The Prussian armies, led nominally by King William, converge, and the two sides meet at the Battle of Königgrätz (Sadová) on July 3.
The Prussian Elbe Army advances on the Austrian left wing, and the First Army on the center, prematurely; they risk being counter-flanked on the left.
Victory therefore depends on the timely arrival of the Second Army on the left wing.
This is achieved through the brilliant staffwork of its Chief of Staff, Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal.
Superior Prussian organization and élan decide the battle against Austrian numerical superiority, and the victory is near total, with Austrian battle deaths nearly seven times the Prussian figure, further underscoring the weakness of the Habsburg Empire and bringing it to the brink of collapse.
Austria will rapidly seek peace after this battle.
