Did France accidentally help Prussia form the German Empire?

yourworstnightmare

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Yes. They declared war for the most stupid of reasons. I mean, who declares war over a Telegram? What other European Great Power in the 19th century declares war on another Great Power over a telegram?
Thin non- European Power in the 20th Century!!:biggrin:
zimmerman-telegram-E.jpg
 
Thin non- European Power in the 20th Century!!:biggrin:
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True.

But comparing proposing to reconquer the Southwest of a country to another country after announcing unrestricted submarine warfare, to "insulting" a diplomat, which wasn't even, in reality, an insult if France bothered to ask Benedetti...

... After France got what it wanted when Prussia withdrew Leopold's candidacy for the Spanish throne...

The proper diplomatic course is not war, but to demand an explanation and apology from Prussia.

Which Napoleon III never bothered to do.
 
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Yup, confirmed!

Though I wonder what would've happen if Napoleon III didn't walk into the bait.

I'm wondering if he'd switch over to helping Austria
Well if Napoleon III wasn't the kind of guy to walk into obvious baits with no thought I think Bismark would have gone for something different which would be interesting on it's own.
 
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