Hi syracuse!!
- The German Confederation, 1815-66:
The Congress of Vienna (1814-15), convened after Napoleon's defeat,
sought to restore order to Europe after a quarter-century of
revolution and war. The congress created the German Confederation
consisted of thirty-eight sovereign states and four free cities and
included the five large kingdoms of Austria, Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria,
and Württemberg. The confederation met at a diet in Frankfurt, with an
Austrian always serving as president. That means Austria was the main
partner in the Confederation and Prince Clemens von Metternich was its
dominant political figure until 1848. In the 1820s, Metternich
promoted the formation of the Holy Alliance of the monarchs of
Austria, Prussia, and Russia to keep a political stability within
Central and Eastern Europe and like a counterpoise to balance the
power of France.
- Otto Leopold von Bismarck:
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince von Bismarck, Count von
Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke von Lauenburg, was born in 1815 into a
Junker family (the Prussian upper class).
In 1847 he was part the “ultraconservative champion of Junker
interests” as a representative to the Prussian Diet (Parliament).
In 1848 liberal revolutions swept Europe and despite his opposition to
the revolutionaries he supported the creation of a liberal Parliament.
This shows Bismarck's political realism. The revolutions of 1848 also
brought up the issue of German nationalism. Bismarck showed his
personal point of view about this stating “Prussian we are and
Prussian we wish to remain.”
Despite Otto von Bismarck had been an opponent of German nationalism,
during the 1850s he had concluded that Prussia would have to lead
German nationalism if it were to thrive. He believed too that
Prussia's well-being depended on wresting primacy in Germany from
Austria.
Bismarck became a dedicated opponent of Austria, but his ideas for
increasing the influence of Prussia at the expense of Austria fell on
deaf ears until Wilhelm I succeeded Fredrich Wilhelm IV in 1861.
In 1862, during a constitutional crisis, at the request of Wilhelm I
Bismarck became Prime Minister, taking complete control. From here,
Bismarck, using all the tools that he had, worked to reach one goal:
an unified Germany under the rule of Prussia, with a weak Austria or
without Austria.
- The concept of limited war:
According to Clausewitz's theories, limited war can take on two forms:
offensive war with a limited aim and defensive war. Clausewitz said
that the offensive war with a limited aim culminates in the occupation
of enemy territory that will reduce his national resources.
Furthermore, once this means to an end is accomplished, an asset is
thus made available at the negotiating table for trading or
bargaining. In order to distinguish both concepts absolute and limited
war Clausewitz stated that absolute war is the mobilization of all
resources, the opposite (limited war) implies a limited mobilization
of limited resources.
Five Requirements of Limited War:
·Isolate adversary internationally through diplomatic and political
means.
·Produce a quick and decisive military blow.
·Create appropriate domestic and international political conditions.
·Maintain limited political objective.
·Maintain control over the military.
(Prof. Stan Carpenter:
http://home.midsouth.rr.com/css/stratpollimitedwar.html)
- Bismarck's Realpolitik:
The Bismarck's strategy was the following:
Find a way to go to war against Austria in order to make Prussia the
dominant power within the Germany Confederation.
The war for Schleswig - Holstein against Denmark (allied with Austria)
in 1864 gives Prussia a field for future discord with Austria.
After win the Seven Weeks War or Austro-Prussian war in 1866 (that
starts because differences on how Schleswig and Holstein will be
ruled) Prussia becomes the main power of the Germany Confederation,
that virtually rules over all the German states. Bismarck wanted a war
with France in order to unite North and South Germans
nationalistically against a foreign power. In 1870 the Franco-Prussian
War results in the Second Reich and with Wilhelm I as the Emperor of
Germany and Bismarck as his first imperial Chancellor. The main goal
was reached using three limited wars.
- First limited war: The War for Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein
(1864).
Schleswig and Holstein, was ruled by the king of Denmark, but was
ethnically and politically tied to German Confederation. The
government of Copenhagen planned to make Schleswig an integral part of
Denmark in 1863. Bismarck isolate Denmark by making Denmark look as
the aggressor, after refusing to recognize the rights of the Duchies
signed in the Treaty and Protocol of London in 1852. This treaty was
signed by Austria and Prussia.
Wilhelm proposed to the Austrian Emperor that Prussia and Austria
should occupy the Duchies to avoid a violation of the treatry of 1852
by Denmark; Austria, afraid to let Prussia act alone, agreed.
This gives Bismarck the power to produce a quick and decisive military
blow, and when the military faction, under the leadership of General
Feldmarshal Count Helmuth von Moltke, planned to go for more than the
original objective by ocupying all Jutland, Bismarck threatened with
his resignation if his original plan of a limited war was not kept.
As a result of this war Schleswig was to be under Prussian control and
Holstein under Austrian control. With this agreement Bismarck has
created an opportunity for war with Austria.
- Second limited war: The Austro-Prussian War (1866).
