french lawyer who continued resistance in franco prussian war

How did the Franco-Prussian War lead to revanchism?

The defeat in the Franco-Prussian War led to the birth of Revanchism (literally, "revenge-ism") in France, characterised by a deep sense of bitterness, hatred and demand for revenge against Germany. This was particularly manifested in the desire for another war with Germany in order to reclaim Alsace and Lorraine.

Who controlled the Prussian army in WW1?

The Prussian army was controlled by the General Staff, under Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke. The Prussian army was unique in Europe for having the only such organisation in existence, whose purpose in peacetime was to prepare the overall war strategy, and in wartime to direct operational movement and organise logistics and communications.

Why did the Prussians defeat the French on the Meuse?

Two Prussian corps had attacked the French advance guard, thinking that it was the rearguard of the retreat of the French Army of the Meuse. Despite this misjudgment the two Prussian corps held the entire French army for the whole day. Outnumbered 5 to 1, the extraordinary élan of the Prussians prevailed over gross indecision by the French.

How did the Prussians conquer France in 1870?

The Prussians made short work of Napoleon III’s army in the 1870 invasion of France. It had a much tougher time subduing the underground resistance movement known as the francs-tireurs.

What did Georges Boulanger do?

Georges Ernest Jean-Marie Boulanger (29 April 1837 – 30 September 1891), nicknamed Général Revanche ("General Revenge"), was a French general and politician. An enormously popular public figure during the second decade of the Third Republic, he won multiple elections.

Who was Gambetta in France?

Léon Gambetta (French: [leɔ̃ ɡɑ̃bɛta]; 2 April 1838 – 31 December 1882) was a French lawyer and republican politician who proclaimed the French Third Republic in 1870 and played a prominent role in its early government.

Who wanted revenge for the Franco-Prussian War?

The instance of revanchism that gave these groundswells of opinion their modern name came in the 1870s. French revanchism was a deep sense of bitterness, hatred and demand for revenge against Germany, especially because of the loss of Alsace and Lorraine following defeat in the Franco-Prussian War.

Who was the leader of France during the Franco-Prussian War?

Napoleon IIIThe French emperor, Napoleon III, declared war on Prussia on July 19, 1870, because his military advisers told him that the French army could defeat Prussia and that such a victory would restore his declining popularity in France.

When was the Third French Republic?

The Third Republic was proclaimed in France on 4 September 1870 after the defeat at Sedan, but it struggled to win universal acceptance. The times were hardly favourable to it, as the country had been invaded by Germany and was being buffeted by social and political unrest.

Who wanted to defend Slavic people in Serbia?

Answer Russia allied with Serbia due to their common Slavic background. Russia was the most powerful Slavic country and felt it was their duty to protect the struggling Serbia. Also, Russia felt it was an obligation to protect their honor.

What is French revanchism?

French revanchism was a deep sense of bitterness, hatred and demand for revenge against Germany, especially because of the loss of Alsace and Lorraine following defeat in the Franco-Prussian War.

How did the Prussians win the Franco-Prussian War?

0:3727:56How Prussia Ended The French Empire: Franco-Prussian WarYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDown was won primarily by skillful maneuvering.MoreDown was won primarily by skillful maneuvering.

Who led the Prussian side in the Franco-Prussian War?

24.4. 4: Otto von Bismarck and the Franco-Prussian War In the 1860s, Otto von Bismarck, then Minister President of Prussia, provoked three short, decisive wars against Denmark, Austria, and France, aligning the smaller German states behind Prussia in its defeat of France.

Who were the two leaders of Prussia that led the unification of Germany?

Bismarck argued that Germany could only unify through a foreign policy called “blood and iron,” meaning through war and military strength. Through a series of wars against Denmark, Austria, and France, Prussia led by Wilhelm I and Otto von Bismarck conquered most of the German speaking areas of Europe.

Who became the leader of France after its defeat at Sedan in 1870 AD?

The Battle of Sedan was fought during the Franco-Prussian War from 1 to 2 September 1870. Resulting in the capture of Emperor Napoleon III and over a hundred thousand troops, it effectively decided the war in favour of Prussia and its allies, though fighting continued under a new French government.

What was the bright spot in France's largely regrettable prosecution of the war with Prussia?

