Part XVI: Colonial Ambitions
In the late evening of the sixth of June a decision was made in Berlin, Prussian forces would launch their invasion of Bohemia on the 8th of June. Shortly after the decision was made the Prussian army in Silesia and Sachsen were reinforced and resupplied for a long march towards Vienna. Prussian troops crossed the Austrian border near Karlsbad and the first battle between the Austrian III. Korps and the Prussian XIV. Korps started in the proximity of the city. The efficiency of the Prussian army overwhelmed the Austrians and within hours the Austrians broke and fled the battlefield. The plans for the mobilization of nearly 400,000 men were put on hold as the Austrians didn’t appear to pose a threat to the Prussian advance.
Without informing the Prussian leadership of their intentions, the Italian leaders started to negotiate a peace treaty with the Austrians. The capture of Milan and the humiliating defeat at Karlsbad had but the Austrians in a bad position, especially with reinforcements from France and Prussia expected to arrive soon. Days passed as both the French and Prussians, once bitter enemies but now fighting on the same side, sent thousands of soldiers to the aid of the Italian struggle. Their support would come to late, as by June 15, the Sardinian King announced the ‘Italian War of Independence’ to be a success and that his troops had brought Austria to her knees. They had gained Lombardy in the peace treaty, but at the same time his appearance angered the French government and cause great concern amongst the leaders in Berlin.
All eyes were focused on Italy, as Sardinia was still fighting the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies for the leadership over Italy, when the Dutch would make a bold move. Nearly 30 years ago, Belgium separated from the Netherlands and although suppressed by the Prussian forces, the Dutch didn’t recover Flanders nor Wallonia. By 1861 Dutch forces crossed the border near Antwerp and Hasselt, with the goal to submit Flanders. With the Great Powers of Europe completely caught off guard, the Dutch victory was quick and decisive, within 3 weeks all Flemish resistance was crushed and the Republic of Flanders was reincorporated into the Netherlands. Britain, France and Russia condemned the actions taken by the Dutch, but didn’t take the necessary steps to punish the Dutch for their actions.
Dutch annexation of Flanders
In the same year the Prussian Colonial Forces were established, as the first Burmese troops completed their training and were deployed at the British border. The colonial ambitions for Prussia were not without risk. The Prussian navy was virtually non-existent at this time and to protect her colonies or to aspire greater colonial possession a greater navy was desperately needed. All efforts were now poured into the establishment of shipyard in Kiel, Danzig and Konigsberg as well as to catch up with Britain in the naval race. The establishment of the Prussian admiralty would further strengthen Prussians naval ambitions.
In April 1861, the death of the Burmese King had far greater consequences as a succession crisis. Britain hoped to establish a puppet on the Burmese throne, however, this one had to be installed by forces and so Britain, in violation of the Treaty of Paris, sent 25,000 troops across the border. Without awaiting a reply from Berlin, the governor of Southern Burma sent his forces across the border to intercept the British troops and take the city of Mandalay before the British would. Within 2 weeks Prussian troops reached the Burmese capital and forced its surrender. To protect Burma from further unwanted British intervention, all land connecting the two was surrendered to the Prussians, effectively ending the war between Burma and Britain.
Prussian Empire in 1862
But Prussia wasn’t the only nation with colonial aspirations, so did Italy. After recovering from the turmoil caused by the Italian unification, they started to plan their establishment as a colonial power. Limited in naval size, it encountered the same problems as Prussia, but unlike Prussia, Italy had two exceptionally strong allies: France and Prussia. A bold plan was created by the Italians to attack the Dutch, who were still in political isolation, together with the French and the Prussians. The French would take care of the Dutch navy, while the Prussians would invade the mainland and thus leaving Italy with plenty of maneuver in Indonesia, where they hoped to gain their colonies. On June 11th 1863, Italy declared war upon the Netherlands. This act of aggression was immediately condemned by Britain, Russia and Austria, while the French supported the Italians, claiming to liberate the Flemish people from Dutch oppression. Prussia in the mean time was in a difficult position, her alliance with Italy obliged her to go to war with the Netherlands, to whom they always had warm relations and had supported in more difficult times.
The Italian invitation to war
