The Austro-Prussian War of 1866
The following is a contributed article. The author, Andreas Kopp, M.A., has his own web page. It is a biographical page of the major players in the Waterloo Campaign, it can be found on our links page. This article deals with the little known (outside of Germany and Austria) Austro-Prussian War of 1866.
The period between the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the 19th century was characterized by struggles of nations fighting to establish their identities. As the Chancellor of Prussia , the wily Otto Edward Leopold von Bismarck, or Bismarck to us, schemed to go to war with Austria to establish hegemony over the German states. 4 years later, he schemed to go to war with France to cement Prussia's leadership. Through the violent maelstroms of the 20th century, the legacy of Bismarck endures this day, Berlin, the capital of Prussia is once more the capital of a unified Germany. The article is produced verbatim below.
After the short union of the german states in their war against Napoleon and revolutionary france the differences between Prussia and Austria in the newly built "Deutscher Bund" (i.e. german federation) became obvious. Austria was in the middle of the 19th century the leading power in germany. This was believed by Austria and the other european states. But unnoticed Prussia strengthened his position in these years. In the first part of 19th century the population rised from 9 to 18 million. Austria instead had his problems with the different nations living on his ground. In 1834 Prussia takes the first step to unify the german states by establishing the socalled "Deutscher Zollverein", a unity to advance the german trade. Austria wasn't here involved. The development was clear. Prussia made his way in Germany, Austria stood aside.
In 1860 there was a crisis in Prussia. The parliament stopped the plans of King Wilhelm I. to reform the army. The kings answer was the appointment of Otto von Bismarck as primeminister.
Bismarck, in modern terms a hardliner, reformed the army in the following years in spite of the opposition of the parliament. His aim was to strengthen the prussian monarchy and the leadership in the "Deutscher Bund", with or against Austria.
In 1866 the conflict between Prussia and Austria was inflamed in Schleswig-Holstein, a german state that was occupied by the two states after the war in 1864 against denmark. Bismarck, who inforced the conflict, hoping to clear the german question, knew that Russia, France and Italy would stood aside. But would the small prussian state have a chance against Austria.
The austrian army seemed to be the strongest army in europe, except of Russia. But her maximum strength of 850.000 soldiers couldn't be mobilized in the following weeks. At the beginning of war Austria had 320.000 man at his disposal, Prussia 350.000. Also the prussian general staff was better organised than the austrian.
But the most remarkable factor was the well trained and equiped prussian soldier. The whole infantry had breech-loader rifles so that their battaillons could handle in a way, which was formerly only allowed to skirmishers and snipers. The austrian soldier instead has his old muzzle-loader , marched in closed ranks and relied on the old bayonet assault.
In the first days of war one prussian victory followed the other.Saxe and Hesse was captured by the way and on 29th of June the hannoverian army capitulated at Langensalza. In Boheme Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm won on 27th of June at Soor, on 28th of June General Steinmetz at Skalitz, and on the same day Prince Friedrich Karl at Münchengrätz.
On 29th June the first prussian army attacked the saxonian army at Gitschin and forced their withdrawl to Königgrätz/Sadowa. Here Fiedmarshall Benedek, the austrian commander in chief, regrouped his army.
Benedeks grouping of his army shows that he wasn't informed about the second prussian army, which was advancing in the north of the battlefield.
At 2nd of July General Motke, the prussian chief of the general staff, was informed, that the austrian army stood behind the Bistritz, a small affluent of the river Elbe. Directly he gave his order to the Crown Prince, the commander of the second prussian army, to strengthen his efforts.
At the 3rd of July at eight o clock the first prussian army and the socalled Elbarmee (i.e. army of the Elbe) started the attack all over the front. The main assault was in the middle of the austrian front. The Elbarmee was attacking in the south.
At 10 o clock the villages of Mokrowous, Dohalitzka, Unter-Dohalizu and Sadowa were in prussian hands. In the south the commander of the Elbarmee Bittenfeld captured Nachanitz but his troops crossed the river not before 11.15. In the north Friedrich Karls 7th division approached to the Swiepwald. A series of austrian counterattacks were in vain. The 7th division holds his position against the assaults of two austrian corps. At 11.30 the 1st Guard Division of the second prussian army reached the northern battlefield.
