Editing Austro-Prussian War (section)

== Course of the war ==
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[[File:Nachod 1.JPG|thumb|Cavalry clash at the [[Battle of Nachod]]]]
The first war between two major continental powers in seven years, it used many of the same technologies as the [[Second Italian War of Independence]], including [[rail transport|railways]] to concentrate troops during mobilization and [[telegraphy]] to enhance long-distance communication. The Prussian Army used [[Johann Nicolaus von Dreyse|von Dreyse]]'s breech-loading [[needle gun]], which could be rapidly loaded while the soldier was seeking cover on the ground, whereas the Austrian muzzle-loading rifles could be loaded only slowly, and generally from a standing position.

The main campaign of the war occurred in the Habsburg Empire's [[Kingdom of Bohemia]]. Prussian Chief of General Staff [[Helmuth von Moltke the Elder|Helmuth von Moltke]] had planned meticulously for the war. He rapidly mobilized the Prussian army and advanced across the border into Saxony and Bohemia, where the Austrian army was concentrating for an invasion of [[Silesia]]. There, the Prussian armies, led nominally by [[William I, German Emperor|King William I]], converged, and the two sides met at the [[Battle of Königgrätz]] (Hradec Králové) on 3 July. The Prussian [[Army of the Elbe]] advanced on the Austrian left wing, and the [[First Army (Austro-Prussian War)|First Army]] on the center, prematurely; they risked being counter-flanked on their own left. Victory therefore depended on the timely arrival of the [[Second Army (Austro-Prussian War)|Second Army]] on the left wing. This was achieved through the brilliant work of its chief of staff, [[Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal]]. Superior Prussian organization and élan decided the battle against the federal troops, and the victory was near total, with Austrian battle deaths nearly seven times the Prussian figure. An armistice between the Empire and its rival came into effect at noon on 22 July.{{sfn|Prussian General Staff|1872|p=362}} A preliminary peace was signed on 26 July at [[Mikulov|Nikolsburg]].{{sfn|Prussian General Staff|1872|p=378}}

[[File:Die Seeschlacht bei Lissa.jpg|thumb|Austrian victory at the naval [[Battle of Lissa (1866)|Battle of Lissa]]]]
Except for Saxony, the other German states allied to Austria played little role in the main campaign. Stuck in the [[Thuringian Basin]], Hanover's army defeated chaotic Prussians at the [[Battle of Langensalza (1866)|Second Battle of Langensalza]] on 27 June 1866, but, within a few days, they were forced to surrender by superior numbers and a homemade logistical catastrophe. Prussian armies fought against Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden and the Hessian states during the [[campaign of the Main]] (river), reaching [[Nuremberg]] and [[Frankfurt]]. The Bavarian fortress of [[Würzburg]] was shelled by Prussian artillery, but the garrison defended its position until armistice day.

The Austrians were more successful in [[Third Italian War of Independence|their war with Italy]], defeating the Italians on land at the [[Battle of Custoza (1866)|Battle of Custoza]] (24 June), and on sea at the [[Battle of Lissa (1866)|Battle of Lissa]] (20 July). However, Italy's "[[Hunters of the Alps]]" led by [[Giuseppe Garibaldi|Garibaldi]] defeated the Austrians at the [[Battle of Bezzecca]] on 21 July, conquered the lower part of [[Trentino]], and moved towards [[Trento]]. While the temporary Alpine conquest missed political support by allies, a redeployment of Austrian troops in order to hold the [[Danube]] facilitated an Italian march through the Venetian coastal plain, finally resulting in the [[armistice of Cormons]] on 12 August.
 
=== Major battles ===
[[File:Custozza1866.jpg|thumb| Austrian [[uhlan]]s under Colonel Rodakowski attack Italian [[Bersaglieri]] during the [[Battle of Custoza (1866)|Battle of Custoza]]]]
* 24 June, [[Battle of Custoza (1866)|Battle of Custoza]]: Austrian army defeats Italian army.
* 27 June, [[Battle of Náchod]]: Prussians defeat Austrians.
* 27 June, [[Battle of Trautenau]] (Trutnov): Austrians check Prussian advance but with heavy losses.
* 27 June, [[Battle of Langensalza (1866)|Battle of Langensalza]]: Hanover's army defeats Prussia's. However, Hanover surrenders two days later.
* 29 June, [[Battle of Gitschin]] (Jičín): Prussians defeat Austrians.
* 3 July, [[Battle of Königgrätz]] (Sadová): overwhelming Prussian victory against Austrians.
* 10 July, [[Battle of Kissingen]]: Prussians defeat the Bavarians (7th Army Corps of the [[German Confederation]]).
* 20 July, [[Battle of Lissa (1866)|Battle of Lissa]] (Vis): the Austrian fleet decisively defeats the Italian one.
* 21 July, [[Battle of Bezzecca]]: [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]]'s "[[Hunters of the Alps]]" defeat an Austrian army.
* 22 July (last day of the war), [[Battle of Lamacs]] (Lamač): Austrians defend Bratislava against Prussian army.
* 24 July, [[Battle of Tauberbischofsheim]], the [[VIII Army Corps (German Confederation)|Federal 8th Corps]] (Württemberg, Baden, Hesse and Nassau) is defeated by Prussia and northern Württemberg is occupied.