1866 Beginning of the Austro-Prussian War
150 years ago, on June 17, 1866, the Austro-Prussian War began, in which the Austrian Empire was defeated. Prussia, on whose side the states of the North German Confederation headed by it, as well as Italy, took the leading role in the unification of Germany. The South German states, which were part of the German Confederation led by Austria, became allies of Prussia after the war. Italy, despite the serious defeats of its army and navy, annexed the Venetian region, torn from Austria.