At 1 p.m. the 1st Guard Division marched to the village of Chlum in the rear of the austrian front. The 6th corps of the austrian army attacked the guard, and the village of Rosberitz often changed hands. The austrian infantry which attacks the prussian troops in closed ranks was decimated by the rapid fire of the prussian Zündnadelgewehr (a formidable breech-loader). The prussian guard hold their stand in Chlum and Benedek ordered his last reserve the 1st corps into focus.
At 4.30 p.m. Bonins 1st prussian corps arrived at Chlum and the 6th prussian corps arrived at the river Trotina. The austrian line of retreat was in danger. The situation of the austrian army was hopeless and Benedek ordered the retreat after attacking the prussians with his cavalry.
In the battle of Sadowa/Königgrätz 221.000 Prussians and 215.000 Austrians were engaged.
Prussia lost 359 officers and 8794 troopers (death, wounded, captured or missing in action), Austria 1313 officers and 41.499 troopers, Saxony 55 officers and 1446 troopers.
Prussia had not only won the battle but also the war. Prussia was now the leader in germany.
So far the historical background and I hear the rumor. Will there be future releases of figures relating to this war by any company. No, I think? In my opinion this is an entire german aspect, but we all know the famous conversions relating to napoleonic times. So why don't we built a diorama with existing figures.
The prussian infantrymen wore the Pickelhaube (i think there is no expression for this helmet in the english language). So we can take the figures of Esci British Infantry Zulu war and Kyber pass. You give them a top and you will see the older modell of the german Pickelhaube. Also you can take the heads of the Hät soldiers Germans WWI. Here you find the original helmet which was intruduced in prussia in 1860. As body you can take the ACW figures of all companies, also the above mentioned Esci soldiers.
Take care that you don't use the figures with muzzle-loaders for the prussian troops.
The colour of the prussian uniform was darkblue, the trousers black. The distinguishing mark of the uniform was predominantly red. The coat was darkgrey, nearly black, and was worn round the left shoulder and around the breast.
As cavalry troops you can use the napoleonic cuirassiers and carabiniers, with the Hät heads of the germans WWI. The uniforms were white, with red bages. The cavalrymen wore black top-boots. The cuirass and the helmet were silver.
You can also built lancers. Using the napoleonic lancers you have to smallen the Tschapka in the middle, because the helmet in 1866 was a little bit smaller. The uniform was darkblue, the cuffs and the breast red.
As hussards you can use the british Light Dragoons of Esci. The dolman was red with silver laces. The breeches were darkgrey respective blue.The busby brown with a red wing.
The dragoons are the Hät Prussian dragoons with the heads of WWI (Pickelhaube, you know).
The colour of the uniform was middleblue. The breeches black.
The artillery can be taken from the ACW artillery units, with, I think you know it, a Pickelhaube (Hät WWI Germans). The colour of the uniform was similiar to the infantry.
The troops were known as the "white infantry". This says it all. As body you can take the ACW figures and the above mentioned british colonial troops. The Austrians wore a shako like the Revell British Rifles at Waterloo. The Uniform was white, the distinguishing colour red. The trousers were light-blue.
Another possible conversion you can get by using the bodys of the french foreign legion of Airfix and Esci. Take the Revell shakos and you have infantry wearing coats.
A beautifull troop, and a diorama relating to the struggle in the Swiepwald, you can get by using the Brunswick Avant Garde of Hät. Here you have to cut the corsian hat at the top and you get the hat of the austrian rifleman. What do you want more. Here you can also place the head of the Brunswick Avant Garde on the body of the Esci Foreign Legion. A further troop in coats on your diorama.
The austrian lancers can be built like the prussians. They wore a green uniform, red breast and cuffs.
The cuirassiers wore a white uniform, blue trousers, and a helmet which looked alike the austrian infantry helmet of 1806. So you can use here the heads of the Esci figures.
The dragoons wore the same helmet. The uniforms and trousers in green, the cuffs red.
As hussards you can take the Hät Prussian Dragoons and the french hussards of Italeri. Green dolman with yellow laces, red breeches and a black respective red shako.
The artillery is here also the ACW artillery, but with the Revell Rifle shako. The uniform was brown, the trousers bluegrey. The grey coat was worne in the usual style.
The uniform of the saxe troops was similiar to the austrian. Here uniform and trousers were middleblue. They wore the same shakos. Source material shows the saxons also with caps. The caps are the caps of Häts English Infantry WWI and Escis Russians of the Crimean War. So you can get two different infantry units, one wearing shakos, one wearing caps.
My very best wishes for your conversion.
Author: Andreas Kopp, M.A.
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