page_title: Lesser Germany
section_title: Evolution after 1850
hierarchical_section_title: Lesser Germany / Evolution after 1850
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of German Reich 1871–1918. Search terms (selection): Helgoland, Flensburg, Schleswig, Kiel, Provinz Schleswig Holstein, Old, Hansestadt Lübeck, Bremerhaven, Hansestadt Hambürg, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Grhm. Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Schwerin, Stralsund, Kolberg, Pommern, Stettin, Ghm. M.Strelitz, Groningen, The Netherlands, Ems, Osnabrück, Weser, Hannover, Braunschweig, Prv. Sachsen, Magdeburg, Dessauch, Herzogtum Anhalt, Brandenburg, Berlin, Potsdam, Küstrin, Warthe, Oder, Frankfurt, Liegnitz, Schlesien, Kgr. Sachsen, Dresden, Chemnitz, Prag, Elbe, Provinz Westfalen, Fsm. Waldeck, Kassel, Göttingen, Hessen, Marburg, Wetzlar, Gießen, Hessen, Nassau, Main, Coburg, Meiningen, Gotha, Gera, Weimar, Düsseldorf, Köln, Bonn, Rhein, Koblenz, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Rheinprovinz, Belgium, Ghzm. Luxemburg, Posen, Breslau, Oppeln, Beuten, Königshütte, Gleiwitz, Kattowitz, Thorn, Graudenz, Russian Empore, Lodz, Warschau, Kraukau, Königkreich Bayern, Nürnberg, Regensburg, Isar, Donau, Augsburg, München, Darmstadt, Karlsruhe, Reichsland Elsaß-Lothringen, Metz, Ghzm. Luxemburg, Kgr. Stuttgart, Württemberg, Ulm, Zürich, Inn, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Linz, Wien, Austrian Empire, Modau, Prag, Elbe, Brünn, Wien, Pressburg
context_page_description: The term Lesser Germany relates essentially to Germany without Austria. In the 19th century, a part of the Austrian Empire belonged to the German Confederation. In the revolutionary era of 1848–1850, it was discussed whether Austria or a part of Austria could belong to a new German federal state. In 1867–1871, the 'Lesser Germany' became reality: a federal state under leadership of Prussia and without Austria. After that, the term lost its significance because since then 'Germany' is usually identified as this Lesser Germany.
  The other term, Greater Germany, remained in use for those who sought to incorporate Austria or the German-speaking parts of Austria into Germany. This became a political issue in the aftermath of World War One and then again in 1938–1945. During the Cold War, when Germany was divided, a unified Germany was called 'Gesamtdeutschland'.
context_section_description: Austria remained a part of the re-established German Confederation, while Prussia still tried to improve its position within the confederation and even cherished its union plans. Around 1860, the German question became dynamic again. Austria came out weakened by the Italian War of the previous year while Prussia sought to gain the approval of the national movement. Several proposals were made to reform the German Confederation, most notably in 1863 at the Frankfurter Fürstentag. At this moment, the networks of the political elites in Lesser Germany were already quite separate from the Austrian ones.
  In April and June 1866, Prussia proposed to convert the German Confederation into a federal state without Austria. Bavaria refused to become Prussia's junior partner in this project. But nevertheless Prussia sought the confrontation with Austria that was unwilling to accept Prussia as its equal within the confederation. The Austro-Prussian War of summer 1866 ended with a Prussian victory and the dissolution of the German Confederation. 
  Prussia established a federal state in Northern Germany, called the North German Confederation. In the peace treaty with Austria, and already before with France, Prussia promised not to expand the North German state to southern Germany.
  Austria still tried to be a player in the German question. In summer 1870, war broke out between France and the North German Confederation. The south German states were loyal to their military conventions with the North. Austria did not dare to support France because of its weak position after the war of 1866 and because of the German-speaking inhabitants sympathizing with the German cause. Finally, the Austrian government accepted the evolution and the creation of a Lesser Germany in December 1870.
caption: Germany since 1871: In late 1870, the south German states joined the North German Confederation which changed its name to Deutsches Reich. 'Lesser Germany' became a reality.
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