HIST2128

Germany, 1871-1933: From Empire to Republic

The way to the German nation-state, 1815-70

Lecture 331 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)

• 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), 1834Prussia + 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-H + setting up of ‘exile government’

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