Rhine war

The **Rhine War** (1822-1828), or the **War of The Rhine** more commonly known as the **6 Year War** was a global spanning conflict between 17 May 1822, ending on January 2nd, 1828. The 6 Year War's belligerents included much of Europe, with fighting in America, Africa and Asia as well. The 6 year war is one of the deadliest wars with around 8 million casualties, while millions more were injured and over 5,000,000 million civilians were killed, displaced, or injured.

By 1820 Europe was divided between a Franco-Russian alliance, along with a mutual pact between Prussia and Spain. Tensions in the Netherlands arose with the rise of Belgian Revolutionaries in the Belgian Revolution from 1820 to 1821. In order to help their Dutch Ally, France sent 400,000 troops into Belgium to fight off the Belgians. The Dutch never approved of any action but before coming up with a proper response, Prussia sent 250,000 men into the Netherlands. The May Crisis began, which was a series of failed attempts for peace. The first battle of the war was at Bastogne, called The First Battle of Bastogne. Prussia saw an early victory, pushing France back into its borders and soon gaining Spanish support to join the war on Prussia's side. Sardinia, allied with France declared war on Spain and Prussia. Facing a war on 2 fronts, France's strategy was to eliminate Spain and go back north to deal with Prussia. A force of 700,000 built up on the Spanish border. France's plan to eliminate Spain succeeded, however the plan to hold off Prussia failed.

In attempts to make Prussia fall, France managed to get Russia and Austria declare war forcing Prussia to divert from France. The French Army used this time to march north into the Netherlands, forcing them to surrender in 1823. Prussian forces retreated to the Rhine and 9 battles began to Push the Prussians off of the Rhine. Sensing immanent defeat, Prussia attempted to make Peace but their offers failed. Russia made

minimal advances while Austria stopped at Silesia. North and Southern Germany were mostly spared while central Germany was almost entirely ruined after the Prussian retreat. The antics of Fredrick William III stayed the same and he was extremely bold, something that caused his own defeat.

## Background

The Background to the 8 year war was one of complication and a need to keep the tenuous balance of power.

### Political and Military affairs

The European balance of power after the Concert of Vienna had been one which was very solid and hard to break. But, after the Rise of Prussia and Britain's so called "isolation" that balance began to collapse. Portugal joined it's British ally in isolation, Austria began an arms race against Prussia, France joined an alliance with Russia and revolutions became common. The The Congress of Vienna helped Prussia gain an advantage on France and to some, on all of Europe. Prussia, attempting to isolate France tried to create an alliance with Austria, Russia, Spain and Sardinia to make France surrounded but only Spain joined. France, allied with Sardinia and the Dutch felt threatened by Prussia's remarks.

France allied itself to Russia and Bavaria, while Britain refused to negotiate with either. As wars in Italy sparked, and the decline of the Ottomans began tension in Europe quickly rose. Afraid of a mass war once again, the Dutch attempted to hold peace conferences from 1818-1820. In the last conference, Frederick William III offered that hand of Princess Charlotte, his daughter to the King Charles X. Charles accepted and they were married that month. Most of Europe thought this was the final remark but soon an arms race began.

Knowing greatly of the possibility of war, even if peace was likely states began mass mobilization of their armies.

### Arms Race

After the Napoleonic wars, France and Prussia had been in a tight arms race. Each power attempted to 'one up each other' with every knew weapon, ship, canon, uniforms etc. This went on for years and Britain attempted to stop the two as they knew this would cause war but their attempts failed. French forces began building up on the border of Prussia, Baden and the Netherlands while Prussian and Spanish forces built up on the French border.

### Greek War of Independence

As tensions rose in Europe, the Greeks rose up against the Ottomans. France and Britain directly supported Greece, while Prussia directly supported the Ottomans. The Russians and Austrians indirectly supported the Greeks, both worried about the possibility of the Ottomans declaring war. The French forces stayed away from Prussian troops, afraid that a spark between them could cause war. However, the Prussian army actively followed French troops. The Greek Coalition used this to their advantage, and quickly defeated Ottoman forces in the first year of the war

## Prelude

The prelude to the Rhine war was short, and complex. In such a short time Europe was threatened time and time again by war

### Belgian Revolt

The Belgian Revolt is considered the single reason the war began. In early march, 1822 the Belgian population under Dutch Control rose up and were winning. The French sent 400,000 troops into the Netherlands 2 weeks later without Dutch approval. Charles assumed that the Dutch would thank them but soon Prussian soldiers, numbering 250,000 marched to force French troops out. The Belgian revolt was quelled in May by French and Dutch troops but soon after the former ally began fighting against the French. The French army was much more superior then that of the Belgians and Dutch but the unified force of Prussian and the Dutch men attempted to stop the French.

### May crisis

The may crisis was a series of diplomatic meetings in attempt to stop the oncoming war. The first meeting was held in London and was attended by Austria, Prussia, Denmark, Sweden-Norway, Bavaria, France, The Netherlands, Belgian Revolutionaries, Spain, Portugal, Sardinia, Naples and the Ottoman Empire. After the first failed, 4 more meeting were held and all ended in the same way. None of Europe could agree on peace so Europe ended up placing itself in a state of war.

## Progress of The War

The war began with fighting in the Netherlands. French Troops came up with their plans to attack the combined force of Prussia and the Dutch, while the combined army drew up plans to fight off the French army in many different ways.

### French Plan

French Soldiers split into 4 armies. The first 2 be placed along the Dutch border and the other 2 along the French-Confederation border. Call Bavaria and Russia into the war, and attempt to get Austria to join in their side. French troops in the First and Second armies march north and capture key cities and harbors cutting off the Dutch supply and forcing them into surrender. The 4th army, placed on the Lower Rhine would cross and march through Baden and Wurttemberg meeting with the Bavarian Force. Russia would began marching west and take the key Prussian ports along the Baltic while also supporting any Austrian offensives in Silesia. The 3rd army, would work wit the 1st and 2nd army to destroy and capture the Prussian Force somewhere west of the Rhine, preferably in the Netherlands.

After encircling the main Prussian Army and forcing the surrender of the Dutch State, the force would march through Southern Germany and attack Berlin along with Russian Forces.

### Prussian Plan

A combined force of 500,000 along with the Dutch force march through the Belgian territories while getting Spain and Sardinia to fight against France, and attempting to get Austria and Russia to declare peace. Along with this, the Prussians will attempt to get Britain into the war on their side.