The Franco-Prussian War
Bismarck's Prussia
The Franco-Prussian War of 1870 itself was a result of a
number of varied factors, not the least of which was the threat Otto von
Bismarck represented to France. Bismarck was the current military figurehead,
undefeated in the field and commanding a large, imposing military force.
Prussia was the young empire, one that knew only victory and was eager to
continue that trend. A war between the young power and the Second Empire of
France was something that no one was particularly eager for.
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Bismarck |
The Politics
Like
all wars, the Franco-Prussian War devolped out of politics. The throne of Spain
was empty, and Bismarck was eagerly attempting to get a German prince onto the
throne. France was understandably perturbed by these events, as a Prussian
empire encompassing Austria, Spain, and Germany would become the most powerful
ruling body in Europe. The response from the French government to this
Hohenzollern Candidacy forced Bismarck to withdraw the attempt.
Although
France had prevented a German empire stretching from the Baltic to the
Atlantic, members of the French government were unhappy about the results. Most
of France, including Napoleon III himself, was against a war, but the Empress and her friend,
the French Ambassador to Berlin, Count Bendetti, were both proponents of a
further conflict. He returned to Berlin, where he was received amicably by King
Wilhelm, who also had no desire for war. Bismarck, on the other hand, saw a war
with France as an opportunity to further cement the Prussian empire in eastern
Europe. When negotiations between Bendetti and Wilhelm broke down, Bismarck and
Wilhelm sent the Ems Telegram to Paris. The Ems telegram was an account of the
negotiations between Bendetti and Wilhelm, and with Bismarcks influence (and
perhaps, doctoring of the document), the sharp toned document infuriated the
Parisians. Napoleon III, pushed by the people of Paris and the Empress, agreed
to declare war on July 15. The first official document to pass between Prussia
and France that was relevent to the affair was FranceÕs declaration of war.[1]
France
had no allies, no organized military command, and no way to combat PrussiaÕs
technological and numerical superiority. After just eighteen days of
mobilization, Bismarck had well over a million men in the field, far more than
Napoleon III would have been able to muster even if heÕd had months. According
to Alistair Horne, author of Seven Ages of Paris, one general found
himself in Belfort, looking for his army. Desperate, he finally telegraphed
home, ŅHave arrived in Belfort. CanÕt find my brigade. CanÕt find the
divisional commander. What shall I do? DonÕt know where my regiments are.Ó
FranceÕs military incompetance cost them the war, which was over in less than
two months. On September 3, 1870, Paris recieved word that Napoleon III had
surrendered himself and his army to King Wilhelm.
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Louis Napoleon or Napoleon III |
The
response in Paris was a strange cross between jubilation and anguish. Once the
Parisians got over the fact that their army was defeated, they decided that it
was a good thing, as they no longer had to put up with Napoleon III had his
Empire anymore. Led by Jules Favre, the Parisians overthrew the
remaining representatives of the Empire in Paris and marched off to the H™tel
de Ville to proclaim a new Republic. There they found the radical ŌRedsÕ
already in control. Jules Favre and his ally, Lˇon Gambetta, negotiated
a truce with the Reds and together the two revolutionary groups forged a new
Republic. The position of President fell to General Trochu, the Governor
of Paris.
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Jules Favre |
Lˇon Gambetta |
Unfortunately,
Bismarck was not yet done. His armies continued to march on the now defenseless
Paris, while the newly forged government simply assumed that he wasnÕt coming.
When the news of BismarckÕs march arrived in Paris, response was a sort of
righteous outrage, and defiance against the Prussian army. The only military
force of any size available was ParisÕ National Guard, la Garde. The new government quickly set about recuruiting
for the military and fortifying the city against the seige to come.
La Comitˇ Centrale de la Garde Nationale
The
National Guard was a unique military organization in that it was never intended
to see combat. It numbered 24,000 men, most of whom were Reds. These men were
paid about a franc and a half each day, essentially a bribe to prevent the Reds from getting out of hand. Once Trochu began his funding and recruiting
campaign, the Guard expanded from 24,000 to about 350,000 men, each of whom was
armed by the government for the purposes of defense. The soldier quickly went
into accelerated training programs where they prepared to defend their city.
Their
efforts, while they improved the morale of Paris, did little to fortify the
city against the seige to come. The Prussians continued to crush any armies
that Trochu sent against them, and were quickly within sight of the city.
Desperate for help of any kind, the French resorted to bringing some hot air
balloons out of stoarge. They were left over from the Great Exhibition of 1867,
and Gambetta, now holding the position of Minister of the Interior, volunteered
to be the pilot of a balloon. Gambetta succeeded in escaping Paris and arrived
in Tours two days later, where he promptly took over the city and began calling
the rest of France to arms. Regardless, his efforts were in vain as France was
simply in no condition to be fighting a war against the superior Prussian army.
However, sixty some of the balloons managed to escape Paris to bring the tales
of the cityÕs plight to other locations in France.[2]