ABSTRACT
Europe looked on with amazement at the struggle between Prussia and Austria. The general opinion was that Austria had the better chance. The Prussian military system was untried; her short-service soldiers, it was thought, would prove to be little more than a ‘national guard’ against the Austrian troops with their long military training and traditions. Napoleon III hoped that an evenly balanced struggle would give him an opportuinty of intervention and allow him to appear again as the bringer of victory and peace.
