When did the Second Schleswig War begin and end?
The Second Schleswig War began on the 1st of February 1864 when Austrian forces attacked Dannevirke. The conflict concluded with the signing of the Final Treaty of Vienna on the 30th of October 1864.
Questions about Second Schleswig War
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who were the main combatants in the Second Schleswig War?
Prussia and Austria fought against Denmark during the Second Schleswig War. Field Marshal Friedrich Graf von Wrangel commanded combined Prussian-Austrian forces while Prince Friedrich Karl later became supreme commander conquering Jutland entirely by spring.
What caused the Second Schleswig War to start?
King Christian IX signed the November Constitution on the 18th of November 1863 which tied the Duchy of Schleswig more closely to Denmark. The German Confederation viewed this act as a direct violation of the London Protocol from 1852 leading to war.
How much territory did Denmark lose after the Second Schleswig War?
Land area decreased by forty percent reducing population from 2.6 million down to 1.6 million total. Frontier retreated approximately 250 kilometers measured from Duchy of Lauenburg corner to Kongeå river line.
Why did Britain not intervene militarily in the Second Schleswig War?
Britain maintained the world's most powerful navy yet possessed only a small volunteer army needing continental allies for ground forces. The Crimean War poisoned relations between Britain and Russia making cooperation impossible while American Civil War blockades damaged British economy severely.