Germany

Abstract

The ancient Germanic Empire, dissolved in 1806, and reconstituted as a confederacy of thirty-nine states, in 1815, is verging again towards unity in consequence of the war of 1866 between Austria and Prussia, which ended in the expulsion of the former from the Confederation, leaving the latter as the ruling power in Germany. Pending their final union under one government, the old states of the Confederation are ranged, provisionally, under two groups, as North Germany, and South Germany. North Germany, consisting of twenty-one states, is under the absolute and undivided leadership of Prussia, while South Germany, numbering five states, forms an unconnected cluster of semi-independent sovereignties. The two divisions are bound together, to some extent, by treaties of alliance between Prussia and the three principal states of South Germany, Bavaria, Wurtembercr, and Baden. By the treaty between Prussia and Bavaria, dated August 22, 1866, the two contracting powers mutually guarantee the integrity of their respective territories, with all the military forces at their disposal, it being further stipulated that, in case of war, the King of Prussia is to have the supreme command of the Bavarian army. The treaties between Prussia and Wiirtemberg, and Prussia and Baden, dated August 26 and August 18, 1866, are exactly similar, both providing a stiict military alliance, and union of armies in time of war.