Perhaps the only bright spot in France’s largely regrettable prosecution of the war with Prussia came from the francs-tireurs. As soon as war was declared, the French war ministry took steps to integrate the francs-tireurs into the regular army. Some units were nationalized only to be routed along with the main army.

When did the Prussians invade France?

10 February, 2017. The Prussians made short work of Napoleon III’s army in the 1870 invasion of France. It had a much tougher time subduing the underground resistance movement known as the francs-tireurs.

When did Napoleon declare war on Prussia?

In July 1870, Napoleon III finally declared war on Prussia. The emperor was furious with Bismarck for trying to foist a German prince onto the empty throne of Spain. The Prussian statesman, who was thrilled at the prospect of war, marched his 1.2-million-man army into action. The Prussians and their allies from Bavaria, Baden, ...

What happened to the German army in France?

THE GERMAN MILITARY invades France. In just a few weeks it cuts off, encircles and destroys almost the whole of the French army. Paris is surrounded; it soon falls to the invaders.

Who was the commander of the French at the Battle of Sedan?

But the Prussian commander, Helmuth von Moltke (the elder), handily intercepted and outmaneuvered his opponent at the Battle of Sedan on Sept. 1. By the end of the day, 3,000 French soldiers lay dead, another 14,000 were wounded and a staggering 100,000 were prisoners of war.

What was the French government's response to the fall of Napoleon III?

With the fall of Napoleon III’s regime and the rise of the republic, the French government ordered full conscription. The directive brought most of the remaining francs-tireurs into the regular army. Some units did continue their guerrilla war against the Prussians until early 1871 when the German siege of Paris led to the surrender of the starving city.

Who offered 1.5 billion francs?

Adolphe Thiers, the head of the French provisional government, offered an indemnity of 1.5 billion francs and claimed that France would be unable to pay 5 billion. Bismarck responded by saying that the Prussian Army would occupy France, "we will see if we can get 5 billion francs from it".

What was the French indemnity?

The French indemnity was the indemnity the French Third Republic paid to the German Empire after the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War in 1871.

How much was the German indemnity worth?

The indemnity was 5 billion francs (£200 million or $1 billion), with German troops occupying France until it was paid. The 5 billion gold marks, converted using the retail price index in 2011, was worth 342 billion. Converted using the GDP deflater it amounted to 479 billion and substantially more according to other comparisons such as GDP per head.

Which country reformed the army?

France also reformed the army, adopting conscription. In Germany the swift payment of the indemnity caused a stock market boom, along with an asset bubble in the form of a property boom. This lasted until the Panic of 1873 which ushered in the Long Depression until 1896.

When was the Armistice of 1871?

An armistice was concluded on 28 January 1871 to allow elections to the French National Assembly. A preliminary peace was signed on 26 February with the Treaty of Frankfurt signed on 10 May. The Prussian State Ministry on 8 February recommended an indemnity of 1 billion thaler (3 billion francs), 95% of which would be paid to the army.

What was the impact of the Franco-Prussian War on Europe?

The Battle of Gravelotte-St-Privat, during the Franco-Prussian War. The Franco-Prussian War overturned the balance of power in Europe.

What were the consequences of the Franco-Prussian War?

Given its enormous geopolitical consequences, it is surprising that the Franco-Prussian War receives relatively little attention. Its impact on France was also prodigious: the fall of Napoleon III’s Second Empire; the Paris Commune of 1871; the establishment of the Second Republic; the advent of the burning question of Alsace-Lorraine in French ...

What states were forced into a Prussian-dominated North German Confederation?

Prussia had acquired the equivalent of three additional army corps. Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden, and Hesse-Darmstadt were the only German states to retain full sovereignty. It was clear that a Franco-Prussian conflict was now only ...

What was the maximum range of the Prussian Dreyse needle gun?

It was an exceptional weapon for its day, with a maximum effective range of 1,200 metres, virtually twice that of the Prussian Dreyse needle-gun. They also had one of the best manually operated machine-guns of the period, the Reffye mitrailleuse, firing heavy 13mm ammunition at up to 125rpm.

What happened after Napoleon III surrendered?

