Between 1870 and 1871, the Franco-Prussian War between France and Prussia, a militarily strong Germanic kingdom with a well-developed economy, which had witnessed an intense industrialization process during the 19th century. The war was crucial to the German Unification, bringing together in a single empire the other Germanic kingdoms.
On the French side, it served to overthrow the regime of Napoleon III and also for the emergence of the Paris Commune, in addition to generating the call french revenge, which would be one of the causes of World War I.
The Franco-Prussian War was still considered the first modern war in history, mainly due to the strategy adopted by Prussia. The mandatory provision of military service and the strong industrial development combined with the military industry, in addition to weapons and tactics used (mainly preparing for a prolonged war) were crucial to victory. Prussian.
The initial reason for the war was related to the unifying interests of the German states, captained by Prussia and led by its king.
William I. The great architect of the process was the Prussian chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who had already carried out conflicts against Austria and Denmark. The war against France was to serve for the expansion of Prussian territory, as well as serve as a stimulus for the unification of the southern German states, which had not yet joined the North German Confederation.To achieve the feat, the Prussians tried to interfere in the succession to the Spanish throne after the Spanish Revolution of 1868. William I was interested in placing Leopold Hohenzollern on the Spanish throne, which was displeased by France and Napoleon III, as it represented an advance in Prussian influence in Western Europe. With Napoleon III's threat of starting a war, the attempt to enthron Leopold did not go forward.
However, Otto von Bismarck carried out a maneuver for France to declare war on Prussia. in the call Dispatch of Ems, Bismarck tampered with a letter from William I, which was published in the press, referring to a meeting with the French ambassador. The tampering made the letter sound like an insult to Napoleon III, who declared war on Prussia. Bismarck's maneuver had as a background German nationalism, as an external war would serve as a stimulus for the unification of states that had not yet joined the German Confederation of North.
With the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War, in July 1870, the German troops achieved a quick and fulminating victory over the French, starting the territorial advance from Alsace. Under the command of General Helmuth von Moltke, the German troops were victorious in the battles of Gravelotte and Sedan. Within six months, the Prussians managed to reach Paris.
Napoleon III was taken prisoner in the latter, representing the end of the Second French Empire and the beginning of the Third Republic. In January 1871, in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, William I was crowned Emperor of the German Reich.
This situation led to the construction of a feeling of shame among part of the French population, which would lead to the so-called french revenge. These nationalist sentiments would be used for the outbreak of World War I. Furthermore, by the Treaty of Frankfurt, France had to cede the territories of Alsace and to the Reich. Lorraine, rich in coal and minerals, in addition to paying heavy indemnities and recognizing the Empire German.
But before this situation materialized, Prussian and French troops had to retake the city of Paris, which was under the control of workers and the National Guard, during the two-month period gives Paris Commune.
By Me. Tales PintoSource: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/guerras/guerra-francoprussiana.htm