Editing History of Germany (section)

====Bismarck takes charge (1862–1866)====
In 1857, the Prussian king [[Frederick William IV of Prussia|Frederick William IV]] suffered a stroke and his brother [[William I, German Emperor|William]] served as regent until 1861 when he became King William I. Although conservative, William was very pragmatic. His most significant accomplishment was the naming of [[Otto von Bismarck]] as Prussian minister president in 1862. The cooperation of Bismarck, Defense Minister [[Albrecht von Roon]], and Field Marshal [[Helmut von Moltke]] set the stage for the military victories over Denmark, Austria, and France that led to the unification of Germany.{{Sfn|Holborn|1969|pp=131–167}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Feuchtwanger |first=Edgar |title=Bismarck: A Political History |date=2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-4157-2477-7 |edition=2nd |pages=83–98 |oclc=863633117 |ol=26785882M |author-link=Edgar Feuchtwanger}}</ref>

In 1863–1864, disputes between Prussia and Denmark over [[Duchy of Schleswig|Schleswig]], which was not part of the German Confederation, and which Danish nationalists wanted to incorporate into the Danish kingdom escalated. The conflict led to the [[Second War of Schleswig]] in 1864. Prussia, joined by Austria, easily defeated Denmark and occupied [[Jutland]]. The Danes were forced to cede both the Duchy of Schleswig and the [[Duchy of Holstein]] to Austria and Prussia. The subsequent management of the two duchies led to tensions between Austria and Prussia. Austria wanted the duchies to become an independent entity within the German Confederation, while Prussia intended to annex Austria. The disagreement served as a pretext for the [[Seven Weeks War]] between Austria and Prussia that broke out in June 1866. In July, the two armies clashed at Sadowa-Königgrätz (Bohemia) in an [[Battle of Königgrätz|enormous battle]] involving half a million men. Prussian superior logistics and the then-modern breech-loading [[needle gun|needle guns']] superiority over the slow [[muzzle-loading rifle|muzzle-loading rifles]] of the Austrians proved to be essential for Prussia's victory. The battle had also decided the [[Austria–Prussia rivalry|struggle for hegemony]] in Germany and Bismarck was deliberately lenient with a defeated Austria that would play only a subpordinate role in future German affairs.{{Sfn|Holborn|1969|pp=167–188}}{{Sfn|Feuchtwanger|2014| pp=99–147}}