What if Prussia lost the Franco-Prussian War?

If there had not been the Prussian victory in the Franco-Prussian War, France would have not needed an alliance with Russia and Prussia would have never become Germany. This would have made WW 1 a war between Russia and Austria, not a world war.

Was Italy involved in the Franco-Prussian War?

Rome was eventually joined to Italy towards the end of the Franco-Prussian war. The Italians ‘seized the day’, and sent an overwhelming force (30,000 plus artillery) into the Papal States and, after a short fight with the Papal army, Rome was formerly annexed to the Kingdom of Italy.

Who controlled Italy before unification?

Italy was first united by Rome in the third century BCE. It remained for over 700 years the de facto extension of the capital of the Roman Republic and Empire. It experienced a privileged status and avoided being converted into a province.

Did Italy fight in the Austro Prussian War?

The Kingdom of Italy participated in the war with Prussia, because Austria held Venetia and other smaller territories wanted by Italy to further the process of Italian unification. In return for Italian aid against Austria, Bismarck agreed not to make a separate peace until Italy had obtained Venetia.

Did Prussia ally with Napoleon?

The main coalition partners were Prussia and Russia with Saxony, Sweden, and Great Britain also contributing. French forces under Napoleon occupied Prussia, pursued the remnants of the shattered Prussian Army, and captured Berlin.

Why did France declare war on Prussia in 1870?

On 16 July 1870, the French parliament voted to declare war on Prussia and hostilities began three days later when French forces invaded German territory. The German coalition mobilised its troops much more quickly than the French and rapidly invaded northeastern France.

How did Prussia affect the balance of power in Europe?

In the aftermath of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, Prussia had annexed numerous territories and formed the North German Confederation. This new power destabilized the European balance of power established by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 after the Napoleonic Wars.

How did Bismarck react to Napoleon’s invasion of Prussia?

As a result, Napoleon demanded from Prussia a return to the French borders of 1814, with the annexation of Luxembourg, most of Saarland, and the Bavarian Palatinate. Bismarck flatly refused what he disdainfully termed France’s “politique des pourboires”.

How did the Treaty of Frankfurt 1871 affect Germany?

Following an armistice with France, the Treaty of Frankfurt was signed on 10 May 1871, giving Germany billions of francs in war indemnity, as well as most of Alsace and parts of Lorraine, which became the Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine ( Reichsland Elsaß-Lothringen ). The war had a lasting impact on Europe.