ABSTRACT
D U R I N G the last years of our sojourn in Jerusalem great changes were taking place in Europe. The old German Confederacy, the outcome of the Congress of Vienna, only loosely connected the different German countries, including the Austrian Empire, with its considerable partly non-German appendices like Hungary. The existence of two big rival German States in it was a condition which could not last. In 1864 Bismarck's statesmanship once more brought about a joint action of Prussia and Austria in the war against Denmark, which was in possession of the two German provinces of Schleswig and Holstein. It was a short campaign, the success of which could not have been doubted from the outset. The condominium of Prussia and Austria in the newly acquired country had soon led to open conflict, and in 1866 war had broken out between them. In this war only a few northern States had joined Prussia. Hanover, Brunswick, Saxony and all the southern States, Bavaria, Württemberg and Baden, had joined hands with the great Austrian Empire, which included Hungary. Notwithstanding its inferiority in numbers, the Prussian army, as we know, had won the war within seven weeks. The Austrian army was decisively beaten at Sadowa, and peace concluded soon after. By the Peace of Nicolsburg Austria was left in undisputed possession of all her dominions. It had been one of the greatest feats of Bismarck's states-
33 manship to spare Austria any kind of humiliation when the King of Prussia and all his army were intent on entering Vienna and taking part of her German provinces from her. But some of the lesser States which had fought against Prussia were annexed by her. Austria left the German Confederacy, which then ended, and was replaced by the North German Confederacy: the term 'German' was thenceforth limited to the subjects of this Confederacy. It was difficult for us to accustom ourselves to include the Austrians no longer under this denomination. The personal friendly relations between the Austrian and the other German residents of Jerusalem remained unchanged ; they never ceased to look upon themselves as belonging to the same nationality. It also struck me when, in 1867, I spent a summer with my parents in Austria, that there was no resentment towards Prussia to be noticed among the Austrians, although less than a year had elapsed since the war. Most of those with whom we came into contact sought the causes of their defeat in the deficiency of their own organization. I remember an Austrian colonel discussing this subject with my father and saying: 'Eighteen Grand Dukes! just imagine, sir, eighteen Grand Dukes in our Army! How could one expect not to lose the war?' Through Bismarck's admirable management of affairs Germany became once more a powerful and respected country, although the southern States were not yet politically connected with the North German Confederacy. A new era had come for all Germans all over the globe, including the small community in Jerusalem.
