The Confederation came into existence after the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 over the lordship of two small Danish duchies ( Schleswig-Holstein) claimed by Prussia in 1866. The North German Confederation ( German: Norddeutscher Bund) was the German federation which existed from July 1867 to December 1870. Map of the North German Confederation ( Prussia with its provinces are shown in blue)
