<P> The Second Schleswig War ( Danish : 2 . Slesvigske Krig , German : Deutsch - Dänischer Krieg ) was the second military conflict over the Schleswig - Holstein Question of the nineteenth century . The war began on 1 February 1864 , when Prussian forces crossed the border into Schleswig . Denmark fought the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire . Like the First Schleswig War ( 1848 -- 52 ) , it was fought for control of the duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg , due to the succession disputes concerning them when the Danish king died without an heir acceptable to the German Confederation . Controversy arose due to the passing of the November Constitution , which integrated the Duchy of Schleswig into the Danish kingdom in violation of the London Protocol . Reasons for the war were the ethnic controversy in Schleswig and the co-existence of conflicting political systems within the Danish unitary state . </P>
<P> The Second Schleswig War ( Danish : 2 . Slesvigske Krig , German : Deutsch - Dänischer Krieg ) was the second military conflict over the Schleswig - Holstein Question of the nineteenth century . The war began on 1 February 1864 , when Prussian forces crossed the border into Schleswig . Denmark fought the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire . Like the First Schleswig War ( 1848 -- 52 ) , it was fought for control of the duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg , due to the succession disputes concerning them when the Danish king died without an heir acceptable to the German Confederation . Controversy arose due to the passing of the November Constitution , which integrated the Duchy of Schleswig into the Danish kingdom in violation of the London Protocol . Reasons for the war were the ethnic controversy in Schleswig and the co-existence of conflicting political systems within the Danish unitary state . </P>
why did prussia and austria attack denmark in 1864
why did prussia and austria attack denmark in 1864
for control of the duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg , due to the succession disputes concerning them when the Danish king died without an heir acceptable to the German Confederation
for control of the duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg , due to the succession disputes concerning them when the Danish king died without an heir acceptable to the German Confederation