Operation will allow the Prussian Army to march along separate axis of advance and consolidate for the Battle of Konnigratz. Tenants of ULO Flexibility: Multiple axis of advance allow Moltke flexibility Integration: Lethality: Corp system increases durability and lethality of Prussian Forces Adaptability: Depth: Synchronization: Multiple armies converged on a single objective (Konnigratz) Combat Power Intel: Did not use cavalry to gain tactical level intelligence M2: Needle gun provides Prussian infantry a significant advantage Fires: Austrians have a significant advantage in artillery (breech loading, rifled) Sustainment: Poor logistical planning delays the execution of the campaign Protection: MC: Telegraph, use of mission orders to allow some flexibility by subordinate commanders Information: Leadership: Elements of Operational Art/Design End state: Prussian supremacy in Germany Condition: Coordination with Bismarck was good. Political and military leaders together on the camp. COG: The Austrian Army OP Approach: Direct, offensive movement into Austria. Decisive Points: mobilization planning, quick maneuver through restricted terrain, mutual support of 3 armies against the Austrian force. LOO/LOE: The early engagements that each Prussian army had, allowed for the later concentration of the entire force. OP Reach: Railways and telegraph got each army across the frontier faster than in past. Tempo: Prussians moved before the Austrians could react. Seize the initiative. Simultaneity/Depth: realized as 2 nd army struck Austrian right flank. Phasing/Transitions: Mobilization, penetration of frontier, large scale battle, rapid pursuit. Culmination Design of the campaign and modern tech allowed P to stay on the offensive. Risk: Some challenges using available tech, a rider coordinated the mvt of 2nd army at the vital point. Theorist Synthesis: Key Concepts of Clausewitz Moral: Physical: Mathematical: Geographical: Statistical: Trinity Analysis: Hubris, Personalities: Key Concepts of other Theorists

EOA 208: Austrian – Prussian War / Battle of Konnigratz 1866 Phasing:Timeline: 24 June, Battle of Custoza: Austrian army defeats Italian army.Battle of Custoza 27 June, Battle of Trautenau (Trutnov): Austrians check Prussian advance but with heavy losses.Battle of Trautenau 27 June, Battle of Langensalza: Hanover's army defeats Prussia's. However, Hanover surrenders two days later.Battle of Langensalza 29 June, Battle of Gitschin (Jičín): Prussians defeat Austrians.Battle of Gitschin 3 July, Battle of Königgrätz (Sadová): decisive Prussian victory against Austrians.Battle of Königgrätz 20 July, Battle of Lissa (Vis): the Austrian fleet decisively defeats the Italian one.Battle of Lissa 21 July, Battle of Bezzecca: Giuseppe Garibaldi's "Hunters of the Alps" defeat an Austrian army.Battle of BezzeccaGiuseppe GaribaldiHunters of the Alps 22 July (last day of the war), Battle of Lamacs (Lamač): Austrians defend Bratislava against Prussian army.Battle of Lamacs Geographic Keys:

EOA 208: Austrian – Prussian War / Battle of Konnigratz 1866 Assumptions:Technology Keys: Needle Gun Telegram Breech Loading Artillery Railroads Prussian mobilization would be too fast for the Austrians and their allies to react to The French would stay out of the war Needle Gun would offset Austrian artillery superiority Context: Historical Context: What we now think of as Germany was a complicated mass of small states. Austria dominated the alliance. Prussia wanted to unify the Germanic states under its control. Strategic Context: Prussia believes it can mobilize before the Austrian alliance force a decision before the Austrian alliance can fully mobilize Campaign : This campaign shapes the thoughts about warfare in the future because of its short and decisive nature.

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Timeline EOA 6: Battle of Koniggratz, Moltke and the Franco-Prussian War General Benadek’s Elements of Operational Design End state: Initially wanted to invade Prussia, ended up loosing initiative because of Prussian action. Knew he had to defeat Prussian army. Restore the earlier status quo-Austrian led confederation-as well as adding Silesia to Austria as an industrial center for the Austrians. Condition: Prussian forces in Austria defeated and returned to Prussia: Restore the earlier status quo-Austrian led confederation. COG: Prussian Army(Operational) and Berlin (strategic) OP Approach: Direct: Initially offensive(into Prussia), then to use interior lines to defeat the separate Prussian armies Decisive Points: Destroy one army at a time as they came through the Alps. Should have been at least one of the passage points of the Prussian army, ended up being his right flank…inability to control IV and II corps cost the battle and eventually the campaign LOO/LOE: LOOs based on rails and rivers from Vienna. Battles at the defiles failed to be converted into any successful follow on action. OP Reach: little compared to Prussians. Dependent on use of Prussian rail if they are able to get through Alps. Tempo: Failed to move as fast as the Prussian, or to successfully disrupt their operations IOT seize the initiative at any point. Austrians tempo was deliberate and slow (not missing and opportunity) so that they could mass near border (while Prussians would exhaust themselves as they extended their LOOs from Berlin) and then schwack the Prussians coming out of the passes and then launch their attack Simultaneity/Depth: very poor, since the campaign took place in Austria there is no reason his forces could not have prevented at least one of the three wings from being involved at the main battle Phasing/Transitions: Poor shaping efforts prior to the battle. PH1: Mobilize & Mass, PH2: Initiation, PH3: Passage-never gets to this... Culmination: Proper describing and directing of his battle plan would have prevented the culmination from defense to retreat. Risk: Excellent use of his cav to cover his withdraw…did not visualize that one defeat (was not even that bad…) would cost the war. Only one rail line leading to Berlin. U: Change in understanding with Silesia V: 28 June-Attack the defiles D: Benedek never describes operational plan to subordinates-even at the war council the night before LD D: Inability to Direct in a timely manner; Benedek never in position to C2 during Battle and never developed Situational Awareness Moltke first starts planning for a war with Austria 27 June Nachod & Trautenau 15 June 1866 Prussians declare war on Hannover and Saxony 28 June Skalitz & Soor 22 June first troops cross the Bohemian Border 29 June Gitschin  3 July Koniggratz

Timeline General Moltke’s Elements of Operational Design End state: Prussian supremacy in Germany Condition: Coordination with Bismarck was good. Political and military leaders together on the camp. COG: The Austrian Army OP Approach: Direct, offensive movement into Austria. Decisive Points: mobilization planning, quick maneuver through restricted terrain, mutual support of 3 armies against the Austrian force. LOO/LOE: The early engagements that each Prussian army had, allowed for the later concentration of the entire force. OP Reach: Railways and telegraph got each army the frontier faster than in past. Tempo: Prussians moved before the Austrians could react. (allowed Ps to have initiative. Simultaneity/Depth: realized as 2 nd army struck Austrian right flank. Phasing/Transitions: Mobilization, penetration of frontier, large scale battle, rapid pursuit. Culmination Design of the campaign and modern tech allowed P to stay on the offensive. Risk: Some challenges using available tech, a rider coordinated the mvt of 2nd army at the vital point Moltke first starts planning for a war with Austria 27 June Nachod & Trautenau 15 June 1866 Prussians declare war on Hannover and Saxony 28 June Skalitz & Soor 22 June first troops cross the Bohemian Border 29 June Gitschin  3 July Koniggratz EOA 6: Battle of Koniggratz, Moltke and the Franco-Prussian War