What was Otto von Bismarck’s goal for Schleswig and Holstein?

Otto von Bismarck’s primary goal for the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein was their annexation to Prussia.1

Bismarck specifically envisioned using the region to strengthen Prussia’s strategic position, including the development of Kiel as a Prussian naval base. While he initially navigated complex diplomatic alliances—including a joint military effort with Austria to remove the duchies from Danish control—his private efforts were consistently directed toward securing Prussian dominance over the territories.1

Following the German-Danish War and the subsequent Seven Weeks’ War, these ambitions were realized when the Peace of Prague in 1866 formally ceded the duchies to Prussia. This acquisition was a key component of Bismarck’s broader strategy to consolidate power and achieve a Prussian-led unification of Germany.123