After Napoleon III surrendered at the Battle of Sedan, French resistance was carried on by a new government, which deposed the emperor and established the Third Republic. Paris surrendered, but while treaty negotiations were going on, an insurrection by radicals in Paris created a short-lived government, the Paris Commune.

Why did Otto von Bismarck publish the Ems Telegram?

Following diplomatic maneuvers to block Leopold’s candidacy, the Prussian chancellor Otto von Bismarck published the Ems Telegram to provoke the French government into declaring war, which it did.

When did the French and Prussian army start mobilizing?

All the young men who were doing their military service at the time were mobilized. The fighting started only a few days later in the North-Eastern part of France: mostly in Alsace and Lorraine. Positions of French and Prussian armies in August 1870.

What happened to France after 1871?

The Franco-Prussian war also had consequences in the rest of France. A large part of the Northern half of France was occupied by German troops from 1871 to 1873. Most of the German troops stayed in citadels and garrison towns. In these cities, the inhabitants had to provide for ...

What were the consequences of the Treaty of Frankfurt?

Consequences in Alsace-Lorraine. At the end of the war, the Treaty of Frankfurt led to the annexation of the territory of Alsace-Lorraine. This territory was composed of almost all the region of Alsace and a part of the départements of Moselle and Meurthe, which are now the 3 départements of Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin and Moselle.

How many people opted for French citizenship after the Treaty of Frankfurt?

In other words, they had to make a choice: Or keep French citizenship, and emigrate, leaving their homes behind them. Around 161,000 people opted for French citizenship, but only around 50,000 of them actually emigrated.

What was the most famous event in the history of France?

The most famous is the defeat of Sedan, resulting in the surrender, capture and abdication of the French Emperor Napoleon III. This event resulted in the creation of the Third Republic of France.

What war was fought between France and Germany?

The Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. French history. If your ancestors lived in France 150 years ago, their lives have inevitably been impacted by the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. It was a short war – it lasted less than a year – but it had many consequences in France and Germany.

When did Alsace-Lorraine return to France?

Alsace-Lorraine indeed returned to France as a result of the First World War. Beginning of a death record from 1873 in Bas-Rhin.

What was the Siege of Paris?

The Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. Through the first half of 1870 a confrontational fever with Germany spread throughout France. On July 15 Emperor Napoleon III led his nation "into one of the most disastrous wars in her history.". (1) The Franco-Prussian conflict did not officially commence until July 19, 1870.

Why were the forts in Paris abandoned?

The forts in the vicinity of Paris were abandoned because it would have required too much work and time to get them ready, and the decision was made to move the defensive lines closer to the city's environs. All forests and wooded areas deemed favorable to enemy advantage were cut.

What did Bismarck demand?

Bismarck demanded the immediate turnover of Alsace-Lorraine as well as Metz, Strasbourg, and Mont-Valerien ( the fortress commanding Paris). Bismarck's proposals were rejected and the government was forced to defend the city and continue the war.

How long did the siege of Paris last?

The bombardment lasted twenty-three days, usually from two to five hours each night. In the end, the Parisians refused to be intimidated and the psychological advantage of this tactic was lost. The siege of Paris slowly made its impact in an area critical to survival: the economy.

What was Thiers' role in Bismarck?

Thiers tried again in October with the same results. From that point on he was used solely as the representative of the French government in the ongoing negotiations with Bismarck. Prior to the investment of Paris, the provisional government made efforts to prepare the military forces of the city.

What happened in 1590?

According to the story, the people of Paris forgot what meat was and they had to subsist on leaves or roots dug up from under stones. Terrible diseases broke out and in three months 12,000 people died.

What was the importance of the allocation of supplies in Paris?

The allocation of supplies was vital to the defense of Paris. Barracks, hospitals and factories for the manufacture of military hardware were established all over the city. Railway shops became cannon foundries, while tobacco factories became arsenals.

Overview

Background

An armistice was concluded on 28 January 1871 to allow elections to the French National Assembly. A preliminary peace was signed on 26 February with the Treaty of Frankfurt signed on 10 May.
The Prussian State Ministry on 8 February recommended an indemnity of 1 billion thaler (3 billion francs), 95% of which would be paid to the army. The Prussian Finance Minister Otto von Camph…

Indemnity

Aftermath

Notes

Further reading