Introduction to Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War, 1870–71, a war between France and Germany. The opponents of France at the start of the war were an alliance of several confederated and independent German states led by Prussia. The Germans won the war quickly and overwhelmingly. As the Germans neared victory during the last days of the war, the various German states united under Prussian leadership to form a German nation. In France Emperor Napoleon III was overthrown and the Third Republic established. The Franco-Prussian War caused a great shift of political influence and permanently altered the balance of power in Europe.
Background
Prince Otto von Bismarck became chancellor (chief minister) of Prussia in 1862. At that time, there was growing popular support among the German people for the formation of a unified German nation. Such a development was feared by the other nations of Europe, because a unified Germany would be a powerful economic and military rival.
Shortly after becoming chancellor, Bismarck reequipped and modernized the Prussian army, making it one of the most powerful fighting forces in the world. The new army was victorious in two wars—against Denmark in 1864 and Austria 1866. The effect of these victories was to establish Prussia as the dominant power among the German states.
Napoleon III expected Prussia to permit France to annex part of Bavaria and the city of Mainz for having remained neutral during the wars. He also wanted Bismarck to pledge not to interfere if France incorporated Belgium and Luxembourg into its own territory. Bismarck refused.
Seeing French opposition as a major obstacle to German unification, Bismarck secretly negotiated military alliances with the south German states and ordered the Prussian army to prepare for war against France. In 1868 a revolution in Spain left the throne there vacant. Hoping to encircle France, Bismarck proposed as a candidate for the Spanish throne Prince Leopold of the house of Hohenzollern, the family of William I of Prussia. Napoleon objected to the proposal and William agreed to remove Leopold from consideration. Napoleon then demanded a written apology from William and a pledge that no Hohenzollern would ever become king of Spain. William, insulted, refused this demand.
From his summer castle at Ems, William telegraphed to Bismarck a report on the matter. Bismarck made public William's telegram—known as the Ems Dispatch—but first distorted its contents to give the impression that William had been contemptuous of France. Napoleon, enraged, declared war on July 19, 1870. He was unaware of Prussia's alliance with the south German states and was surprised when they mobilized against France. Also, Bismarck revealed Napoleon's earlier territorial demands, which angered France's European allies, causing them to remain neutral.
The Fighting
First PhaseFrench forces, commanded by General Achille Bazaine, invaded Germany, but were soon repulsed. German forces, under the command of Count Helmuth von Moltke, then took the offensive and pushed the French back to Metz.
Meanwhile, other French forces, commanded by Napoleon, were defeated at Sedan on September 1 and the emperor was captured. Revolution broke out in Paris and the French monarchy was toppled on September 4, replaced by what became the Third Republic. Negotiations for peace were started by the new leaders, but Bismarck's terms were rejected as too humiliating.
Second PhaseAfter the peace talks broke off, the Germans laid siege to four French cities—Paris, Metz, Belfort, and Strasbourg—pinning down the main French forces. Léon Gambetta, minister of justice, used a balloon to escape from Paris. At Tours he proclaimed a dictatorship and raised a new army of 30 divisions.
Strasbourg surrendered at the end of September, and Bazaine's army at Metz surrendered in October after a 54-day siege. Resistance at Belfort collapsed in December. These German successes freed experienced German forces to move against Gambetta's new army, which proved no match for them. While Paris was still under siege, William I was crowned emperor of Germany at the palace of Versailles on January 18, 1871. Paris surrendered 10 days later.
In the war, 156,000 French soldiers were killed and another 143,000 wounded. German casualties were 28,000 killed and 100,000 wounded.
Peace
A new French government was elected in February, 1871. Adolphe Thiers, who had been elected president, asked for an armistice. On May 10, 1871, he signed the Treaty of Frankfurt with Bismarck, officially ending the war. The terms were severe. Germany annexed nearly all of Alsace and part of Lorraine. France had to pay reparations totaling one billion dollars. Also, permission was granted by the French for the German army to stage a victory parade in Paris.
After the treaty was signed, a revolt against the Thiers government broke out in Paris and a radical regime called the Commune was established. After two months, it was suppressed by French troops.
Revenge against Germany was a basic part of French foreign policy for years after the Franco-Prussian War. This antagonism was one of the causes of World War I.