Germany Unification

The Frenco-Prussian War was waged between France and Prussia and the German states from July 15, 1870 to Feb. 1, 1871 . Napoleon I had smashed through the German states with ease during the Napoleonic wars . Now a generation later, the roles would be reversed .Even though the war was a short duration, it dramatically changed European history .The rapid and overwhelming victory of the German states under the leadership of Prussia in this conflict made possible the creation of a unified German Empire and brought the fall of the French empire of Napoleon III which was replaced by the Third Republic. Prussian would first fight and destroy the armies of the emperor Napoleon, then the newly raised armies of the Third republic . The waralso marked the final step in Germany's rise to the position of a major continental power . As part of the settlement, the territory of Alsace-Lorraine was taken by Germany, which would retain it until after World War I.

Causes of the Franco-Prussian War

Bismarck policies brought about 3 European wars which led to the unification of Germany. As a university student, he acquired a reputation for fighting and was a member ofHannovera, a famous dueling corps. More cosmopolitan than the average junker and spoke English fluently. Famous for his Sept 29,1862 speech " The great questions of the day will not be decided by speeches...that was the blunder of 1848...but by blood and iron.' Made Chancellor in 1871 and became known as the 'Iron Chancellor' and Germany consolidated economically and politically. The young Kaiser, William II, was too ambitious to have a strong leader like Bismarck and had him retire. No other German statesman was able to maintain Bismarck's complicated international act and Germany blundered into WWI.

From 1868 on, Bismarck ( Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck - April 1, 1815? July 30, 1898 ) Chancellor of the North German Confederation , prepared to accomplish the unification of the German Protestant states of the north and the German Catholic south through a provoked war with France . Such a war would unite the German states quickly rather than the years or decades it might otherwise take . The Germans were divided culturally and politically, but they were united in their hatred for France since the Napoleonic Wars, when France had looted the German states and pressed an estimated 250,000 Germans into the French armies . Most countries had kept up citizen militias, usually separate from the regular forces. But the Prussians began to build up large trained reserves which were integrated into the army.

The proclamation of King William I as emperor at Versailles, by Anton von Werner

On Jan 18, 1871 at Versailles ( which was made the German military headquarters ) William I was proclaimed The German emperor ( Kaiser ) .The creation of a unified German Empire destroyed the balance of power that had been created with the Congress of Vienna after the end of the Napoleonic Wars .

German victory parade in Paris. The Parisians were defiant in the face of defeat and were prepared to fight if the entry of the German army into the city . Before the Germans entered Paris, National Guards removed large numbers of cannons away from the Germans' path and store them in "safe" districts. This was to be one of the factors leading to the Paris Commune .The Germans entered Paris briefly and left again without incident

Germany quickly established itself as the main power in Europe with one of the most powerful and professional armies in the world . In France, anger at the Germans over the loss of Alsace and Lorraine and the large indemnity would led to a permanent state of crises between the two states and their seeking revenge with a large indemnity against Germany after their defeat in World War I and trigger events which would lead to World War II . The war also influenced Italian history and its struggle for unification. With the outbreak of war, Napoleon withdrew his garrison from Rome. With this garrison gone, the Italian national army was able to take the Papal State of Rome in 1870.

Victorious German troops march through the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on June 16, 1871. Ever since this day it was traditional for German troops to march through the gate on their return from war .

2012年10月22日星期一

Weapon

Dreyse needle gun model

Specifications:

Dreyse Needle Gun

Cartridge: .61 acorn-shaped round, paper cartridge w/ black powder and percussion cap

Capacity: 1 round

Muzzle Velocity: 1,000 ft./sec.

Effective Range: 650 yds.

Weight: approx. 10.4 lbs.

Length: 55.9 in.

Barrel Length: 35.8 in.

Sights: Notch and front post

Action: Bolt-action

Chassepot rifle

a breech loading 1000 pounder Krupp gun. This won a prize for Krupp at the Great Exhibition of Paris in 1867

the mitrailleuse

Austro-Prussian War Summary

THE AUSTRO-PRUSSIAN WAR OF 1866

I. BISMARCK'S PLAN TO UNIFY GERMANY: "LET'S BAIT AUSTRIA INTO STARTING A WAR!"

In 1866 Germany was divided into several dozen mini-states, of which Prussia was the largest. Prussia's Chancellor Otto von Bismarck (1862 1890) sought to unify Germany under Prussian leadership. Main reason: Prussia was geographically not contiguous and had long borders. This left it insecure. A united Germany would have better borders and more resources, and so be more secure. Toward the goal of dominating Germany Bismarck sought to remove Austrian influence in southern Germany by war. He saw two prerequisites for this campaign: (1) France, Britain and Russia had to be induced to stay neutral while Prussia beat Austria; and (2) the Prussian king had to be induced, against his sentiments, to declare war on his brother-German Austrians. Bismarck's solution: Prussia would sweet- talk the other European powers into not fearing Prussia, and would bait Austria into starting the war. If Austria starts war it will alienate the other powers and thus be easy pickings; and the Prussian king will be outraged at Austria and declare war on it.

II. BACKGROUND TO WAR: EVENTS AND CONDITIONS

Bismarck's deceptions.

