After Prussia's victory over Austria in 1866: 1) Napoleon III of France became deeply concerned by Prussia's growing power and sought to limit Prussian expansion. 2) Tensions rose further during the Luxembourg Crisis of 1866, when Bismarck opposed French influence in the region, damaging Franco-Prussian relations. 3) Over the following years disputes over succession to the Spanish throne and interpretations of communications like the Ems Telegram increased tensions until the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870, culminating in Prussia's victory and the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership.

1. FRANCO-PRUSSIAN
REALTIONS
1866-70

2. The international situation in 1866 was far better than Bismarck expected - only real threat was
France, unpredictably led by Emperor Napoleon III.

3. PROFILE: LOUIS NAPOLEON 1808-73
• Born, son of Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland & brother
of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte
• Elected President of the new French Republic in 1848,
become Emperor Napoleon III in 1852
• Unlike his uncle lacked ruthlessness &
political savvy
• Speed of Prussia’s victory against Austria
had dashed Napoleon’s hopes of acting
the peace-maker
• Bismarck promised that Prussian
expansion was limited to N Germany &
that the south German states were to
remain independent
After 1866 Napoleon is deeply concerned
by the growing power of Prussia.

4. Why did Franco-Prussian
relations deteriorate after
1866?

5. THE LUXEMBURG CRISIS
• Napoleon needed a diplomatic & territorial success to prove that
France still remained the continent’s greatest power - the
answer (never thought I’d say this)… the Duchy of Luxembourg
• The French start organising the purchase of Lux from its Duke,
the King of the Netherlands
• Late 1866 - Bismarck suddenly announces that the French gain
of Lux would be:
‘a humiliating injury to German national feeling… If a nation
feels its honour has been violated, it has in fact been violated
and appropriate action must ensure… We must in my option
risk war rather than yield.’
• At this point however, it seemed unlikely Bismarck wished for
conflict.
• London Conference - comprise… but in reality heavy blow for
Napoleon. Serious damage inflicted on Franco-German relations.

7. • A sidenote …
• The Luxemburg crisis has been seen as the point at which
Bismarck stopped being a Prussian patriot & became a
German one.
• However, there is no evidence that he thought this.
• Bismarck stirred up & used German national feeling quite
cynically as a means to increase Prussian influence over the
rest of the German states, as well as a weapon against France.
Post-Luxemburg - Bismarck now wanted a united Germany *under
Prussian control* but knew that this was unlikely to happen
overnight. Only a war with France, which would raise national
consciousness & brought all Germans together, was likely to speed
up the process.

8. Last side-note: Bismarck’s
Peaceful Intentions?
Interview with a British journalist in 1867:
‘There is nothing in our attitude to annoy or alarm France … there is
nothing to prevent the maintenance of peace for 10 or 15 years, by
which time the French will have become accustomed to German
unity, and will consequently have ceased to care about it.’
Why would Bismarck at this point wish to present himself as a man
of peace?

9. THE ROAD TO WAR
Who was most to blame for
the Franco-Prussian War?

10. Hohenzollern candidature crisis 1868-70
French demands 1870
William I backed down
New French demands
Rejected by William I
Ems telegram
French reaction
War
Bismarck’s motives?
To what extent did the Em’s
telegraph cause war?

11. THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR
1870-71
What should the war be called? Franco-Prussian or
Franco-German?
Why was Bismarck in a strong diplomatic position at the
outbreak of war?
At the outbreak of war
French citizens gather
outside the Bastile & chanted
‘To Berlin!’

12. Why did Prussia win?

13. Mobilisation Railways Krupp artillery Moltke
Metz Sedan - Napoleon surrendered
Paris besieged: French surrender January 1871

14. What were the main results
of the war?

15. Results of the war
South German
states
Proclamation of
German Empire
Treaty of
Frankfurt
Alscae-
Lorraine
Reparations
French desire
for revenge