Prussia in the 19th Century Trivia Quiz

Answer: Peace of Tilsit

The Peace of Tilsit was signed on July 9, 1807 near the town of Tilsit in East Prussia. As a result, the most of the territory gained from the last two Polish partitions were taken and formed into a French-Polish satelite state, and some small western territories were annexed by France or incorperated into other states. Prussia was forced to pay a high indemnity (reparations) and was to be occupied by French troops until this was paid off.

Answer: It was awarded only to senior officers (colonel upwards)

By order of Frederick William III the Iron Cross was to be awarded to soldiers of any rank who demonstrated distinguished service to the fatherland. The Iron Cross, also called the Maltese cross, would eventually become a well know symbol in the German Empire.

Answer: Bavaria

Prussia gained the Rhineland and Westphalia, two large territories in western Germany as a buffer near the French border. Northern Saxony as well as a part of Western (Swedish) Pomerania were added as well. Prussia wanted all of Saxony, but this was opposed by Austria, and most of Prussia's former Polish territories taken by Napoleon were given to Russia.

Answer: It gave Prussia a way to integrate Germany in fiscal matters

The Zollverein created in 1834 helped to reduce trade barriers within the German Confederation. Austria opposed it and tried developing a customs union of its own which was unsuccesful. The creation of the Zollverein was merely an economic treaty, and did not effectively alter the lesser German states stances on policies of defense, nor did it exclude Austria from German affairs.

Answer: 1848

The 1848 revolution supported by the liberal nationalist movement failed as the larger states first backed out, and then Austria persuaded several of the smaller states to reconsider.

Answer: Helmut von Moltke

Helmut von Moltke (Senior) crafted an elaborate plan, and was able to speedily move three armies into Bohemia and envelope the Austrian army at Koniggraetz in 1866. Four years later he crafted an equally brilliant plan to quickly trap two of France's main armies at Metz and Sedan - and to ultimately win the Franco-Prussian war.

Answer: Kingdom of Italy

While Prussia's interest in winning the war against Austria was gaining more control of the German states, the newly created Kingdom of Italy wanted control of the remaining Italian states under Austrian control such as Venezia. Most of the German states, including Saxony, allied themselves with Austria.

Answer: The North German Confederation

The aftermath of the Austro-Prussian war saw the creation of the North German Confederation. Several north German territories were annexed including Hanover, Saxony, and Schleswig. The south German states were not annexed but signed military alliances with the North German Confederation. It encompased all of north Germany between the French/Belgian frontier and East Prussia.

Answer: William I

King Wilhelm I reigned from 1861 to 1888 in Prussia and became Kaiser Wilhelm I in 1871 with the formation of the German Empire. He was the son of Frederick William III and Queen Luise.

Answer: Sedan

On September 2, 1870 Napoleon III surrendered with his main army at Sedan, which was surrounded by the allied German forces. This ended Napoleon III's reign, and a new republic was formed in France which did not accept peace and continued a guerilla war into the winter months.

Answer: The siege of Paris

The siege of Paris started on September 19, 1870 and went on for 4 months, finally ending on January 28, 1871. Several minor breakouts were attempted by French national guard forces but were unsuccessful, and the new Republican government finally capitulated.

Answer: January 18, 1871

On January 18, 1871 the German Empire formed. January 18 was also the date that Frederick I had became King in Prussia in 1701. Prussia-Germany was be led by a Prussian monarch from the Hohenzollern Dynasty until Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated November 28, 1918 in the aftermath of World War I, having already fled to the Netherlands.

Answer: Austria-Hungary

Germany and Austria-Hungary signed an alliance treaty in 1879 each proposing to support the other in the event of an attack by a third party. After years of competing with Prussia for control over the German states, Austria-Hungary and Germany would be bound together in fate.

This alliance lasted until the end of World War I and the dissolution of both the Hohenzollern and Habsburg monarchies.

Answer: It allowed Socialists to work in the Reichstag, but banned future campaigning

Bismarck's Anti-Socialist legislation was to end future campaigning in Germany but allowed those already elected to continue to sit in German legislatures. The law ended up failing miserably as the Social Democratic Party continued to grow, and eventually became the largest part in the Reichstag.

Answer: Kaiser Wilhelm II

Kaiser Wilhelm II suceeded to the throne after the short reign of Frederick III in 1888. He worked with Bismarck for two years until disputes between the two men caused Bismarck to resign in 1890. Under the Kaiser, along with the rest of Europe's leading rulers, Europe moved towards World War I, which devasted Europe and ultimately ended the Hohenzollern leadership in Germany.