Austro-Prussian rivalry 1849 ~ 1868 Flashcards
1
Q
What was the Erfurt Union?
A
- Kleindeutschland under Prussian leadership
- Frederick and his big head liked the idea of united Germany under his leadership, being offered the crown just hurt his ego
- 28 states agreed to join
2
Q
What was the Frankfurt Bundestrat?
A
- Grossdeutschland governed jointly by Austria, Prussia, and larger German states
- larger states e.g. Hanover, Saxony, left the Erfurt Union and joined this instead
- summoned Bundestrat from the inactive Confederation
3
Q
Describe the humiliation of Olmutz
A
- 29 November 1850
- Manteuffel (new Prussian prime minister) and Schwarzenberg (Austrian prime minister) arranged to meet at Olmutz
- Prussia agreed to abandon the union plan, under pressure from Russia and to not antagonise Austria
- Austria hoped for all the German states and the Habsburg Empire to merge, which was not accepted by the smaller German states
4
Q
What happened in May 1851?
A
- German Confederation re-established
- alliance formed between Austria and Prussia for close cooperation
- many opposed Austria’s plan of merging, Prussian resentment to Austria for humiliation, some supported Prussia in ruling united Germany
5
Q
What were some problems Austria faced?
A
- 1855 concordat with Catholic Church, alienated German Protestants and anti-clerical liberals
- proposed Zollunion, extended customs union between Zollverein and Austria, this failed
- tried to establish customs union with those not in Zollverein, also failed
- Metternich left a large gaping deficit in government finances
- underfinanced, antiquated army
6
Q
Describe Prussia’s situation now
include:
* countryside
* towns
A
- Zollverein helped start up the economy
- good education system from primary to university
- plentiful supply of coal, iron, and chemicals
- impressive railway system (5000+ km in 1850)
- Alfred Krupp, main manufacturer of weapons for the Prussian army
- growing liberalism, emergence of great national liberal associations and liberal journals
- right wing liberalism and left wing liberalism, both regard national unity as a top priority
- Manteuffel imposed strict censorship, but also believed that he had a duty to govern in the interests of all the people
- reforming military after the humiliation
countryside:
* low interest government loans available for peasants to buy land
* overpopulation, government provided peasants financial help to move to less populated areas of Prussia
towns:
* standard minimum wage encouraged
* inspectors to improve working conditions
* children under 12 forbidden from working in factories
* industrial courts set up to settle disputes
7
Q
Austria vs Prussia when it comes to relations with European powers?
A
Prussia remained strictly neutral, maintaining good relations with other European powers, especially Russia, Britain, and France.
by 1856, Austria lost friendship with Russia, and did not gain the friendships of Britain and France
8
Q
Describe the Polish Revolt
A
- Poland collectively divided among Prussia, Russia and Austria
- Poles blamed for some of the unrest in 1848
- 1863, Russian Poland revolted, Bismarck was concerned that the other Polish regions would follow suit
- Tsar Alexander II suppressed revolts, and Bismarck offered military assistance whilst France, Austria and Britain did not agree with suppression and offered mediation.
- Tsar rejected Bismarck’s offer but agreed to a convention that Prussia would hand over Russian Polish rebels who fled to Prussia
- Bismarck isolated by Prussian/German liberals, France, Austria, Britain
- Bismarck claimed the convention did not exist because it had never been ratified, tsar angered, Bismarck in isolated diplomatic position.
- 1864, Polish rising suppressed, tsar deeply offended by Austria and France, so would remain neutral in Austro/Franco Prussian war.
9
Q
Describe the problem of Schleswig and Holstein
A
- November 1863, King Frederick III of Denmark died without heir – ruled duchies Schleswig and Holstein
- Schleswig was mixed Danish and German, while Holstein was fully German and was part of the Confederation
- 1848, Holstein revolted against Danish rule, Prussian troops had come to their aid in support of the Frankfurt Parliament, Russian intervention forced peace.
