It was a war which was sought by Bismarck who used as a pretext a dispute over the administration of Schleswig and Holstein. Austria and Prussia had captured this from Denmark in 1864 and jointly administered it for two years.
Ito ay isang digmaan na kung saan ay sought by Bismarck na ginamit bilang isang dahilan ng isang alitan sa pangangasiwa ng Schleswig at Holstein. Austria at Prussia ay nakuha na ito mula sa Denmark sa 1864 sama-sama at pinangasiwaan ito para sa dalawang taon.