Arose differences between the two German allies. Austria wanted the
complete separation of Sleswig and Holstein from Denmark and to be
formed as a single state under the rule of Prince of Augustenburg.
Bismarck considered Augustenburg a liberal and a threat to Prussian
interests. Bismarck ordered Prussian troops into Holstein and the
Austrians replied with full mobilization, this was virtually a
declaration of war.
On 15 June 1866, Austria received a Prussian ultimatum. Not having
received an answer to the ultimatum Prussian troops attacked. Prussia
wins the war at the battle of Königgrätz.
Bismarck isolated Austria through skillful diplomacy. The fact that
Austria declared war on Prussia validated the notion that Austria was
the aggressor, even though they acted in self defense. More skillful
diplomacy that isolated Austria came by concluding a treaty with Italy
under French succor that destroyed the alliance of the Confederation.
Also France encouraged this war in hopes that they would tire each
other out and France could expand to the east with no valuable
resistance. The war ended in only seven weeks and this ruined the
French plans. France expected compensation in the Rhineland,
Luxembourg, or Belgium. Bismarck succeeded in halting these plans, but
Prussia agreed to demilitarize Luxembourg.
Keep the military control to limited action during the war of 1866 was
crucial after the battle of Königgrätz. The total destruction and
occupation of Austria was not a necessity, this acts may result in a
possibility of a French attack into Germany while the Prussians were
operating in Bohemia.
The peace concluded at Prague in August 1866 saw Prussia gain overall
control of Germany and excluded Austria altogether. Prussia controlled
the Northern German Confederation formed by all those territories at
north of the River Main, which included Hanover, Hesse-Cassel, Nassau,
and the Free City of Frankfurt. The territories at the south of the
river that included Bavaria, Wurtemberg and Baden were all bound to
treatries that leave all their armies under the command of Prussia in
the case of war against a foreign power.
- Third limited war: The Franco-Prussian War (1870):
Bismarck wanted a war with France in order to unite North and South
Germans nationalistically against a foreign power. In 1870, Bismarck
encouraged Prince Leopold, a Prussian and relative of Wilhelm I, to
compete for the throne of Spain. As Bismarck expected, France was
angry about this, and demanded Leopold withdraw, because this produce
the possibility of a two-front war against France under Prussian
influence. Bismarck set a trap for Napoleon III with the Ems Telegram
that either meant a political defeat at the cost of his French crown
or to wage war. Napoleon choice was the second option.
France was isolated by the fact that it had interests in acquiring
Luxembourg and Belgium, this prevent the possibility for help from
England to France, and Bismarck used the Luxembourg case to unite
Germany for the German cause, as opposed to a Prussian cause.
Bismarck's ability to control and limit military operations was
displayed after Sedan at Metz, and during the bombardment of Paris.
His effort to limit army operations in France was to attempt to
negotiate a definitive peace, preserving the Bonaparte government from
where he could gain the most.
Bismarck also was able to add support of the voice of the people by
manipulating the press to mobilize popular support.
During the Franco-Prussian War german nationalism ran high. On January
18, 1871, when Paris was sorrounded by Prussian army, Wilhelm I was
proclaimed Emperor of Germany in Versailles. The Second Reich (German
Empire) was formed and Bismarck was appointed the new empire’s first
imperial Chancellor.
"Bismarck's political goal to expand Prussian rule over German
territories that resulted in the limited wars of 1864, 1866, and 1870,
was a meticulously planned calculation of diplomacy and limited war.
To further the influence, rule, and sphere of the Prussian monarchy,
Bismarck knew exactly what to do.His formula was a shadow of
Clausewitz's trinity of war that considered the elements of politics,
military, and the people. Bismarck averted general war by isolating
his enemy through diplomacy, controlling his military counterparts in
delivering decisive victories, and by appealing to the public for
domestic support. His hardened prowess in knowing when to make and
break alliances, sue for peace, and resist articulating his political
views to the military, allowed Bismarck to avert general war, and
through various treaties retain the spoils of war."
From "Bismarck and the European Alliance System" by Dieter Stenger:
http://www.stengerhistorica.com/History/Ehrenrettung/FerroIgnique.pdf
Sources:
"Bismarck and the European Alliance System" by Dieter Stenger:
http://www.stengerhistorica.com/History/Ehrenrettung/FerroIgnique.pdf
"The Second Reich":
http://www.cusd.chico.k12.ca.us/~bsilva/projects/2ndreich/
"The Library of Congress Country Studies: Germany":
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/detoc.html
"CLAUSEWITZ AND HIS WORKS" by Christopher Bassford:
http://www.clausewitz.com/CWZHOME/CWZSUMM/CWORKHOL.htm
Kissinger, Henry. Diplomacy:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0671510991/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-3746151-7028068#reader-link
I hope this helps you, and before rate this answer please feel free to
request for further clarification if you find some part incomplete or
unclear. I will glad to respond your requests.
Best regards.
livioflores-ga |
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