- Treaty of London by Great Powers in 1852 agreed that Christian of Glucksburg would succeed Frederick III, which was contested on the grounds that inheritance through the female line was forbidden in the duchies.
- Schleswig and Holstein put forward Prince of Augustenburg, who was paid to agree.
- November 1863, Christian became king, Duke of Augustenburg claimed both duchies – Prine had not signed away his rights to them.
- German nationalists supported this
- King Christian incorporated Schleswig into Denmark, violating treaty
- December 1863, condemning Christian, smaller states of Confederation sent army into Holstein on behalf of Duke, who became the most popular figure in Germany, symbolising German nationalism.
- Bismarck hoped the annex both duchies for Prussian power, dgaf about Duke or Prince or Germans in duchies
10
Q
Describe the Danish War
A
- Austria – supporting Prince Augustenburg, also suspicious of Bismarck allying with rampant German nationalism – cooperated with Prussia
- Austria and Prussia issue an ultimatum to Denmark, threatening to occupy Schleswig unless Denmark withdrew their new constitution
- Denmark refuses, January 1864 Austrian-Prussian army advance through Holstein into Schleswig
- April 1864, Prussian troops stormed Danish fortifications at Duppel in the Battle of Duppel during the Second Schleswig War.
- Prussian victory at the Battle of Duppel won reluctant admiration of most German nationalists.
- Denmark’s inflexibility in the London Conference (April - June) led to their diplomatic isolation
- July 1864, Danish surrender
- By the Treaty of Vienna, October, King Christian ceded Schleswig & Holstein
- Expected Duke of Augustenburg to take control – Bismarck proposed he be in control only on Prussian conditions – rejected because he would be under Prussia’s power
- Austria turns to Bundestrat because recognition of the Duke was not a complicated thing to pass
- Prussia prevented any action from being taken
- summer 1965, still in stalemate, Austro-Prussian relations deteriorate.
11
Q
What was the Convention of Gastein?
A
- neither Austria nor Prussia wanted war – Austria was nearly bankrupt, and William did not want to fight a fellow German state
- Bismarck and William on spa day in Austrian spa town Bad Gastein
- Austrian envoy meets them for negotiations
- August 1965 – Holstein under Austria, Schleswig under Prussia
- both retain joint sovereignty over both duchies
- Holstein is located between Prussian territory
12
Q
What was the relationship between Napoleon and Bismarck pre-1866?
A
- Paris in 1855 – parted on friendly terms
- Biarritz in 1865 –gained Napoleon’s well wishes in the war
- Bismarck did not plan to offer German territory in exchange for neutrality
- Napoleon knew that involving France in war would give little benefits and exhaust resources
- Napoleon planned to use his neutrality to mediate and pressure/bargain for gains without the cost of war.
13
Q
Who else did Bismarck make allies with?
A
- April 1866 – secret alliance with Italy, who would acquire Venetia from Austria
14
Q
How did the Austro-Prussian war begin?
A
- Bismarck began provocations and introduced liberal reforms that he knew Austria would not accept – universal male suffrage, removing Austria from the Confederation.
- April 1866, Austria forced to make the seemingly aggressive first move and mobilise
- May 1866, Prussia mobilised, seemingly as a response to threat from Austria.
- The Great Powers proposed a congress to discuss the situation, Bismarck felt compelled to agree, whilst Austria refused – made Austria seem even more like the aggressor.
- early June 1866, Austria referred the discussion to the Bundestag
- 9 June, Bismarck responded by sending Prussian army intol Holstein – Austria retreated peacefully.
- Bismarck pushed further, adding that all troops in north Germany should be under Prussian control to his reforms.
- Austria asks Bundestag to reject reforms – Prussia disappointed in the Bundestag: withdraws from and dissolves the Confederation.
- Most German states were sided with Austria to counterbalance economic subordination to Prussia.
- Bismarck issues ultimatum to northern states Hanover, Hesse-Cassel and Saxony, only to be completely rejected.
- 15 June, Prussian troops invade all 3 states, only Hanover putting up meek defense.
