preußisch-österreichischer Krieg 1866

Austro-Prussian War of 1866, between Austria and most of the German states on one side and Prussia, Italy and some small states in Northern Germany and Thürigen on the other. The reason for the Austro-Prussian War was the tensions between the two great powers, which had been increasing ever since the Deutscher Bund had been founded (Olmütz, Punctation of). The Prussian Minister-President O. v. Bismarck eventually pressed for a military solution.

The actual pretext found by Bismarck was a dispute over the administration of Schleswig-Holstein, which had been held jointly by Austria and Prussia since 1864 (German-Danish War); their differences were once more papered over by the Gasteiner Konvention in 1865. But when Prussia occupied Holstein in defiance of this agreement, Austria called on the other states of the Confederation to mobilise their armies against Prussia. Prussia then left the German Confederation and declared war on Austria on June 19, 1866.

All the medium-sized German States (Bavaria, Hanover, Saxony, Württemberg, Baden etc.) and most of the smaller states lined up behind Austria, and Prussia was supported by some of the northern German states, Thuringia and Italy. The Prussian army was superior to Austria´s, which had to fight on two front lines, not only in numbers, but especially in arms (breech-loading needle guns versus outdated muzzle loaders), and among the Austrian allies only Saxony was prepared to effectively support Austria.

Prussia overran Saxony without a declaration of war and invaded Bohemia. After the Austrian General L. v. Gablenz had beaten a Prussian corps near Trautenau (Trutnov) on June 27, the Austrian forces and the Saxon army under L. v. Benedek were heavily defeated in the Battle of Königgrätz (Sadowa) on July 3. Austria withdrew its troops to the River Danube, the Prussian army advanced on Vienna (up to Stockerau and Gänserndorf).

However, in the Italian theatre of war Austria won under Archduke Albrecht near Custozza on June 24, and the Austrian navy was victorious under W. v. Tegetthoff near Lissa on July 20. Through mediation by the French Emperor, Napoleon III, Austria and Prussia concluded the preliminary Peace of Nikolsburg (July 26) and then the definitive Treaty of Prague (August 23); on October 3, Austria made peace with Italy (Peace of Vienna). Austria had to cede Holstein to Prussia, accept the dissolution of the German Confederation and recognise the Prussian annexation of northern Germany (Hanover, Hesse, Schleswig, Frankfurt etc.); in addition, Austria had to pay high reparations to Prussia and cede Venetia to Italy.

Literature: W. v. Groote and U. v. Gersdorff (eds.), Entscheidung 1866. Der Krieg zwischen Österreich und Preußen, 1966; G. A. Craig, Königgrätz, 1966; Museum of Military History (ed.), Gedenkschrift 1866, 1966.