Prussian military reforms under Albrecht von Roon and Helmuth von Moltke (1859–1871)

1. Moltke becomes Chief of the Prussian General Staff

   Oct 29, 1857Labels: Helmuth von, Prussian General

   • Britannica
   • Moltke Wiki

2. Roon becomes Prussian War Minister

   Dec 1, 1859Labels: Albrecht von, Prussian War

   • Roon Wiki
   • GlobalSecurity

3. Army reorganization plan triggers Landtag budget crisis

   Jan 1, 1860Labels: Prussian Landtag, Army Reform

   • WarHistory
   • Roon Wiki

4. Prussia completes shift toward modern weapons and artillery

   Jan 1, 1861Labels: Dreyse needle, Krupp artillery

   • Britannica Moltke
   • Britannica Artillery

5. Bismarck appointed to break the constitutional deadlock

   Sep 23, 1862Labels: Otto von, Prussian government

   • Schleswig War Wiki
   • Bill Indemnity

6. Second Schleswig War provides a first operational test

   Feb 1, 1864Labels: Second Schleswig, Prussia

   • Britannica Moltke
   • Schleswig War Wiki

7. Austro-Prussian War begins; reforms put under pressure

   Jun 14, 1866Labels: Austro-Prussian War, Helmuth von

   • Britannica K niggr
   • Britannica Moltke

8. Prussia wins the decisive Battle of Königgrätz

   Jul 3, 1866Labels: Battle of, Prussian army

   • Britannica K niggr
   • Britannica Moltke

9. Treaty of Prague ends the war and reshapes Germany

   Aug 23, 1866Labels: Treaty of, Austria

   • Britannica Prague
   • Peace Prague Wiki

10. Indemnity Act legalizes the army-reform funding dispute

    Sep 3, 1866Labels: Indemnity Act, Prussian legislature

    • Britannica Indemnity
    • Indemnit tsgesetz

11. North German Confederation constitution formalizes Prussian leadership

    Apr 16, 1867Labels: North German, Prussia

    • NG Constitution
    • NG Confederation

12. Franco-Prussian War begins; reformed system mobilizes for a major war

    Jul 19, 1870Labels: Franco-Prussian War, North German

    • Versailles
    • Britannica Moltke

13. Sedan defeat collapses Napoleon III’s field army

    Sep 2, 1870Labels: Battle of, Napoleon III

    • Versailles

14. German Empire proclaimed at Versailles, completing unification

    Jan 18, 1871Labels: German Empire, Versailles proclamation

    • Versailles
    • Britannica Moltke