Such a war didn't break the balance of power in Europe, while the goal of the Brits has always been to keep it so (as not to have someone so strong they might cross the Channel).
Plus, historically, ahum, Britain and France have never been, let's say, close friends, at least until the Fachoda Incident (I think that's fair to say? Correct me if I'm wrong about the date). So they would have no reason to help out of principle, especially since the Prussians housted a Napoleon of the throne.
God only knows what the Italians do
On the off chance that Britain does see German unification as a threat to her interests and does intervene, Austria is likely to join and attack Prussia with the South German states rallying to her or until the Russians come in and smash the Austrians. God only knows what the Italians do
The same South German states that are at that time allied with Prussia against France?
Yeah those are the ones. They are capable of switching sides at the drop of a bucket. Austria joining France might do the trick. After all, just four years earlier these States were allied with Austria against Prussia
The "German question" was settled with the 1866 war. By 1870 a switch of sides by Bayern, Baden and Würtemberg (Saxony) is IMHO something that - while not impossible - only happening if Prussia is clearly losing.
And even then would result in severe civil unrest - siding with aggressive France against German Prussia.
The "German question" was settled with the 1866 war. By 1870 a switch of sides by Bayern, Baden and Würtemberg (Saxony) is IMHO something that - while not impossible - only happening if Prussia is clearly losing.
And for those stimulating unrest, it would have been seen as yet another French invasion, occupation and annexation of German lands since the end of the middle ages. Well in that period France did benefit from the fact that their most important continental neighbour the Holy Roman Empire became increasingly disunited. After all it is the age of nationalism and for those Alsace-Lorraine was just a fulfilment of an irredentist claim.
Yeah those are the ones. They are capable of switching sides at the drop of a bucket. Austria joining France might do the trick. After all, just four years earlier these States were allied with Austria against Prussia
Interestingly, though, George V of Hanover had maintained a Hanoverian army in exile (the Guelph Legion, between 500 and 1,400 strong) until February 1870. He had 11,000 rifles stored in Paris ready to arm troops, and offered the French an alliance in July 1870:Hanover was conquered by Prussia since 1866.
you are right there, I take it back then.Hanover was conquered by Prussia since 1866.
I am not sure to understand what you mean by irredentist claim. But if you think that there was a significant claim for joining Germany in the alsacian and lorrain populations, you are wrong.
It is Germany and german States which wanted to have expand on what were ancient parts of the HRE. They already tried so in 1814/1815.