Lyla Lindsey
Otto von Bismarck, a Prussian statesman and diplomat, was instrumental in the unification of Germany and served as its first chancellor from 1871 to 1890. Bismarck's political and governance skills earned him the nickname Iron Chancellor. He oversaw three short decisive wars against Denmark, Austria, and France, aligning the smaller German states behind Prussia. The Prussian victory over Austria in 1866, known as the Austro-Prussian War, resulted in the creation of the North German Confederation, excluding Austria from German affairs. While Bismarck provoked this war, he was reluctant to pursue it due to his distrust of the Prussian military leadership. This article will explore the context, motivations, and outcomes of Bismarck's actions during the Austro-Prussian War, specifically focusing on the question of whether and when he took Austrian territory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for Bismarck's reluctance to pursue war | Deprived him of control and left the decisions to the generals whose ability he distrusted |
| Date of the Austro-Prussian War | 1866 |
| Result of the Austro-Prussian War | Prussian dominance over the German states |
| Result of Prussia's victory over Austria | Increased existing tensions with France |
| Reason for Prussia's victory over Austria | Bismarck deliberately provoked a French attack to draw the southern German states into an alliance with the North German Confederation dominated by Prussia |
| Reason for Bismarck's decision to not include Austria in his unified Germany | To avoid any chance of a Catholic majority in the German Empire |
| Reason for Austria's quick defeat in the Austro-Prussian War | Austria's troops were affected by cholera |
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What You'll Learn
Bismarck's reluctance to pursue war with Austria
Otto von Bismarck was a German statesman and diplomat who oversaw the unification of Germany and served as its first chancellor from 1871 to 1890. Under Bismarck's leadership, Prussia provoked three short, decisive wars against Denmark, Austria, and France.
Bismarck was reluctant to pursue war with Austria as it "deprived him of control and left the decisions to the generals whose ability he distrusted". Bismarck was a strong advocate of the principle that "politics is the art of the possible", and he initially sought to force Austrian leaders into making concessions in Germany, rather than provoking a war. Bismarck's reluctance to go to war with Austria can be attributed to several factors:
Firstly, he wanted to avoid the risk of a Catholic majority in the German Empire. Prussia did not annex any territories from the Austrian Empire after the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 due to this reason. The Austrian Empire had multiple nationalities and ethnicities, and including it in a unified Germany would have created a majority Catholic state, which was undesirable to Bismarck.
Secondly, Bismarck wanted to maintain friendly relations with Austria to control central Europe and the Balkans and to use Austria as a buffer against Russia. He believed that a severely wounded Austria would become an ally of France and other opponents of Prussia. He also considered the possibility that the Austrian monarchy could be split up by revolts of the Hungarians and Slavs, creating small states that would be easily influenced by Russia.
Thirdly, Bismarck wanted to avoid the superior Austrian artillery, which was equipped with breech-loading rifled cannons, superior to the Prussian muzzle-loading smooth bore cannons. Although the Prussians had replaced 60% of their smooth-bore artillery with the technologically superior C64 (field gun), tactical reluctance and doctrinal stagnation in the Artillery Corps meant that these modern Krupp guns were not utilised effectively during the war.
Lastly, Bismarck may have wanted to avoid war with Austria due to his famous statement that a united German state could not be forged through "speeches and majority decisions" but only through "blood and iron". He recognised the strong confessional rivalry between the southern Catholic and northern Protestant states and knew that external force would be required to unite them.
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The Peace of Prague
The 1635 agreement was a bilateral agreement between Ferdinand and John George, with other states joining later. Negotiations took eight days and were held in Prague Castle, the site of the Defenestrations of Prague, which had begun the war in 1618. The Edict of Restitution was revoked, and the date for returning properties was established as 12 November 1627. Formal alliances between states within the Empire or with outside powers were prohibited, which led to the dissolution of the Catholic and Heilbronn Leagues.
The 1866 treaty provided that North Schleswig would be reunited with Denmark if the majority of that area's population chose to do so by a free vote. Prussia's victory over Austria increased the already existing tensions with France. Bismarck did not want to risk a French-Austrian alliance or Russian assistance to France, so he believed that portraying France as the aggressor would unite the German states behind the King of Prussia.
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Bismarck's deliberate provocation of France
Bismarck deliberately provoked a French attack to draw the southern German states—Baden, Württemberg, Bavaria, and Hesse-Darmstadt—into an alliance with the North German Confederation dominated by Prussia. This was done to secure France's defeat with support from the independent South German states before overseeing the creation of a unified German Empire under Prussian rule.
The Prussian victory in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, a war that ended the German Confederation and resulted in the creation of the North German Confederation, increased already existing tensions with France. The Emperor of France, Napoleon III, tried to gain territory for France (in Belgium and on the left bank of the Rhine) as compensation for not joining the war against Prussia and was disappointed by the surprisingly quick outcome of the war. The conflict was caused by Prussian ambitions to extend German unification and French fears of the shift in the European balance of power that would result if the Prussians succeeded.
