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Austro-Prussian War

From Wacklepedia - The Free Encyclopedia


In 1866 Austria and Prussia fought the Austro-Prussian War or Seven Weeks War. Overtly fought over control of Schleswig-Holstein, the war brought to a head the rivalry between Otto von Bismarck's vision of a Prussian-dominated Kleindeutschland and the Austrian alternative of a pan-Germanic Grossdeutschland. Prussian élan and organisation quickly crushed Austria, leaving Bismarck's state dominant in Central Europe.

The war was decided in the Battle of K?iggratz on July 3 and paved the way for the Prussia-led German Empire of 1871.