In 1870 Bismarck ordered the Prussian Army to invade France, inciting one of the most dramatic conflicts in European history. It transformed not only the states-system of the Continent but the whole climate of European moral and political thought. The overwhelming triumph of German military might, evoking general admiration and imitation, introduced an era of power politics, which was to reach its disastrous climax in 1914. First published in 1961 and now with a new introduction, The Franco-Prussian War is acknowledged as the definitive history of one of the most dramatic and decisive conflicts in the history of Europe.

Wawro describes the Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1, that violently changed the course of European history.

“Masterfully written . . . This series provides the enthusiast and historian with volumes in which history is combined with tourism on the battlefields.” —On the Old Barbed Wire In 1870 France embarked on a war with Prussia and her allied German states that was to be a complete disaster. For Napoleon III, after his ignominious surrender with thousands of his troops from the Army of the Rhine and the Army of Châlons, it meant his abdication and exile. For France it resulted in the humiliation of her army, a bitter civil war in Paris, the loss of two Provinces (Alsace and Lorraine) and a heavy indemnity. Maarten Otte provides background chapters to place the lead up to the war and the issues that were involved; he describes the makeup of the opposing armies and some of their principal commanders. The Sedan Campaign was fought over a relatively small area and the locations of some of the key battles have changed little, though some of those near the built-up areas, such as Sedan itself, require some imagination. After the war several German regiments erected monuments and a surprising number remain today, often hidden away in isolated fields and copses. Several communal cemeteries have a number of German graves. Perhaps one of the most macabre of these is the ossuary in Bazeilles, where the visitor is able to see skeletons that still have shreds of uniform and footwear on them. Sedan was also a focus of the most recent and bloody western European wars, and a notable feature of this battlefield is to see memorials to the conflicts of the twentieth century—the Great War and the Second World War.

Combining impeccable scholarship and literary elegance, David Wetzel depicts the drama of machinations and passions that exploded in a war that forever changed the face of European history.

The first comprehensive history of the Fall Campaign that determined control of Central Europe following Napoleon's catastrophic defeat in Russia.

Have you ever wondered how Germany became a military and economic powerhouse that placed its bid for world domination in the 20th century? If you want an answer to this question, have a look at our guide about the Franco-Prussian War! This book will transport you to the late 19th century, allowing you to "witness" one of the seminal moments of modern history. You'll learn what events preceded the confrontation between the waning old European power of France and the up-and-coming Prussian state and how a war led to the unification of Germany into an empire. Through this guide, you'll find out how significant the famous "Iron Chancellor" Otto von Bismarck was in preparing the ground for a conflict and how his political genius allowed Prussia to spearhead the German union. It will also showcase all the strengths and weaknesses of the military reforms that came out of the brilliant mind of Helmuth von Moltke, a general who almost singlehandedly created the myth of German martial superiority. On the other hand, this book will also expose all the faults in French military thought and the blunders committed by their leaders. Through their mistakes, you'll learn how indecisiveness and stubborn traditionalism can lead to disaster, at least on the battlefield. You'll learn how their defeats on the front lines led to one of the most humiliating and harshest peace treaties in recent history, setting the stage for later major conflicts. Finally, you'll read about how a war that was planned and orchestrated by a few leaders on both sides led to avoidable death and destruction, ushering in the ideas of "total war." You'll understand how civilian casualties became acceptable while military deaths were idealized as heroic sacrifices to the homeland. Through thrilling stories of military feats and fiascos, you'll learn about the futility of war, hopefully realizing that violence rarely leads to a finite solution. In this captivating guide to the Franco-Prussian War, you'll learn about: When did Franco-German animosity begin? What led to the eruption of war in 1870? Why was the Prussian military superior on the front lines? What were the biggest flaws of the French generals? Where did the largest French defeat of the 19th century take place? Why did the war only last six months? How did the German Empire unify through conflict? Which were the most devastating terms of the 1871 peace treaty? How important was the role of Otto von Bismarck throughout the war? What were the consequences of a German victory over the French? And much more! Scroll up and click the "add to cart" button to learn more about the Franco-Prussian War!

At a time when Napoleon needed all his forces to reassert French dominance in Central Europe, why did he fixate on the Prussian capital of Berlin? Instead of concentrating his forces for a decisive showdown with the enemy, he repeatedly detached large numbers of troops, under ineffective commanders, toward the capture of Berlin. In Napoleon and Berlin, Michael V. Leggiere explores Napoleon’s almost obsessive desire to capture Berlin and how this strategy ultimately lost him all of Germany. Napoleon’s motives have remained a subject of controversy from his own day until ours. He may have hoped to deliver a tremendous blow to Prussia’s war-making capacity and morale. Ironically, the heavy losses and strategic reverses sustained by the French left Napoleon’s Grande Armee vulnerable to an Allied coalition that eventually drove Napoleon from Central Europe forever.