HIST2086Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor

War with France 1870-1

Lecture 1326 October 2010

Bismarck’s strategy 1866-70

German unity ‘from above’ with Prussian leadership + dominance as prime goal:

• To make use of national movement as ‘integrating ideology’ to give artificial North German Confederation a major task

• To safeguard monarchy by employing ‘Bonapartism’: Successful government

→ loyalty → legitimacy + no ‘peoples war’

Luxemburg Crisis (1)

• Grand-duchy of Luxemburg: Person union with Holland + Prussian garrison s. 1839

• Napoleon III’s wish to acquire Luxemburg as price for his mediation in 1866 → Strong need to raise his own prestige in France

• Strong anti-French German public mood

• Bismarck’s fear of uncontrolled German ‘peoples’ war’ → Conference at London …

Luxemburg Crisis (2)

Conference at London, 1867:

• Luxemburg declared neutral + 5-power-guarantee• France kept out of Luxemburg + Prussian garrison withdrawn

= No territorial gain for France + heavy blow for Napoleon

► Serious damage of Franco-Prussian relations► Bismarck seen by France as German nationalist +

Prussian expansionist + strongly defiant to French hegemony of Europe

► War between France + Prussia soon expected

Napoleon's strategy 1867-70

• Re-strengthen ‘Bonapartism’ by successful foreign politics

• To set-up a coalition of France + Austria + Italy ≠ Prussia (+ Russia)

But: Austria’s readiness for war only when Russia sided Prussia

Italy’s excessive territorial demands incl. Papal State at Rome under French military protection

= No formal coalition: Unsuccessful French plans

Hohenzollern Candidature Crisis (1)

Spanish revolution of 1868:• Driving out Spanish Queen Isabella

• Moderate Spanish right’s search for new monarch to safeguard monarchy

→ Offer of Spanish crown to Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern = Catholic side-branch of royal Prussian House of Hohenzollern

Hohenzollern Candidature Crisis (2)

Bismarck’ perception of candidature:

• Option 1: Hohenzollern prince as Spanish King → One French army corps bound at Spanish border in case of French attack on Prussia → French ‘encircled’

• Option 2: Any other Catholic prince as Spanish King supported by France → Replacement of French troops in Rome by Spanish → Italy ready for coalition with France → Prussia ‘encircled’ + no German unity achievable

Hohenzollern Candidature Crisis (3)

• Bismarck’s secret encouragement of Hohenzollern candidature

• Strong French critic after official publication of candidature + desire for triumph, for

intimidation, humiliation of Prussia + creating war-like mood

• Spanish renunciation of Leopold’s candidature after strong French pressure: Such

voluntary step of Leopold not enough to satisfy French negative ambitions towards Prussia

Hohenzollern Candidature Crisis (4)

• France’s demand of official renunciation from King William I on behalf of Leopold for all time

= Overemphasising crisis + Napoleon’s overplaying his hand

• France’s demand refused by King William but his conciliatory reply to French ambassador Benedetti at Bad Ems

• ‘Ems telegram’ amended by Bismarck to provoke war with France → King’s action seemingly more abrupt + dismissive than in reality

Hohenzollern Candidature Crisis (4)

Napoleon’s situation:

• Option 1: To suffer major diplomatic defeat against Prussia → probably end of

Napoleon’s government

• Option 2: To escape into war → probably good chance to defeat Prussia:

Declaration of war, 19 Jul 1870

Warfare (1)• Strong anti-French feelings in all-Germany:

‘National uprising’ in North and South

• Neutral stance of Russia + Austria + Britain

• Quick mobilisation of Prussian + other German states armies + well-trained troops under Prussian General von Moltke

• France’s war declaration with no prior preparation or military action → Slow mobilisation of

French army → early battles defeats

Warfare (2)

3 major series of operations:

• Battles leading to trapping of French army under Bazaine in Metz (- October 1870)

• Surrender of Napoleon III at Sedan (2 Sep 1870)

• Investment of Paris (- 28 Jan 1871)

War Results

Founding of German Empire at Versailles, 18 Jan 1871

Treaty of Frankfurt, May 1871:• Annexation of French provinces Alsace + (East-)

Lorraine by Germany• Heavy French war indemnity

= New border line for military strategic reasons = Strong German public pressure on Bismarck to

annex French territory as punishment

► Long-lasting French revenge feeling