The Austro-Prussian War was a well-prepared conflict, and the entire German Empire had a clear and distinct war strategy. The conflict began in April, but due to the hesitation of the King of Prussia, preparations did not start until May.
Prussia was evidently the better-prepared side. For years, they had been gearing up for the unification of Germany, while the Austrians remained lost in their imperial dreams, unaware of the precarious situation facing the Austrian Empire.
As June 1866 arrived, tensions escalated on the border between Prussia and Austria. The Kingdom of Bavaria in southern Germany attempted to initiate a confederation vote, hoping to deter both Prussia and Austria from entering the war. However, the preparations on both sides had reached such a stage that Bavaria's efforts were futile.
After the Iron Chancellor Bismarck declared the parliament's decision invalid and demanded the dissolution of the Confederation Conference, the entire German landscape began to align in anticipation of war. The outcome of this impending conflict would not only determine the victor but also establish the ultimate ruler of the German territories.
On the side of Prussia were Mecklenberg, Oldenburg, and other northern German states, alongside the three free cities of Hamburg, Bremen, and Lübeck. Meanwhile, Austria could count on support from Saxony, Hanover, Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg, Hesse-Cassel, and Hesse-Darmstadt, among other member states of the German Confederation.
In terms of sheer numbers, population, and territorial size, Austria held the advantage. However, when it came to military strength, Prussia had the upper hand.
With June 14 marking the official outbreak of hostilities, Carlo remained confident about the war. Even a direct confrontation between Prussia and Austria would not favor the latter. While the Italian army could not play a significant role, it was poised to contain a portion of the Austrian forces early in the conflict. Garibaldi had already mobilized an army of over 10,000 men, which was unlikely to hinder the overall campaign.
Concerns about Garibaldi leading the troops solo prompted Vittorio Emanuele II to approve Carlo's request to invite Garibaldi's second son, Giotti, as Carlo's military attaché. Though the position held no real power, it allowed Giotti to accompany Carlo to military academy sessions and assist with various tasks.
As Carlo diligently studied military affairs, the war between Prussia and Austria reached a critical juncture. The battlefield was effectively divided into three main theaters, with Bohemia emerging as the focal point. This region was home to the primary forces of both the Prussian and Austrian armies and was also a crucial area within the Austrian Empire.
Thanks to his connections, Carlo received timely updates from the front lines, which he promptly published in his newspaper, the *Italian 24-hour Sun*. His ability to secure exclusive news about Garibaldi helped solidify the *Sun*'s position within Italian public opinion. The war's outbreak significantly boosted the paper's circulation, which surged past 15,000 copies daily and was rapidly approaching the 20,000 mark.
The conflict, however, did not drag on for long. Prussia, wary of potential French intervention, executed a swift yet shabby military campaign. The silver lining for Italy was the successful acquisition of the entire Venice region and parts of South Tyrol.
Yet, the performance of both the Italian army and Vittorio Emanuele II in the war was notably poor; over 100,000 Italian troops performed worse than Garibaldi's mere 10,000. Nevertheless, the national celebration ignited by the recovery of Venice and the annexation of half of South Tyrol overshadowed any criticisms of the king's military command.
The two leaders found common ground: Garibaldi aspired to see a unified and powerful Italy within his lifetime, while Vittorio Emanuele II sought to realize the great ambition of unifying Italy during his reign. Their mutual understanding set a promising tone for the future.
For Carlo, this development was fortuitous. His advocacy for Garibaldi to recruit soldiers and prepare for war had yielded fruitful results. Had Garibaldi's forces not performed effectively on the southern front, Italy's recovery of Venice would have been far more challenging, let alone the annexation of any part of South Tyrol.
The most significant factor in the outcome was Prussia's concern over French involvement. In the original timeline, after the Italian army's defeat, Garibaldi had been called upon to take command, leading to several victories against the Austrians with a hastily assembled army of 38,000. Yet, the Prussian demand for an immediate withdrawal resulted in Italy securing only the Venice region, which the Austrians had ceded voluntarily.
Now, with Garibaldi's proactive campaign, much of South Tyrol had been reclaimed before Prussia issued their withdrawal demand. This success bolstered the confidence of Italian diplomats in negotiating for South Tyrol, resulting in an acquisition of nearly half the territory—an improvement over historical precedent.
In contrast, the Kingdom of Prussia emerged as the primary beneficiary of the war. Following the conflict, the German Confederation was dissolved, and Austria lost its grip on the German states. Prussia established itself as the dominant power, annexing the Kingdom of Hanover and cementing its status as the new overlord of the German territories.
This shift in power dynamics worked to Italy's advantage. With Prussia capturing the attention of Britain and France, Italy could maintain a lower profile, allowing Carlo to pursue his strategies without undue alarm or interference.