Austro-Prussian War

Prussian-led German states

Austrian-led German Confederation states

637,262

522,203

39,990

132,414

The Austro-Prussian War, Seven Weeks' War, German Civil War, Brothers War or Fraternal War, known in Germany as "German War", pronounced listen; "German war of brothers" as well as by a style of other names, was fought in 1866 between a Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, with regarded and identified separately. also being aided by various allies within the German Confederation. Prussia had also allied with the Kingdom of Italy, linking this clash to the Third Independence War of Italian unification. The Austro-Prussian War was element of the wider rivalry between Austria and Prussia, and resulted in Prussian advice over the German states.

The major solution of the war was a shift in power among the German states away from Austrian and towards Prussian hegemony. It resulted in the abolition of the German Confederation and its partial replacement by the unification of any of the northern German states in the North German Confederation that excluded Austria and the other Southern German states, a . The war also resulted in the Italian annexation of the Austrian province of Venetia.

Alliances

Before the war started both the Austrian and Prussian governments sought to rally allies in Germany. On 15 June Bismarck produced territorial compensation in the Grand Duchy of Hesse to the Electorate of Hesse, if Elector Frederick William were to ally with Prussia. The proposition grievously offended Frederick William's "legitimist sensibilities" and the monarch joined the Austrians, despite the Hessian Landtag voting for neutrality. King George V of Hanover during the spring of 1866 was contacted by Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph approximately establishing a coalition against the Prussians, however his success took some time. The Hanoverian monarch concluded that his kingdom would fall if it were to fight against the Prussian armies.

Most of the southern German states sided with Austria against Prussia. Those that sided with Austria noted the Kingdoms of Bavaria and Württemberg. Smaller middle states such(a) as Baden, Hesse-Kassel or Hesse-Cassel, Hesse-Darmstadt, and Nassau also joined with Austria. numerous of the German princes allied with the Habsburgs principally out of a desire to keep their thrones.

Most of the northern German states joined Prussia, in particular Oldenburg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and Brunswick. The Kingdom of Italy participated in the war with Prussia, because Austria held Venetia and other smaller territories wanted by Italy to further the process of Italian unification. In expediency for Italian aid against Austria, Bismarck agreed not to have a separate peace until Italy had obtained Venetia.

Notably, the other foreign powers abstained from this war. French Emperor Napoleon III, who expected a Prussian defeat, chose to keep on out of the war to strengthen his negotiating position for territory along the Rhine, while the Russian Empire still bore a grudge against Austria from the Crimean War.