THE Paris Commune it is considered as the first historical experience of a workers' government. Between March 18 and May 28, 1871, the French capital was governed by its own population, as the official government was in Versailles.
There was first the administration carried out by a Central Committee of mayors and the National Guard, which passed after the elections of the on March 26, to be carried out by delegates elected by the inhabitants, with 25 workers among the 70 delegates who took over the functions.
The Paris Commune was formed in the context of the French defeat in Franco-Prussian War, between 1870 and 1871. After the defeat to Otto von Bismarck's troops in sedan battle and the Prussian siege of the French capital, the National Guard, which was in several districts Parisians, and the population of the city decided to form a government in order to protect the city from Prussian invasion. The government located in Versailles he had signed an armistice with Prussia, but one of the conditions was the disarmament of the capital.
On March 18, 1871, already under the command of Adolphe Thiers, the government located in Versailles tried to withdraw the cannons and heavy artillery that were in the hands of the National Guard, in Paris, in the neighborhoods of Montmartre and Belleville. Days before, the National Guard had formed a Central Committee that guaranteed autonomy to function vis-à-vis the French government. The attempt to withdraw the cannons led the National Guard and the population to face the approximately 15,000 men sent by Thiers. Upon encountering the resistance of the population, the soldiers began to fraternize with the population, defeating the attempt to retake the artillery pieces. Two officers responsible for the military campaign were executed. It was the beginning of Paris Commune.
The Central Committee of the National Guard had abolished the state of siege and suppressed the military courts, decreeing amnesty for political prisoners and releasing them. After the election of March 26, the Paris Commune delegates organized themselves into ten commissions responsible for the administration of the city, including the War Commission.
The aim was to repel the attacks of the troops sent from Versailles, who were still supported by Prussian battalions, to restore order. This measure also indicated the concern of the governments of both countries in putting an end to the experience of the Parisian workers, as the initiative could stimulate common actions in other parts of the Europe.
On March 30, the attacks on Paris and the seizure of the neighboring municipality of Courbevoie began. A first confrontation between the two forces took place on April 2nd, resulting in the defeat of the Communards (as Commune participants were known) and the shooting of the prisoners. The news stirred Paris and led to an attempt at Versailles, which resulted in another defeat.
A phase of bombing at a distance took the place of direct confrontation. The cannons that the Communards refused to hand over were placed at strategic points in the capital. From the end of April, the Versailles troops began to gain positions, such as Les Moulineaux, the fortifications of Moulin-Saquet and Issy, Clamart and Vanves. A Committee for Public Safety was also formed with the aim of centralizing the decisions of the Paris Commune, which for its creators would strengthen resistance. However, this situation has not been verified.
Versailles troops managed to enter the city on May 20 after passing through one of the gates that gave access to Paris. An estimated 130,000 men began to penetrate the city to quell the resistance. All citizens were called to defend the city with weapons in their hands. Between the 22nd and 28th of May, the last clashes took place, in the so-called “Bloody Week”.
Several barricades were erected along the city streets to stop the enemy from advancing. Buildings were set on fire to hinder the action of Thiers' troops. However, such measures were not enough to contain the offensive. The Paris Commune fell on May 28, 1871, after the defeat of the barricade at Faubourg du Temple. About 4,000 communards fell in battle and more than 20,000 were shot. Another 15 thousand were still arrested and/or deported.
By Me. Tales Pinto
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/guerras/resistencia-na-comuna-paris.htm