15
Q
Describe the Seven Weeks War
A
- Austria fought on 2 fronts, Prussia (north) and Italy (south)
- Italian forces were weak and inefficient, defeated quickly.
- Moltke divided troops for faster movement, invading Bohemia to prevent victorious Austrian troops from linking up with fighting troops on the northern front.
- Due to poor organisation and lack of planning, Austrian military leaders missed multiple opportunities to defeat weaker, separated Prussian troops.
16
Q
Describe the Battle of Sadowa/Battle of Koniggratz
A
- 3 July 1866
- Decisive battle and Prussian victory
- both sides nearly equally balanced in manpower
- Prussian breech-loading needle gun used here (Dreyse needle gun)
- Austrian army fled in disorder
- Austria : Prussia, 5:1 casualties (45,000 to 9,000)
17
Q
What was Austria’s situation going into the war?
A
- strained financially
- 100,000 more soldiers than Prussia
- most German states supported Austria
- located in a central position
- many Prussians were unsure about fighting other Germans
- soldiers trained in outdated formations and used traditional, inconvenient muzzle-loading rifles
18
Q
What was Prussia’s situation going into the war?
A
- strategised plans and advance preparations
- talented military leader General von Moltke
- railways for fast mobilisation
- Bismarck becoming president in 1862 over army reforms: conscripted men served a 7 year term, were highly trained and disciplined, well equipped with modern weapons (breech loading needle gun in the Battle of Koniggratz) and high quality armaments (most notably from Krupp iron foundries)
19
Q
What were the outcomes of this Prussian victory?
A
- William wanted to takeover Austria, Bismarck insisted Prussia must keep civil and ensure a possibility of once again becoming allies with Austria in the future.
- Bismarck argued that Austrian states would not add much to Prussian dominance or strength, nor would it lead to German Austria uniting with German Prussia, and Vienna could not exist as a state secondary to Berlin
- some trust in Austria because Austria and Prussia are both German, considered a natural ally
- William and his senior generals protested in rage against Bismarck, who responded by threatening to jump out the 4 storey window
- Bismarck got his way
= Treaty of Prague
* Prussia annexed land including Schleswig, Holstein, Frankfurt, Hanover, and Hesse-Cassel.
* remaining German states north of River Main including Saxony, formed the North German Confederation under Prussian leadership.
* 4 states south of River Main: Bavaria, Wuttemburg, Hesse-Darmstadt, and Baden retained independence.
* all 4 states signed secret military alliance with Prussia, putting their troops under Prussian command.
20
Q
Why did Bismarck not annex all German states into Prussia?
A
- fearing French intervention of Prussia absorbed too much land at once
- prevent dilution of Prussian culture
21
Q
Explain the constitution of the North German Confederation
A
- consisted of 23 states
- accepted in April 1867, came into effect July that year
- King of Prussia still held absolute power
- Bundestrat = upper house of the Confederation’s parliament – delegates from each state, number of delegates directly proportional to size of state.
- Reichstag = lower house of the Confederation’s parliament – limited powers but elected by universal male suffrage
- all laws needed approval of the 2 houses, the King (president) and the chancellor.
22
Q
Why did Bismarck grant universal male suffrage?
A
believed the support of traditional peasants would preserve the conservative order in Prussia.
23
Q
What was the new military crisis?
A
- Reichstag had the right to pass ONLY the annual budget, nothing within the spending that adds up to the annual budget
- military spending amounted to 90%
- liberals wanted to control military budget, Bismarck unwilling to release it
- compromised that military budget would be out of the Reichstag’s control for 5 years
- after 5 years the military budget would be fixed by law and would require the Reichstag’s approval
- Reichstag was generally prepared to support Bismarck’s policies, creating a legislative programme including unifying measures.
24
Q
What was the Zollparlament?
A
- 1867
- 4 southern states added to the Zollparlament
- purpose = to discuss policy of Zollverein and encourage closer cooperation between North and South
- southern Germans regarded North and Prussia with suspicion of Prussian dominance and general animosity between Catholics and Protestants
