x During this period, the two most powerful states on the continent
were France and the Austrian Empire. A united Germany would
challenge their hegemony; thus, any attempt to create a powerful
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in particular, exercised varying degrees of control over several of
the key Germanic states and regions that Bismarck wished to bring
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x The Austrian Empire was a large, wealthy, culturally fragmented
realm that included parts of northern Italy, Hungary, Croatia, the
Illyrian coast, Bohemia, and Transylvania. The Austrian army,
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fought with success in a number of minor wars.
x Commanding the Austrian forces at Königgrätz was Ludwig
von Benedek, the son of a Hungarian doctor. Like Moltke, he
determined upon a military career early in life and enrolled as a
cadet in a military academy at the age of 14. He was both a highly
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mostly in Italy, and gaining a reputation for bravery. At the Battle
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command alone stood its ground and nearly snatched victory from
disaster, further enhancing his reputation.
x When war with Prussia became imminent, Benedek was the
popular choice for overall command of Austria’s armies, but he
was reluctant to accept, recognizing that grand strategic thinking
was not his strength. Among other factors, he had spent his entire
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basic topography of Central Europe. Nevertheless, he accepted the
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between the slapdash, rather disinterested General Army Staff of
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could not have been more pronounced.