The Wars of the unification of Germany

Liberal moveiment in Germany had always been stirred by a desire to separate Schleswig-Holstein from Denmark. The liberals

called for a repudiation of external agreements by Prussia (such as the 1852 Protocol which put the Danish issue on ice),

while Bismarck declared in the Diet that he would non be a party to a breach of international obligations.

So Bismarck made an agreement with Austria, the avowed enemy of German unity, to proceed indoors the context of the 1852

Protocol. The two powers then sent an ultimatum to Denmark on January 16, 1864 demanding a withdrawal of the constitution

of November18 (which incorporated Schleswig in Denmark) within 48 hours or face military action. Denmark, counting on the

support of the European Powers, rejected the ultimatum. France hesitated to join England, which refused to act alone. So the

powers did nothing. An strive at mediation also failed. Denmark was therefore reduced to submission by Prussian and

Austrian military force.

In the Treaty of Gastein (August 1865) Prussia and Austria decided how to incline of the acquired duchies. The two powers

decided to rule the two duchies jointly, with Austria administering Holstein and Prussia administering Schleswig. Prussia was

given certain military roadstead through Holstein and command of Kiel, which was to be a port of the German Confederation.



Both

duchies were compelled to join the Zollverein, which was of course to Prussias benefit since she controlled the customs union

for all matter-of-fact purposes.

But that was not all. Prussia also annexed Lauenburg, although she paid a price of 2.5 one million million million thaler for it. The German claimant

to the throne of the two duchies, Augustenberg, was completely ignored. All this seemed fair enough, although Prussia

obviously got the better end of the stick. But Bismarck had no bearing of leaving things as they...

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