mikewint
Captain
Once again the Germans did not loose or surrender. The signed an ARMISTICE and eventually a PEACE treaty, but I digress-
Ah Yes, that wonderful feeling of beating your enemy into the earth and making him eat a crapola sandwich without bread. Consider all the peace and tranquility it breeds.
Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God : for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.
Otto von Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor was certainly not a softie, but he did know how to really WIN a war.
At the Battle of Königgrätz, the Austrian army of 240,000 faced the Prussian Army of the Elbe (39,000) and First Army (85,000). One would assume a 2-1 advantage would make a difference, but nonetheless Prussia won handily.
King William and his generals were excited. They wanted to push onward, conquer Bohemia and march straight into Vienna.
However, Bismarck aware that the winds of luck are fickle and that planting the seeds of resentment yields a crop of vengeance, enlisted the help of the Crown Prince (who had opposed the war but had commanded one of the Prussian armies at Königgrätz) to dissuade his father at a very angry meeting. Bismarck had insisted on a "soft peace" with no annexations and no victory parades, so as to be able to quickly restore 'friendly' relations with Austria. Fortunately he got his way and a pattern was established. Each time Bismarck won a battle, he found a way to allow the vanquished side to safe face. His caution served him well.
The "soft" approach allowed Prussia to get everything they wanted at the Peace of Prague (1866). First the German Confederation was dissolved. Then Prussia annexed former Austrian territories Schleswig, Holstein, Frankfurt, Hanover, Hesse-Kassel, and Nassau.
Thanks to Bismarck's "soft" policies Prussia now controlled practically all of Northern Germany with Austria as an ally.
Ah Yes, that wonderful feeling of beating your enemy into the earth and making him eat a crapola sandwich without bread. Consider all the peace and tranquility it breeds.
Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God : for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.
Otto von Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor was certainly not a softie, but he did know how to really WIN a war.
At the Battle of Königgrätz, the Austrian army of 240,000 faced the Prussian Army of the Elbe (39,000) and First Army (85,000). One would assume a 2-1 advantage would make a difference, but nonetheless Prussia won handily.
King William and his generals were excited. They wanted to push onward, conquer Bohemia and march straight into Vienna.
However, Bismarck aware that the winds of luck are fickle and that planting the seeds of resentment yields a crop of vengeance, enlisted the help of the Crown Prince (who had opposed the war but had commanded one of the Prussian armies at Königgrätz) to dissuade his father at a very angry meeting. Bismarck had insisted on a "soft peace" with no annexations and no victory parades, so as to be able to quickly restore 'friendly' relations with Austria. Fortunately he got his way and a pattern was established. Each time Bismarck won a battle, he found a way to allow the vanquished side to safe face. His caution served him well.
The "soft" approach allowed Prussia to get everything they wanted at the Peace of Prague (1866). First the German Confederation was dissolved. Then Prussia annexed former Austrian territories Schleswig, Holstein, Frankfurt, Hanover, Hesse-Kassel, and Nassau.
Thanks to Bismarck's "soft" policies Prussia now controlled practically all of Northern Germany with Austria as an ally.