alliances (GWU)

• In the APW- Austria did not secure help from any alliances and Britain, France and Russia refused to help- what impact did this have?


  Austria lost due to Prussian supremacy in many aspects – Prussian military had undergone significant military reform, they benefitted from effective strategic planning and the use of railways, the Prussians also had better weaponry. Conversely, the Austrians suffered from a poor economy and

  a lack of industrialisation – the fact that they didn’t secure any effective alliance meant this problem was unresolved and certainly contributed to their defeat
• Even when Germany supported Austria in the APW what was the issue?

  Coordination was ineffective
• Arguably in APW were other factors more important?

  Yes- planning, organisation and weaponry had a bigger impact on the outcome of the war as Austria did have favouring factors which meant the lack of alliance had less impact
• In the FPW how were alliances a factor?

  France failed to secure any meaningful alliance – Britain didn’t fully trust the French so didn’t get involved. The French war effort could have been boosted if they‘d secured an effective alliance, but many still thought France would win against Prussia. French military had improved under Napoleon III. But Prussian mobilisation of troops, strategic planning (railways) and effective use of weaponry (Krupp breach loading artillery) all played their part in the defeat of France who failed to use their superior weaponry effectively