Connecting History: Higher Germany, 1815–1939 by Euan M. Duncan

Author:Euan M. Duncan [Duncan, Euan M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hodder Education
Published: 2022-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Leadership

The Prussian army was not only increasingly professional and well equipped but also well led. During the conflicts with Austria and France, the military leadership of the generals von Roon and von Moltke contributed to Prussian victory, paving the way for the possible unification of Germany in 1871.

One way in which leadership proved effective was in military planning. In the mid-nineteenth century armies were often very large, even hundreds of thousands strong. Troops needed to be mobilised and transported to the areas of conflict, a task the Prussian generals were particularly adept at organising. For example, during the Austro-Prussian War (or Seven Weeks’ War) of 1866, the Prussian field marshal Helmuth von Moltke picked the perfect time and place to attack the Austrian forces, which were spread out across Austria’s large empire. He also chose a location that was connected to only one Austrian rail line, but five Prussian lines. This allowed Moltke to quickly deploy the large and modern Prussian army to battle, which caught the Austrians off guard. Similar tactics were employed during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71 when the Prussian-led German army attacked near Alsace-Lorraine, which was connected to five Prussian rail lines versus France’s two.

Figure 4.3 General von Moltke has been described as a military genius. His leadership played a major role in Prussian military victories and, therefore, eventual German unification

Prussian generals were also skilled in the use of modern communication technology, such as the telegraph, to coordinate troops that were spread out. This contributed to German victory as it meant the Prussian army, often smaller or equal in size to its opponents, was able to take advantage of key technological advances in order to better concentrate its forces in one place. This enabled the Prussian army to quickly defeat opponents in Denmark, Austria and France, which helped pave the way for German unification in 1871.

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