Bismarck - Jekyll and Hyde? Reassessing Civil-Military Relations During the Franco-Prussian War.

The article examines Otto von Bismarck’s role during the Franco-Prussian War, challenging the traditional dualistic view that strictly separates civil and military authority in Prussia. It argues that Bismarck, who held the military rank of major general, actively engaged in military matters and blurred the lines between political and military spheres, competing with General Helmuth von Moltke and the Prussian General Staff over decision-making power. The complex "triangle" of leadership involving King Wilhelm I, Bismarck, and Moltke reflected overlapping authorities rather than clear divisions, with Bismarck leveraging his military status and political influence to assert control during the war. The article highlights that civil–military relations in nineteenth-century Prussia were negotiated and culturally framed, rather than defined by rigid constitutional boundaries, and that the unresolved tensions in this structure persisted into the German Empire.