Kleindeutsch

German faction

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June 30, 2026

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The term "Kleindeutsch" refers to a faction within the German unification movement that favored a solution excluding Austria. This perspective ultimately led to the formation of the North German Confederation in 1867, following Prussia's victory over Austria in the Seven Weeks' War.

Under Prussian hegemony, the Confederation united the German states north of the Main River. Its capital was Berlin, and the King of Prussia served as its president, with the Prussian chancellor also holding the position of chancellor for the Confederation. The constitution established for the North German Confederation served as the foundation for the constitution of the German Empire, which was formed in 1871, absorbing the Confederation. This "Lesser German" solution excluded the large German-speaking population of the Austrian Empire from the unified German state.

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Austria
Revolution and counterrevolution, 1848–59
…exclusion of Austria altogether (the Kleindeutsch, or small German, position). Implicit in the latter position was that the new Germany would be greatly influenced if not dominated by Prussia, by far the most important German state next to Austria. In October 1848 the delegates agreed to invite the Austrian German…
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…exclusion of Austria altogether (the Kleindeutsch, or small German, position). Implicit in the latter position was that the new Germany would be greatly influenced if not dominated by Prussia, by far the most important German state next to Austria. In October 1848 the delegates agreed to invite the Austrian German…
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Germany
The revolutions of 1848–49
The Kleindeutsch (“little German”) party, on the other hand, argued that the Habsburgs had too many Slavic, Magyar, and Italian interests to work single-mindedly for the greatness of Germany, that Austria should therefore be excluded from a unified Germany, and that the natural leader of the…
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The Kleindeutsch (“little German”) party, on the other hand, argued that the Habsburgs had too many Slavic, Magyar, and Italian interests to work single-mindedly for the greatness of Germany, that Austria should therefore be excluded from a unified Germany, and that the natural leader of the…
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