The Impact of Prussia – The German Wars of Unification 1864-71

1. The Impact of Prussia – The German Wars of Unification 1864-71 Aim To be able to explain why Prussia came to dominate this period and what lessons were drawn from their victories

2. Background – Franco Austrian War 1859 a) Railway and strategy b) Weapons and Tactics French ‘Napoleon’ cannon – accurate to 3,500 yards, it effectively won every battle Still use Napoleon ‘shock’ tactics – charging at infantry. Should have resulted in a massacre but poor training of Austrians allowed it to be successful. Observers convinced well spirited attack was better than organised defence. • Railways successfully used by France – 120,000 men mobilised in 2 weeks • 70,000 extra troops delivered by steam ship • Lesson learnt of arriving first with supreme numbers in peak fighting condition who were well supplied

3. Wars of German Unification • Key question: What were the reasons for the Prussian military supremacy during this period?

4. The General Staff The Strategic use of Railways Prussian Reforms Conscription and the Prussian Nation-in-Arms Prussian Tactics

5. War 1: Prussian-Austrian 1866 (Lasts 7 weeks) • Moltke used Prussian advances in mobilisation and tactics to devastate the Austrian Army – 250,000 Prussians were deployed over 300 miles and converged rapidly on enemy positions (a 19th century Blitzkrieg) • At Sadowa they avoided a full frontal assault and instead split their forces into small, mobile units to surround the enemy and fire on them from all sides (the advantage of the greater firepower and accuracy the Dresyse rifle, as well as the fact that you could fire it from lying down, was clear for all to see) – the Austrians were smashed into the ground

6. War 2: Franco-Prussian 1870-1 • Displays Prussian brilliance in mobilisation, strategic movement, organisational leadership and firepower. • The Prussian Army numbered 1 million – they faced a French force of 400,000 (whose mobilisation “resembled a disturbed ants nest”).

7. But the French enjoyed some advantages • New breech-loading rifle (The Chassepot), which had twice the range of the Prussian Dreyse. • An early, heavy machine gun (The Mitrailleuse) – this was kept a secret so hardly any French people knew how to use it • The French, therefore, had potentially greater firepower BUT this was compromised by poor leadership and organisation

8. How did the war progress? • Superior Prussian tactics, artillery and weight of numbers swept aside any potential advantage • The Krupps cannon – longer range and better accuracy meant they could destroy French forces without coming under fire themselves • Once again, two battles decided the war – the seige of Metz and the following encirclement of relief forces at Sedan • Sedan saw the capitulation of 103,000 French fighters as they were overwhelmed by superior artillery • A turning point – signalled the end of infantry dominance fighting and the beginning of artillery based fighting.

10. Areas of German excellence which were copied • The importance of rapid mobilisation facilitated by a railway system co-ordinated for military purposes • Obsession with sweeping attack plans • Importance of a General Staff as the essential brain of the army • Acceptance of the expanded German Nation-in-Arms based upon mass conscription of short term, highly trained conscripts supplemented by a huge pool of battle ready reserves

11. Task – 30 minutes • How did warfare develop between 1854 and 1875? Explain your answer giving reference to battles that you have studied