It sucks to have obsolete technology,By the 1860’s Prussia had grown into a powerful state tha

It sucks to have obsolete technology,By the 1860’s Prussia had grown into a powerful state that was beginning to dominate Germany.  At the time Germany was a motley collection of kingdoms and city states, but through shrewd alliances and conquest Prussia was on the cusp of uniting Germany.  However there was one regional power who did not want another empire near its territory, the ancient Empire of Austria.  War broke out between Prussia and Austria in 1866, with Italy and the kingdoms of Northern Germany allying with Prussia, while the kingdoms of Southern Germany allied with Austria.On paper the Prussians should have been easily crushed by Austria.  After all the Austrians had more men, guns, and allies.  However the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 would come down to one factor, technology.  While the Austrian military relied on older technology, the Prussian Minister, Otto Von Bismark, ensured that his soldiers would be equipped with the latest and the best technology.  One technological advantage Prussia had over Austria was it’s more developed network of railroads.  Taking a queue from the Union Army in the American Civil War, Prussia used its railroad network to transport men, equipment, and supplies to the front line.  In the case of invasion or counterattack, Prussian units could be mobilized and transported to the battlefield in record time.  The Austrians, meanwhile, still replied upon the old method of baggage trains utilizing drawn wagons.Perhaps Prussia’s most profound technological advantage was the use of the Dreyse Needle Rifle (top photo).  Invented in the mid 1800’s, the Dreyse Needle Rifle was a single shot breechloading firearm the used a combustible paper cartridge.  The user simply opened the bolt, inserted a cartridge, closed the bolt, and pulled the trigger.  In contrast the Austrian Army were still using older muzzleloading muskets, such as the Lorenz rifled musket (bottom photo).  Unlike the Needle rifle, the Lorenz rifle was loaded with loose powder and bullet down the barrel.  A skilled and well trained Austrian soldier could hope to fire 3 to 4 shots a minute.Compared to the Prussian soldier, even the most veteran Austrian soldier was at a grave disadvantage, as a Prussian with a Dreyse Needle rifle could  fire 10-12 rounds a minute.  The difference in firepower was amazing.  While the Austrians often defeated Prussia’s allies (especially Italy), engagements with Prussia ended very badly.  Throughout the war Prussia trounced Austria, winning several key battles and maintaining a casualty ratio of 1 to 4.  That means that the Prussians suffered 1 one casualty to every 4 Austrian casualties.  Even in the cases where Austria defeated the Prussian Army, they sustained casualties that were so horrific, they might as well have been defeats.  The best example was the Austrian “victory” at Trentau, where the Austrian Army suffered four times more casualties than the Prussians.Despite the blow Prussia inflicted upon Austria, it was the Prussians who sued for peace as they feared intervention from France.  The rewards were great, as the kingdoms of Northern Germany became a part of the Prussian Empire.  Later, in 1870, Prussia and France went to war, with Prussia soundly defeating the Second French Empire.  As a result the kingdoms of Southern Germany unified with Prussia, forming the new nation of Germany. -- source link

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