Bismarck, at the same time, did not avoid war with France, though he feared the French for a number of reasons. Firstly, he feared that Austria, hungry for revenge, would ally with the French. Similarly, he feared that the Russian army would assist France to maintain a balance of power. Still, Bismarck believed that if the German states perceived France as the aggressor, they would then unite behind the King of Prussia. Bismarck maintained great authority in international affairs for two decades, developing a reputation for Realpolitik that raised Germany's global stature and influence.
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The German Empire's exclusion of Austria
Firstly, Prussia, led by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, sought to unify the German states under its leadership and exclude Austria from decision-making. This was a significant shift in power, known as Prussian hegemony, which resulted in the dissolution of the German Confederation and the formation of the North German Confederation without Austria. Prussia's victory over Austria in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 was a decisive factor in this shift. Bismarck's Realpolitik and firm governance, including his alliance with Italy during the war, contributed to Prussia's success.
Secondly, Prussia did not annex any Austrian territories after the war due to Bismarck's desire to avoid the possibility of a Catholic majority in the German Empire. The Austrian Empire had a diverse population, including various ethnic and religious groups, which could have influenced the religious dynamics within a unified Germany. Bismarck also wanted to maintain a stable Austrian Empire as a friendly neighbour and a buffer against Russian influence in Central Europe and the Balkans.
Thirdly, the Austrian Empire itself was facing internal instability and decay. It comprised multiple nationalities and ethnicities, making it challenging to govern. The rise of nationalism and the demands for self-determination by various ethnic groups within the empire further contributed to its instability. Additionally, the Austrian proposal for a Großdeutsche Lösung, or a greater Germany solution, centred on the Austrian House of Habsburg, was not favoured by Prussia as it would have relegated Prussia to a secondary role.
The exclusion of Austria from the German Empire, established in 1871, led to the idea of an Anschluss, or a united Austria and Germany, which gained support over time, especially after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. However, attempts at unification were forbidden by treaties such as the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint Germain-en-Laye. Ultimately, in 1938, Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, annexed Austria, but this union was short-lived as Austria claimed independence again in 1945.
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Bismarck's avoidance of Austrian territory
Otto von Bismarck was a Prussian statesman and diplomat who oversaw the unification of Germany and served as its first chancellor from 1871 to 1890. Bismarck's Realpolitik and firm governance earned him the nickname "Iron Chancellor". He rose rapidly in Prussian politics under King Wilhelm I of Prussia, serving as the Prussian ambassador to Russia and France and in both houses of the Prussian parliament. From 1862 to 1890, he held office as the minister president and foreign minister of Prussia.
Bismarck played a key role in provoking three short, decisive wars against Denmark, Austria, and France, which ultimately led to the unification of the German states under Prussian leadership. The war with Austria, known as the Austro-Prussian War, took place in 1866 and resulted in Prussian dominance over the German states. However, despite Prussia's victory over Austria, Bismarck avoided annexing any Austrian territories.
One of the main reasons for this avoidance was Bismarck's desire to prevent a Catholic majority in the German Empire. The Austrian Empire had a significant Catholic population, and including it in the unified Germany would have created a majority Catholic state. Bismarck wanted to avoid any potential opposition within the state that could unite behind Catholicism. Additionally, many Protestants during this era believed that Catholics were more loyal to the Pope than to the nation, which further reinforced Bismarck's decision to exclude Austria.
Another factor considered by Bismarck was the potential instability that could arise from the inclusion of Austria. The Austrian Empire was already decaying due to the presence of multiple nationalities and ethnicities. Splitting up the empire would create numerous small states that would be too weak to resist any Russian advancements in the Balkans. This would leave the southern border of the German Empire unsecured and volatile, causing multiple problems for the new nation.
Furthermore, Bismarck preferred a stable Austrian Empire to maintain a balance of power in Central Europe and the Balkans. He negotiated the Dual Alliance with Austria-Hungary, guaranteeing mutual protection against Russian attacks. He also understood the importance of keeping all future possibilities open with regard to enemies and allies, intending to offer generous terms to Austria after the war. By excluding Austria from German affairs, Bismarck was able to create a powerful German Empire under Prussian leadership while maintaining peaceful relations with neighbouring Austria.
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Frequently asked questions
Bismarck took Austrian territory in 1866 after the Prussian victory in the Austro-Prussian War.
Prussia's victory over Austria increased existing tensions with France. The Emperor of France, Napoleon III, tried to gain territory for France as compensation for not joining the war against Prussia. Bismarck deliberately provoked a French attack to draw the southern German states into an alliance with the North German Confederation dominated by Prussia.
The major result of the war was a shift in power among the German states from Austria to Prussia. It resulted in the abolition of the German Confederation and its partial replacement by the unification of all of the northern German states in the North German Confederation that excluded Austria and the other southern German states.
