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Franco-German War 1870-1871
This war between France
and Germany was fought from July 19, 1870, until May 10, 1871. It is
also called the Franco-Prussian War, as Prussia was leading
several German states in the fight.
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War was desired by both countries:
French Emperor
Napoleon III, not very admired by his people, thought
the war would boost his popularity.
Prussian chancellor
Otto von
Bismarck was sick and tired of Germany's many small states
pussy-footing around. He was
ready to unite all of them — under Prussian leadership, of course.
Hot Topic of the Day
Germany was ready to put one of their princes,
Prince Leopold of
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, on the Spanish throne, which
Queen Isabella II had left vacant
when the good people of Spain showed her the door to exile.
France felt potentially
sandwiched between the two countries (see any map) and sent an ambassador to the Prussian
king.
Sneaky Bismarck published his edited version of the conversation
with the ambassador, with the intent to
provoke the French to declare war.
It worked like a charm.
French Emperor Napoleon III declared war on Prussia on July 19, 1870. Because
France was officially the aggressor, all German states (except
Austria) chimed in and eventually formed what is your Germany today.
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Who Won and Who Lost the Franco-German War?
On the French side, Napoleon III
completely lost all his power and influence.
France had to
surrender, the French monarchy was abolished, and the
French Third
Republic was proclaimed. Napoleon was released by the Germans and
went to England, where he died in 1873 whilst cursing his bladder stones.
See also
Governments of France.
Happy German faces of the day were king William I of Prussia
(proclaimed Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany after this war,) Prussian
chancellor and mastermind
Otto von
Bismarck and General
Helmuth von
Moltke.
Trivia
German thinker
Friedrich
Nietzsche helped the wounded of this war, who returned the
favor by giving him diphtheria.
And here is the map:
Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871
Click map to enlarge
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