Prussian artillery laying siege to Strasbourg, 1870-1871

Franco German War: On July 19th, 1870, France declared war on Prussia, the Franco-German war was to start. There were several reasons that has led to the bloody encounter. For one thing France thought the forthcoming unification of the German States a threat to its own position in Europe. Furthermore Napoleon III needed a success in foreign affairs in order to cover difficulties in domestic affairs. And then there was the offer to Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern to take over the Spanish throne, which had been vacant after the expulsion of Queen Isabella of Spain _1868). This meant that France, as before by the House of Hepsburg, would again be surrounded, this time by the house of Hohenzollern. Even though Prince Leopold gave up his candidacy to the Spanish throne, France demanded an official Prusian statement to resign foe ever from all claims to the Spanish throne when this was being rejected rather harshly by the so called Emser Depesche (being as Prussian King Wilhelm I was at that time in Bad Ems), France declared war on Prussian on July 19th, 1870. Unexpectedly the southern and Italy were to stay neutral. As to England she did not have any interest in a French victory. And so, poorly prepared for war as it was, France had to stay to its rash decision without any ally. The German Army under the command of Hellmuth von Moltke fought successfully against the French Rhine Army under Bazaine. On October 27th 1870, the latter surrendered in the bieged city of Metz; 173, 000 men were taken prisoner. The successful relief of Metz by General Macmahon ended with the battle of Sedan on September 1st, 1870. 183, 000 men were taken prisoner - among them Napoleon III, Paris was being besieged and finally had to surrender on January 28th, 1871, when a truce was being signed. This was followed by a preliminary peace treaty to be signed on March 1st. 1871, in Versailles, and finally, on May 10th, the peace treaty was ratified in Frankfurt. Photo shows Prussian artillery, laying siege to the city of Strasbourg

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27th Ally Bazaine Besieged Candidacy Claims Decision Declared Demanded Difficulties Encounter Ended Expulsion Finally Followed Forthcoming Fought Franco-german Furthermore Harshly Hellmuth Isabella Latter Macmahon Meant Metz Moltke Needed Neutral Offer Poorly Preliminary Prepared Rash Rather Ratified Reasons Rejected Resign Sedan Statement Stay Strasbourg Successfully Surrendered Though Threat Truce Unexpectedly Unification Vacant

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