HIST2086 Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor War with Austria 1866 Lecture October 2010

Austria’s foreign policy Anti-Prussian + pro-French orientation of new Austrian foreign minister Mensdorff-Pouilly + his adviser Biegeleben Promoted war with Prussia: → Seen as chance to win fresh financial means (war indemnity) for Austria’s declining economy + empty cash-boxes → Seen as instrument to stop Prussia’s advance in Germany = Provoked tensions with Prussia by supporting Duke of Augustenburg as ruler of independent S-H

Bismarck’s strategy (1) Overall goal: To exclude Austria from Germany + to create Prussia-dominated Germany Promoted annexation of Schleswig-Holstein by Prussia but searched for good opportunity + favourable international constellation Offered Austria acceptable solution for S-H: Further administrative division but joint rule → Strong disappointment of ‘Third Germany’ about Austria’s end of support for independent S-H

Bismarck’s strategy (2) Signed secret alliance with Italy, Apr 1866: Italy agreed to follow Prussia in war with Austria + received Venetia from Austria as reward Stoked up tensions with Austria over Holstein + launched proposals to reform German Confederation → unacceptable for Austria Prepared war with Austria despite stiff resistance of King William + German public

Bismarck’s strategy (3) Reform proposal for German Confederation, Jun 1866: Directly-elected national parliament Exclusion of Austria from German Confederation Division-of-power in Germany between Prussia + Bavaria

Austria’s reaction Rejected Bismarck’s reform proposal Applied to mobilise Confederation troops against Prussia Cancelled diplomatic relations to Prussia Triggered Confederation’s vote against Prussia at Frankfurt Diet = Clear break of Confederation Act = Provoked Prussia’s declaration that Confederation Act was terminated

War with Austria ‘German Civil War’ – ‘German War’ – ‘Seven Weeks’ War’ – Brothers’ War (Deutscher Krieg) Austria: 400,000 troops + support of most of ‘Third Germany’ ≠ Prussia 300,000 troops Italy’s entry into war: Two-front-war for Austria but Italy quickly defeated

Battle of Königgrätz (Sadowa) 3 July 1866 Prussia Technically & strategically superior troops with breech-loaders Led by King Wilhelm I. and chief-of-staff Moltke (‘a genius strategist’) 9,200 dead & wounded Austria + Saxony Superior artillery but strategically inferior As + 20,800 Ss with mainly muzzle- loaders Led by Benedek against his own will & skills 30,000 As + 1,500 Ss dead & wounded = Decisive Prussian victory

France’s intervention Strong pressure of King William + P’s military to occupy Austrian territory ≠ Bismarck’s strong interest in quick peace with Austria to refuse Napoleon III’s mediation offer + his territorial claims French mediation role accepted by Austria but not by Prussia + Italy: Occupation of Austrian province of Venetia by Italy, July 1866 French territorial claims on Germany east of Rhine River ‘as compensation for mediation’ strongly rejected by Bismarck with threat of all-German war on France = Napoleon III’s diplomatic defeat = Seed for next war!

Treaty of Prague (1) (Prussia-Austria, Aug 1866) Prussia’s annexation of S-H, Hesse-Cassel, Hanover, Nassau, Frankfurt North German states to join North German Confederation under Prussian leadership Independence of South German states guaranteed due to French intervention + Bismarck’s fear of too quick absorption but signing of secret military alliance between South Germany + Prussia in case of French attack

Treaty of Prague (2) (Prussia-Austria, Aug 1866) Usually seen as milestone on way to German unity Destroyed unity of German Confederation + secured Prussia’s dominance in Germany Separated Germans into 3 units: North German Confederation, 4 South German states, Austria = Prussia enlarged by 1/5 with coherent territory = German nation state now only blocked by France