HIST2128
Germany, 1871-1933: From Empire to Republic
The way to the German nation-state,
1815-70
Lecture 3
31 January 2012
Congress of Vienna, 1814-15 – Principles
Restoration: of political situation of 1792
Legitimacy: to justify dynastical claims of Ançien Régime
Solidarity: common policies of legitimate princes against
revolutionary ideas + movements
→ Created a new European order as balance of power
of 5 great powers (GB, R, F, A, Pr)
→ Made Prussia a permanent member of ‘Club of Big 5s’
→ Paved way to set up ‘German Confederation’
Congress of Vienna, 1814-15 – Results
Territorial results for Prussia:
Gained Northern Saxony + the Rhineland + Westphalia +
Western Pomerania + Danzig + Thorn + Posen
= Bulwark function at Rhine River (Prussian Western
territory) against France
= Separated Prussia into 2 economical + confessional
very different territories
= Future focus of Prussia more to West than to East
German Confederation, 1815-66 (1)
• Act of Confederation, Jun 1815:
→ ‘… to preserve the internal and external
security of Germany and the independence
and inviolability of the German states’ (Art. 2)
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39 members: 35 princes + 4 other rulers:
Incl. King of Britain (Hanover)
Incl. King Denmark (Holstein)
Incl. King of Netherlands (Luxemburg)
Incl. Austria (only partly)
Incl. Prussia (only partly)
German Confederation, 1815-66 (2)
• Bundestag at Frankfurt
→ Permanent meeting of ambassadors under chairmanship
of Austria
• Assembly of the Confederation
→ Non-permanent + occasionally
• Army of the Confederation
→ Individual contingents supplied by member states
• Permitted to set-up local assemblies + constitutions in
member states → a concession to liberalism
• But no uniform finances, law, traffic, economy
Zollverein (Customs Union), 1834
Prussia + most German states but not Austria
• Net Value of Production in Gulden, 1840s
Economic Sector
Customs Union
Austria
Agriculture
46,3
27,6
Small business 15,2
3,6
Industry
8,1
4,0
Total production 70,0
35,0
Customs Union: Myth + Reality
= An immediate step to German unification? But:
• No ‘national’ intention but predominantly economic reasons
• Earlier resistance due to structural difficulties, not to Austrian
negative influence
= A ‘side confederation’ to German Confederation dominated
by Prussia (but not by Austria as GC)
= Strong integrating influence on CU members who gave up
substantial parts of sovereignty
= A kind of substitute for lacking national unity
National question
‘Third Germany’ not prepared to close ranks with
Austria without Prussia
→ No reform of GC
• Bismarck successful: Austria forced to change
politics vs. Prussia + to search for common
interests with Prussia
= Crucial precondition for Prussia’s future
offensives in Central Europe
Schleswig-Holstein Question (1)
• Duchy of Schleswig: mixed Danish & German population
Duchy of Holstein: entirely German population
• Both Duchies under Danish rule but Treaty of Ripen (1460):
‘Never be divided’ (up ewig ungedeelt)
• Holstein member of German Confederation (since 1815)
but not Schleswig: Danish king member of GC
• German nationalist uprising of S-H in 1848 unsuccessful
• Treaty of London (1852:) Permitted only personal no real
union between DK + S-H to secure independence of S-H
Schleswig-Holstein Question (2)
• Rising Danish nationalism strived to incorporate Schleswig but
not Holstein
• Danish king Frederick VII declares London Treaty of 1852 as invalid +
declares incorporation of Schleswig into DK (Mar 1863)
• Military occupation of Holstein by GC troops to show readiness to
attack DK (Oct 1863)
• Death of Frederick VII + Christian IX new Danish king: Not accepted by
Schleswig-Holsteiners + German nationalists
• Prince of Augustenburg proposed as new ruler of independent S+ setting up of ‘exile government’
H
War with Denmark (1)
• Military victory of Prussia-Austria over DK (spring 1864)
• Occupation of Schleswig-Holstein by Prussian &
Austrian troops
• Bismarck strongly opposed to plans of independent S-H:
Only satellite state of Prussia tolerable for him
• New London Conference on S-H with no agreement due
to DK defiance (Apr-Jun 1864)
• Fresh war + complete surrender of DK (Jul 1864)
War with Denmark (2)
Treaty of Vienna (Oct 1864):
→ Danish king relinquishes his traditional rights in S-H = DK
lost 33% of population + 40% of territory
→ Joint sovereignty of Prussian & Austria of S-H:
Schleswig occupied by Prussia + Holstein by Austria
= Bismarck extremely popular figure in Prussia
= Austria’s administration of Holstein regarded by
Bismarck as convenient stumbling-block to start
diplomatic quarrels with Austria