Ausztria diplomáciai erőfeszítései a schleswigi háború eszkalációjának megakadályozására 1849 tavaszán
Austrian Diplomatic Efforts to Prevent the Escalation of the War of Schleswig in the Spring of 1849

Summary/Abstract: The Danish-German war of 1848-1850, which broke out because of the Schleswig question and over the issue of who should control the duchy, was such a serious international affair that European powers deemed it one of their most important tasks to secure its peaceful settlement. Belonging to the Danish Monarchy, the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein were significant because of their geostrategic location: they guarded the outlet to the Baltic Sea and the undisturbed naval trade routes leading through it. In the first place, it was the free passage of the Russian naval fleet and the Russian military control over the Baltic territories that were jeopardized by the efforts of Prussia and the Frankfurt Parliament to strengthen the German naval force through getting hold of the Danish territories and the Kiel harbor. The conflict was a serious challenge for the Austrian foreign policy. Though Austria had no direct geostrategic interests in the area, as the presiding power in the German Confederation (and to secure its position) it was forced to get involved in this rather delicate affair. As a European power – just like England, France and Russia – it had an interest in preserving the integrity of Denmark. But as a German power it could not declare this openly as the separation of Schleswig from Denmark had became a symbol of the German unity.

• Details
• Contents