Outbreak of the War with France
When Ludwig on the 17th January, 1870, opened the Landtag, he said,
in his Speech from the Throne: "The agreement I have concluded with
Prussia is known to the country! Faithfully, in conformity with this
alliance, for which I have pledged my royal word, I will, when my
duty bids me do so, together with my powerful ally, answer for the
honour of Germany and therewith also for the honour of Bavaria!"
As mentioned in a previous chapter Hohenlohe had retired at the
beginning of 1870. This did not, however, betoken any change of system,
but was merely a personal change. Count von Bray, formerly the Bavarian
Minister at Vienna, who succeeded him as Minister of Foreign Affairs,
stood in all respects on the same political footing as his predecessor,
and the attacks of the Ultramontanes on the Government were continued.
Apart from party dissensions the first half-year, however, passed
quite quietly. There were probably but few in Bavaria who suspected
that a war was near at hand. Ludwig himself seems after Hohenlohe's
resignation to have been comparatively unconcerned at the political
fermentation in his kingdom. He read and rode, made excursions to
his hunting-boxes, did the work his Ministers expected of him, and
lived his usual quiet life. Accompanied by his Master of the Horse,
Hornig, he set off for the highlands on the 18th of July. It was
his intention to be away five or six days; his private secretary
had received orders only to send for him in case of the extremest
necessity. Suddenly came the news that France had declared war on
Prussia. As the Monarch's return was delayed longer than had been
expected, a messenger on horseback was sent after him with the most
important documents. On the 15th of July he returned to Berg, the same
evening at eleven he sent for his secretary, Eisenhart. He received him
in his balcony room on the first floor, where he paced up and down the
floor, as his habit was, sitting down occasionally for a moment. Hours
passed by, while they considered the position together. The King, then
hardly five-and-twenty years of age, was still in full possession of
his acute receptive powers, which in certain respects he retained
to the end. But he was no lover of war. Repeatedly he said: "Is
there then no means, no possibility of avoiding war?" He finally
recognised that it was inevitable. The question became now: Whether
Bavaria could remain neutral, or whether his kingdom--in conformity
with the treaty of 1866--should fight by the side of Prussia. The
secretary observed that neutrality would threaten the independence
of Bavaria. To take a position by the side of France against Prussia
would be undignified. He, moreover, regarded the agreement of 1866 as
pledging Bavaria to fight with Prussia and for Prussia. The Monarch
was also of this opinion. "Before I make a decision I will wait for
Berchem's arrival. Let me be awakened as soon as he comes!" It was
half-past three in the morning before the cabinet secretary left the
château. Day was breaking. An hour and a half later, Count von Berchem
arrived from the capital. The two men had a consultation together
on the position of affairs, and the secretary again returned to the
King, who received him in his bed-chamber. He was lying in his blue
four-post bed. The secretary read out loud a letter from Minister Bray,
which Count Berchem had brought with him. Once more they touched upon
the chief points in the great question. "Prompt help is double help,
your Majesty," said Eisenhart. There was a pause. Then the King said:
"Bis dat, qui cito dat!"--"Draft my command for the mobilisation
of the army. Invite the Ministers Bray and Pranckh to come to me
this afternoon at four o'clock, and inform the press." The secretary
immediately prepared the required document. He handed it to the King,
who provided it with his signature.
The political attitude of Bavaria was sealed. Ludwig's action on
this day had a significance which extended far beyond the military
dispositions he had made. The result of the war would probably have
been the same without Bavaria's assistance. But the future of Germany
was decided by the stroke of the King of Bavaria's pen on the morning
of the 16th of July, for the alliance between Prussia and the greatest
of the South-German states had as its consequence the federation of
Germany and the German Empire.
"I have never seen the King so satisfied as to-day," declared his
Minister Pranckh after the audience the same afternoon. And when the
equerry in attendance, von Sauer, congratulated his Majesty, the latter
said: "Yes, I have the feeling that I have done something good." A
warm telegram of thanks was sent to the Monarch by King Wilhelm in
Berlin, and from hundreds of others came enthusiastic telegrams.
The following day, a Sunday, Ludwig travelled by special train to
Munich. There was immense movement in the streets; the enthusiasm
grew from minute to minute. The crowds felt the need of thanking and
congratulating their King. "Heil unserm König, heil!" was sung in
chorus outside the Palace. The enthusiasm rose indescribably when he
showed himself at the window. Everyone pressed forward to see him,
and give expression to their rejoicings. "Hoch, Ludwig! Hoch!" rose
like a single cry from the Bavarian hearts. The homage of the people
made a deep impression on Ludwig. "Shall I go to the window once
again?" he asked, after showing himself many times, as the shouts
outside became louder and warmer. He was received with ovations in
the evening, when he appeared at the performance of Wagner's Die
Walküre. The shouts of hurrah for the King continued to ring. Day
after day, till far into the night, the crowds surged backwards and
forwards. One cannot know how the dice may fall," said the Bavarian
Minister of War. "But this I can already say for certain: the army
will come out of the battle with honour!"
Inner strife was smoothed away for a time under the feeling of
fellowship which had seized upon all parties. Those in chief command,
however, did not dare give themselves up to too great illusions. It
was not, indeed, on account of the military ability of the Bavarians,
but on account of the moral support coming from that land, that the
Prussian leaders, with Bismarck at their head, so highly praised
King Ludwig's action. The commanders of the South-German army,
whom the Prussians derisively called les flaneurs batailles, had
shown themselves to be incapable in the war of 1866. Only the mere
semblance of a command was given them in 1870, all real authority
was being invested in the hands of the Prussian generals.
The Crown Prince of Prussia received orders to take chief command
of the South-German army. That Friedrich was not without anxiety
is apparent from the following expression in his diary: "It is a
difficult task for me to fight the French with troops who do not like
us Prussians, and who are not educated in our school." On his way to
the army he paid visits to the allied Princes whose troops he was to
lead, going first to Munich and thence to Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. At
all the stations where the train stopped preparations to welcome
him had been made. Ludwig II. went part of the way to receive him,
and the two Princes met each other with cordiality. Together with
the King and Prince Otto, he drove in an open carriage through the
streets of the capital of Bavaria. Waving handkerchiefs and shouts
of hurrah followed in their train. In the evening the King and his
guest were present at the Hof Theater, where Schiller's Wallensteins
Lager was given. Shouts of delight filled the house when the Crown
Prince showed himself by Ludwig's side. The Queen-mother, too, who
but very rarely visited the theatre, was also present. The curtain
was raised. The actor Possart repeated a prologue:
"Denn was im Drange der Gefahr auf's Neue
Ein edles Fürstenpaar zum Kampf vereint,
Das Königswort, es heisset: Treu und Treue!
Mit diesem Feldgeschrei verjagt den Feind!
Heil! Dreifach heil! dem hohen Fürstenpaar,
Dem Deutschlands alte Treue heilig war!"
At the words "Treue um Treue" and "Heil! dreifach Heil!" there was
a movement which spread all through the theatre. All were deeply
affected.
The King of Bavaria stepped forward with his guest. They shook hands
with one another, and formally sealed their compact in the eye of the
people. At this indescribable moment the warmth of popular feeling
rose to a storm of rejoicing.
Seized by the solemnity of the moment, the two Princes stood hand
in hand.