Larger Second Schleswig War

[herricks]

Ok so I had this thought pop into my head the other day and I was hoping to maybe get some of talks opinions on it.

The thought was what if Britain and France intervened against Prussia and Austria during the Second Schleswig War? What could cause those 2 countries to intervene on Denmark's behalf? How would such a war likely play out? Who else might join? Would Sweden assist? Or could Italy attempt to grab veneto 2 years sooner? What about Russia? So soon after the Crimean war would they be able to do anything? And if so then for which side?

 

[Mikestone8]

Well first off, you need to prevent the ACW, so that Britain's attention isn't focused on Canada and possible war with the Union, and France is not entangled in Mexico.

Even that might not be enough as France has no particular interest in the matter. Indeed Napoleon III, a strong believer in the national principle, would probably favours a division along linguistic lines, probably settled by plebiscite. The Danes of course would reject this.

Russia won't want to know being still mopping up after the Polish revolt. Indeed Prussia is the power with whom she is on the best terms. Italy isn't enough of a military power fir it to really matter what she does.

 

[herricks]

Well first off, you need to prevent the ACW, so that Britain's attention isn't focused on Canada and possible war with the Union, and France is not entangled in Mexico.

Even that might not be enough as France has no particular interest in the matter. Indeed Napoleon III, a strong believer in the national principle, would probably favours a division along linguistic lines, probably settled by plebiscite. The Danes of course would reject this.

Russia won't want to know being still mopping up after the Polish revolt. Indeed Prussia is the power with whom she is on the best terms. Italy isn't enough of a military power fir it to really matter what she does.

Who would likely come out on top in this war

 

[Fabius Maximus]

Well first off, you need to prevent the ACW, so that Britain's attention isn't focused on Canada and possible war with the Union, and France is not entangled in Mexico.

Even that might not be enough as France has no particular interest in the matter. Indeed Napoleon III, a strong believer in the national principle, would probably favours a division along linguistic lines, probably settled by plebiscite. The Danes of course would reject this.

Russia won't want to know being still mopping up after the Polish revolt. Indeed Prussia is the power with whom she is on the best terms. Italy isn't enough of a military power fir it to really matter what she does.

Perhaps Napoleon and Britain might realise that Prussian ambitions have the potential to destabilise Europe, and decide to check their rise before things get out of hand? Or are Prussian ambitions to unite Germany not yet evident enough for this sort of reasoning to take hold?

 

[herricks]

Perhaps Napoleon and Britain might realise that Prussian ambitions have the potential to destabilise Europe, and decide to check their rise before things get out of hand? Or are Prussian ambitions to unite Germany not yet evident enough for this sort of reasoning to take hold?

I'm not sure if it is or not by this time?

 

[Mikestone8]

Perhaps Napoleon and Britain might realise that Prussian ambitions have the potential to destabilise Europe, and decide to check their rise before things get out of hand? Or are Prussian ambitions to unite Germany not yet evident enough for this sort of reasoning to take hold?

Not even close.

Prussia was the smallest of the Great powers and, as far as anyone then knew, the weakest. Both Napoleon III and the Tsar were more hostile to Austria than to Prussia, and weakening Prussia would increase Austrian preponderance in Germany, which no one (except the Austrians) particularly wanted. Even Britain, so far as it had a preference, was inclined to favour Protestant Prussia over Catholic France and Austria. As between Prussia and Denmark, both Protestant, British opinion favoured the Danes, but no continental power had any interest in seconding us on that.