Deceptions regarding Prussian capability: "We're weak!"

Spin regarding Prussian intentions: "We're benign!" Bismarck

sent the Schweinitz mission to Russia to proclaim that Prussia had limited aims.

> Note: Prussian intentions were in fact limited. After

defeating France in 1871 Bismarck proclaimed Germany "sated." But after 1890 Germany's appetite grew vastly. It turned out Bismarck could not speak for his successors.

British, French, and Russian were indifferent to containing Prussia, in part due to Bismarck's deceptions.

Britain feared France more than Prussia, and was generally

isolationist.

France saw advantage in what it thought would be a long

fratricidal Prussian-Austrian war. It thought: "We can demand the Rhineland as our fee for breaking the stalemate for the victor."

Russia felt solidarity with Prussia against the Poles, whom they both cruelly oppressed and who hated them both. Russia also was distracted from central European affairs by its focus on undoing the demilitarization of the Black Sea, imposed by Britain on Russia in the peace that ended the Crimean War in 1856.

Prussia signed a 3-month offensive alliance with Italy, April 8, 1866. Terms include giving Italy parts of southern Austria.

Austria mobilized its army, April 21, 1866--a fateful step. Why did Austria take it?

Austria received false reports that Italy was mobilizing, and mobilized very quickly in response. Where did these false reports come from? Maybe the Austrian military deceived its civilians; or perhaps Bismarck deceived Austria. Alois Karoly, Austrian minister in Berlin, believed Bismarck was the source of the falsehood.

Why did Austria mobilize against Prussia as well as Italy?

Austrian leaders assumed Prussia had already decided for

war. They didn't realize that Prussia couldn't start a war

if Austria didn't move first.

Austria had only one mobilization plan. It posited a 2

front mobilization.

Results: Prussia's king was outraged, opted for war against

Austria; and Britain, France and Russia stood aside indifferently. The table is set for Prussian victory

Major Battles

24 June, Battle of Custoza: Austrian army defeats Italian army;

27 June, Battle of Trautenau (Trutnov): Austrians check Prussian advance but with heavy losses

27 June, Battle of Langensalza: Hanover's army defeats Prussia's;

29 June, Battle of Gitschin (Jičín): Prussians defeat Austrians

3 July, Battle of Königgrätz (Sadová): decisive Prussian victory against Austrians;

20 July, Battle of Lissa (Vis): the Austrian fleet decisively defeats the Italian one;

21 July, Battle of Bezzecca: Giuseppe Garibaldi's "Hunters of the Alps" defeat an Austrian army.

22 July (last day of the war), Battle of Lamacs (Lamač): Austrians defend Bratislava against Prussian army.

After the Austro Prussian War of 1866, many Middle-German states, Hanover, Hesse-Cassel, Nassau, The Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein and Lauenburg and the Free City of Frankfurt, traditional allies of Austria, were annexed by Prussia. The north of Germany was now completely dominated by Prussia. As Austria's traditional ambitions in Germany were now finally defeated, the German Confederation under its leadership was discontinued. Instead the Prussians erected a North-German Confederation including Prussia and the remaining smaller states there.

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.

Austro-Prussian War Battle of Königgrätz

Battle of Königgrätz

The Battle of Königgrätz, also known as the Battle of Sadowa, Sadová, or Hradec Králové, was the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire. Taking place near Königgrätz (Hradec Králové) and Sadowa (Sadová) in Bohemia on 3 July 1866, it was an example of battlefield concentration, a convergence of multiple units at the same location to trap and/or destroy an enemy force between them.

the Battle of Königgrätz

Christian Sell’s lithograph of the Battle of Königgrätz dates from 1866. In the central scene, Prussia’s King Wilhelm I pursues the retreating Austrians while accepting the “Hurrahs!” of his victorious foot-soldiers and cavalry. The painting also features specific parts of the battlefield and turning points in the day’s events, including, at the lower right, the cavalry battle that ensued during the Austrians’ panicked flight from the field of battle towards the town of Königgrätz.

Influence:
1. The French public resented the Prussian victory and demanded "Revanche pour Sadova" or "Revenge for Sadowa",which formed part of the build-up to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.
2.Königgrätz was the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War. An armistice signed at Prague ensued three weeks later. It provided a great opportunity for Prussian statesmen, by clearing a path toward German Unification, in particular with the Little Germany, or Germany without Austria solution, with the subsequent foundation of the North German Confederation.

Casualties Flood into Dresden

In late June 1866, Saxon cities were already seeing the arrival of casualties resulting from skirmishes between Prussian, Saxon, and Austrian forces. After the Battle of Königgrätz on July 3, 1866, the number of dead and wounded rose enormously, straining Saxony’s transportation and medical facilities to the limit. The influx of prisoners of war only compounded the logistical nightmare. When Saxony’s municipal authorities complained to Prussian civil and military authorities in Dresden about the hardships their residents were facing as the result of war and occupation – including the billeting of Prussian soldiers, the building of huge defensive earthworks in the center of Dresden, forced tributes paid to the occupiers, and demands for ever greater numbers of hospital beds and medical supplies – their complaints generally fell on deaf ears. This woodcut is by Herbert König.C

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