Franco Prussian War

Background of FPW

After Napoleonic Wars (ended in 1815), there were 39 seperate Germanic states in Europe. Two largest were Prussia and Austria

Wars fought by Prussians after the Napoleonic Wars

Prussians under the leadership of Chancellor Bismarck fought 3 wars to merge these smaller states into one new German state and be the dominant Germanic state instead of Austria:

1864: Denmark defeated

1866: Austria defeated

1871: France defeated - Alsace Lorraine annexed

What was the FPW?

The final war of German unification, led by the Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.  The war with France between 1870 and 1871 led to the establishment of a strong and powerful German empire in central Europe.

Otto von Bismark’s quote

“This policy cannot succeed through speeches, and shooting-matches, and songs; it can only be carried out through blood and iron”

What does this quote about “Blood and Iron” signify

France’s defeat

• Prussia humiliated France

• 80,000 French soldiers surrendered to the Prussians at Sedan in 1870

• The core of the French army consisting of 150,000 were surrounded for 2 month at Metz and then surrendered

• Prussia used technology to mobilise quickly - they used railways to deliver men and resources to the battlefield

• Paris had been cut off from the rest of France and was crippled by an economic blockade

The Peace Terms

• France Lost Alsace-Lorraine

• Had to pay an indemnity of 5,000 million marks

• Prussian victory march through Paris

• January 1891 - the king of Prussia was proclaimed the German emperor in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles

What did the Peace Terms create in France?

They led to a strong desire for revenge, known as the revanche movement.

Consequences of the FPW

• Unification in Germany was achieved through “BLOOD AND IRON” aka defeat of other European states.

• Triggered an ARMS RACE in Europe as the other powers realised that they had to improve the equipment and training of their armies.(MILITARISM)

• Destabilised the balance of power in Europe as it established a new economic and military power in the heart of Europe.

• Led to insecurities and need for alliances between nations.

• Led to establishment of the “revanche” movement in France for revenge on Germany and reclamation of Alsace-Lorraine.

Bismark’s system of alliances

• Despite the tension caused by the FPW, Bismarck did not continue with an aggressive foreign policy.

• Bismarck worked on a web of alliances that would protect Germany from further attack and allow it to consolidate its position in Europe

• Germany’s main aim was to keep France isolated and ally with Russia to prevent a war on two fronts

Dreikaiserbund (Three Emperors’ League)

Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia. Three monarchs identified republicanism and socialism as common enemies.

Weltpolitik “World Policy”

Germany started expanding her navy and army and announced her plan of building an empire.

Wilhelm II and Foreign Minister von Bülow about Weltpolitik

• “Nothing must henceforth be settled in the world without the intervention of Germany and the German Emperor”

• “We don’t want to put anyone else in the shade, but we too demand our place in the sun”