Europe 1866: Second Battle of Custoza

Prussia responded swiftly to the German Federal Diet's vote for mobilization, declaring the German Confederation at an end and occupying Austria's northern allies. Meanwhile Italy joined the war against Austria and launched an invasion of Venitia, only to be beaten back at Custoza just days later.

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Main Events

14 Jun 1866 Prussia’s dissolution of German Confederation

In immediate retaliation for the German Federal Diet’s decision to mobilize against Prussia in June 1866, the Prussian Minister President Otto von Bismarck declared the German Confederation dissolved. Bismarck’s declaration of course carried no weight outside of Prussia and its allies—such as the grand duchies of Oldenburg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and Mecklenburg-Strelitz—and the Confederation would continue on for two more months among Austria and its supporters. in wikipedia

16–29 Jun 1866 German Campaign

On 15 June 1866 King William I of Prussia ordered the Kingdom of Hanover, the Kingdom of Saxony and the Electorate of Hesse-Kassel to disarm immediately, effectively declaring war on Austria’s major northern allies. When the three states failed to comply, the Prussians moved against them, capturing their capitals of Hanover, Dresden, and Kessel between the 17th and 19th. Realizing that they could not face the Prussians alone, the Saxon army moved south into Austrian Bohemia while the Hanoverian army attempted to escape to Bavaria but was intercepted and encircled by the Prussians at the end of the month. in wikipedia

20 Jun 1866 Third Italian War of Independence

On 20 June 1866, in response to the outbreak of war between Prussia and the Austrian Empire four days earlier, the Kingdom of Italy followed its obligations in the Prusso-Italian alliance by declaring war on Austria. Three days later an Italian army under General Alfonso Ferrero La Marmora crossed the Mincio river into Austrian-ruled Venetia, moving through Mantua and Peschiera del Garda in a bid to break through the fortifications of the Quadrilatero. in wikipedia

24 Jun 1866 Second Battle of Custoza

On 24 June 1866, a day after crossing into Austrian territory, the Italian general Alfonso Ferrero La Marmora led his Army of the Mincio abruptly north to higher land, unwittingly colliding head first with Archduke Albrecht of Habsburg’s combined Austrian Imperial and Venetian armies, which had been trying to outflank them. A confused battle for the territory around Custoza ensued—with fighting lasting from 7am to 5pm—but eventually the Italians withdrew, having suffered some 8,147 casualties for 5,650 Austrian losses. The defeat marked the end of the Italian June offensive in Venetia and it would not be until news of the Prussian victory over Austria at Königgrätz (Sadowa) arrived early the following month that the Italians would resume their advance. in wikipedia