Bismarck's Land Grab: How Much Did He Take From Austria?

Bismarck did not take any land from Austria, although he did offer territorial compensation in the Grand Duchy of Hesse to the Electorate of Hesse if Elector Frederick William were to ally with Prussia. It has been suggested that Bismarck could have taken more from Austria and set up a long-term alliance with Russia. However, Prussia/Germany had much to gain by remaining hostile to Austria, as long as Russia was friendly.

Bismarck didn't take any land from Austria

Some have argued that Bismarck should have taken more from Austria and set up a long-term alliance with Russia. Prussia/Germany had much to gain and little to lose by remaining hostile to Austria as long as Russia was friendly. However, others have pointed out that Bismarck's primary motivation was to show the Austrians who was boss, rather than any deep strategical or economical considerations.

It's worth noting that before the Austro-Prussian War, Bismarck did offer territorial compensation in the Grand Duchy of Hesse to the Electorate of Hesse if Elector Frederick William were to ally with Prussia. This proposition offended Frederick William, and he joined the Austrians instead.

After the war, Germany annexed all of the province of Alsace and much of Lorraine, which damaged relations with France.

Bismarck's main problem was France

Bismarck did not take any land from Austria, although he did offer territorial compensation in the Grand Duchy of Hesse to the Electorate of Hesse if Elector Frederick William were to ally with Prussia. This offer was refused.

Prussia/Germany had much to gain by remaining hostile to Austria

Before the Austro-Prussian War, both the Austrian and Prussian governments sought to rally allies in Germany. Bismarck offered territorial compensation in the Grand Duchy of Hesse to the Electorate of Hesse if Elector Frederick William were to ally with Prussia. However, the proposition offended Frederick William's "legitimist sensibilities", and he joined the Austrians instead.

Prussia/Germany had nothing to gain and lots to lose by fighting Russia. On the other hand, Prussia/Germany had much to gain by remaining hostile to Austria as long as Russia was friendly. Russia and Austria distrusted each other due to the Crimean War, so Bismarck only had to keep that distrust going.

Bismarck did not take any land from Austria, which was a sound decision strategically. Prussia had already annexed various minor northern German principalities, and he did not want to overreach himself. His Germany was a Germany without Austria.

Bismarck offered territorial compensation in the Grand Duchy of Hesse

One source states that Bismarck didn't take any land off Austria, which was a sound decision strategically. However, another source suggests that Bismarck should have taken more land from Austria and set up a long-term alliance with Russia.

Before the Austro-Prussian War, Bismarck offered territorial compensation in the Grand Duchy of Hesse to the Electorate of Hesse, if Elector Frederick William were to ally with Prussia. This proposition offended Frederick William's "legitimist sensibilities" and the monarch joined the Austrians, despite the Hessian Landtag voting for neutrality.

King George V of Hanover was also contacted by Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I about establishing a coalition against the Prussians, but he concluded that his kingdom would fall if it were to fight against the Prussian armies.

Bismarck's main problem was France, and peaceful relations with the country became impossible after 1871 when Germany annexed all of the province of Alsace and much of Lorraine. Bismarck gave in to public opinion and the demands of the army, and annexed the provinces, which proved to be a mistake.

Bismarck's struggle with the King

Bismarck did not take any land from Austria, although he did offer territorial compensation in the Grand Duchy of Hesse to the Electorate of Hesse if Elector Frederick William were to ally with Prussia. This proposition offended Frederick William, and he joined the Austrians instead.

Bismarck's primary motivation was to show the Austrians who was boss, rather than any deep strategical or economical considerations. He did not want to take land from Austria, as Prussia had already annexed various minor northern German principalities, and he did not want to overreach himself. His Germany was one without Austria.

Some have argued that Bismarck should have taken more from Austria and set up a long-term alliance with Russia. Prussia/Germany had much to gain and little to lose by remaining hostile to Austria, as long as Russia was friendly. Russia and Austria distrusted each other due to the Crimean War, so Bismarck simply needed to maintain that distrust.

Bismarck's main problem was France. Peaceful relations with France became impossible after 1871 when Germany annexed all of the province of Alsace and much of Lorraine. Bismarck gave in to public opinion and the demands of the army, assuming that the French would never forget or forgive. This proved to be a mistake, as after about five years, the French calmed down and considered it a minor issue.

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