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HIST2086 Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor. War with Denmark 1864 Lecture 10 7 October 2010. Schleswig-Holstein Question (1). Duchy of Schleswig : mixed Danish & German population Duchy of Holstein : entirely German population
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HIST2086Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor War with Denmark 1864 Lecture 10 7 October 2010
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’
Schleswig-Holstein Question (3) Bismarck’s tactics: • Opposed independent S-H as possible new member of Austria-dominated GC • Stressed validity of London Treaty of 1852: Pressed for return to status quo • Calculated on DK defiance + DK diplomatic isolation in Europe
Schleswig-Holstein Question (4) Reactions + consequences: • German national movement + ‘Third Germany’ enthusiastic about S-H • Austria not supportive towards German national movement in S-H: Fear of strengthening Prussia = Joint Prussia-Austria ultimatum to DK to return to status quo (Jan 1864) = DK defiant but without foreign support
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