Austro-Prussian War CAUSE

Seven Weeks' War

Johann Gustav Droysen: Speech to the Frankfurt Assembly,1848

We cannot conceal the fact that the whole German question is a simple alternative between Prussia and Austria. In these states German life has its positive and negative poles--in the former, all the interests which are national and reformative, in the latter, all that are dynastic and destructive. The German question is not a constitutional question, but a question of power; and the Prussian monarchy is now wholly German, while that of Austria cannot be. . . .We need a powerful ruling house. Austria's power meant lack of power for us, whereas Prussia desired German unity in order to supply the deficiencies of her own power. Already Prussia is Germany in embryo. She will "merge" with Germany. . .

Germania, by Philipp Veit. The painting hung inside the Paulskirche above where the Frankfurt Parliament assembled, covering the organ.

Otto von Bismarck: Letter to Minister von Manteuffel, 1856

Because of the policy of Vienna [the Congress of Vienna, 1815], Germany is clearly too small for us both [Prussia and Austria]; as long as an honorable arrangement concerning the influence of each in Germany cannot be concluded and carried out, we will both plough the same disputed acre, and Austria will remain the only state to whom we can permanently lose or from whom we can permanently gain. . . .I wish only to express my conviction that, in the not too distant future, we shall have to fight for our existence against Austria and that it is not within our power to avoid that, since the course of events in Germany has no other solution.

Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke: 1866

The war of 1866 [between Prussia and Austria] was entered on not because the existence of Prussia was threatened, nor was it caused by public opinion and the voice of the people; it was a struggle, long foreseen and calmly prepared for, recognized as a necessity by the Cabinet, not for territorial aggrandizement, for an extension of our domain, or for material advantage, but for an ideal end--the establishment of power. Not a foot of land was exacted from Austria, but she had to renounce all part in the hegemony of Germany. . . Austria had exhausted her strength in conquests south of the Alps, and left the western German provinces unprotected, instead of following the road pointed out by the Danube. Its center of gravity lay out of Germany; Prussia's lay within it. Prussia felt itself called upon and strong enough to assume the leadership of the German races.

"The Opportunity is Favorable" (June 3, 1866)

This cartoon by Wilhelm Scholz (1824-1893) was published in the satirical journal Kladderadatsch less than two weeks before the outbreak of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. The cartoon is divided into two halves, each of which has its own caption. Together, the title and the two captions read: “The opportunity is favorable, either to become great and respond to the wishes of the Prussian people, or – to become the most popular man in Germany by acceding to their general wishes!” At the left, Bismarck uses a chalkboard to outline a plan for achieving the first of these two options – becoming “great” and responding to public opinion in Prussia. His plan [Programm] includes preserving peace [Friede]; instituting a national parliament based on the direct, rather than indirect, election of deputies [Deutsches Parlament. Directe Wahlen]; agreeing that the Prussian House of Deputies has the right to approve state budgets [Budget-Recht]; and reforming the Prussian House of Lords [Reorganisation der 1ten Kammer]. At the right, Scholz suggests that Bismarck could achieve the second option – becoming “the most popular man in Germany” – by much simpler means: all he needs to do is resign! Here, Bismarck is shown covering his ears with his hands and fleeing an angry mob. Two members of the mob hold signs demanding a change of ministers [Minister Wechsel]; another asks for Bismarck to step down [Abtreten], and yet another calls for peace [Friede]. By using the German infinitive “eingehen” in the caption below this image, Scholz introduces an important pun that adds to the impact of the cartoon. While this verb can mean “to accede to” or “respond to” [as in “accede to the wishes of the people,” the verb’s primary meaning here], it can also be translated as “perish” or “die.” In this case, the second meaning is equally apt – for at the time of the cartoon’s publication most observers in central Europe believed that Bismarck’s term as minister president of Prussia would not survive what they expected to be a Prussian defeat at the hands of Austria and its allies. Prussia’s momentous victory at the Battle of Königgrätz on July 3, 1866, proved them wrong.

Prussian leaders' ideas

To prepare for the war with Austria that he knew he had to wage and win, Bismarck worked behind the scenes. He met with the Italian prime minister and promised that,in exchange for support against Austria, Italy could have the territory of Venetia. He also persuaded Napoleon III to keep France neutral if war broke out between the German states. 

Bismarck sent Prussian troops into the Austrian state of Holstein. In response, Austria declared war against Prussia. Holstein was just what the Prussian leaders needed to gain support for the war with Austria. In an address to the Prussian people, king Wilhelm I blamed Austria for starting the war. His address clearly appealed to the people's sense of nationalism.