Siege of Paris (1870–1871)

A big war happened near Paris.

German armies moved to surround the city. This meant people could not leave.

The people inside had to be very brave. They tried to send messages out using balloons.

It was a very hard time for everyone. Food became very hard to find.

Many people felt hungry and sick.

Finally, the fighting stopped. The city was safe again. It was a time people never forgot.

In 1870, a big war began between France and Germany.

German armies moved toward Paris. They surrounded the city to trap the people inside. This was called a siege. It began on September 19, 1870.

The French tried to defend the city. They built walls and dug deep holes. They also saved food like meat and grain.

But the siege lasted for many months. Life became very hard for the people in Paris. They did not have enough food. Many people became sick.

Some people tried to send messages out using balloons.

The French soldiers tried to break out of the city. They fought three big battles to escape. But the German armies were too strong. On January 28, 1871, the fighting finally stopped. The city had to surrender to the German forces. This war changed how many countries in Europe worked together.

The Siege of Paris was a major event during the Franco-Prussian War. This war began because France wanted to be the strongest land in Europe.

The North German Confederation, led by Prussia, challenged this goal. After several French defeats, the French emperor Napoleon III was captured in September 1870. This caused the French government to change into the Third French Republic. The new leaders decided to keep fighting. This led to the German armies surrounding Paris to trap the people inside. The siege officially began on September 19, 1870.

To defend the city, the French took many steps.

General Louis Jules Trochu led the defenses. They built walls and dug earthworks around the city. Workers even used electrically-triggered mines to protect certain paths. The city leaders also tried to save food for the people. They stored grain and meat in the Opéra Garnier. They even kept many animals, like 250,000 sheep, in the local gardens. They hoped the siege would only last about 80 days.

History shows that the siege was a very difficult time.

Prussian forces led by King William I and Helmuth von Moltke surrounded the city. The Germans did not want to attack the city directly with guns. They wanted to wait until the people inside ran out of food. This was a plan to force a surrender without a direct fight. Inside Paris, the people faced hunger and sickness. Some people even tried to send messages out using balloons to reach the outside world.

There were many important battles and dates during these months.

The French tried to break out of the city three times. One large attempt happened in late November. It was very cold, with temperatures dropping to 7°F. This cold weather caused many soldiers to suffer from frostbite. On January 25, 1871, the Prussians used heavy Krupp artillery to shell the city. Finally, on January 28, 1871, the government signed an armistice. This agreement stopped the fighting and allowed food to enter Paris.

The end of the siege changed Europe forever.

The victory helped the North German Confederation join with other states. This led to the creation of the German Empire. In Paris, the people were very unhappy about the loss. This anger helped a new group called the Paris Commune take control of the city. The war changed how different countries in Europe treated one another. It also changed the way people in France viewed their own government. The events of 1870 and 1871 left a mark on the world for a long time.

The Siege of Paris was a major military blockade during the Franco-Prussian War. It lasted from September 19, 1870, to January 28, 1871. The siege was the final stage of a conflict between France and the North German Confederation. This confederation was led by the Kingdom of Prussia. The war began because the Second French Empire wanted to stay the dominant power in Europe. However, Prussia had recently won the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. This victory made people question if France was still the strongest nation on the continent. After France declared war in July 1870, they suffered several major defeats. The most decisive loss was the Battle of Sedan on September 2, 1870. During this battle, the French Emperor Napoleon III was captured by German forces. This event caused the Second French Empire to collapse completely. A new government, the Third French Republic, was formed under the Government of National Defense.

To defend the city, the new French government organized massive fortifications.

General Louis Jules Trochu was the commander in charge of Paris. He assembled a massive force of about 513,000 potential defenders. This included 60,000 regular soldiers and 90,000 Mobiles, which were territorial troops. The largest group was the National Guard, which had 350,000 members. Most of these guardsmen were untrained. The French also prepared 2,150 cannons and 8,000,000 kg of gunpowder. To strengthen the city, a committee led by Marshal Vaillant used 12 million francs. They built earthworks and placed a barrage across the Seine River. They even installed electrically-triggered mines at key entrances. They also cleared forests and houses to improve firing sight lines for their guns. To prevent enemies from entering through underground paths, they sealed the Paris Catacombs and local quarries.

Preparing for a long wait was a major priority for the city leaders.

They stockpiled cereals, salted meat, and preserves to feed the population. Much of this food was stored in the Opéra Garnier. They also kept large numbers of livestock inside the city limits. The Bois de Boulogne received 250,000 sheep and 40,000 oxen. The government believed they had enough flour and wheat to last for 80 days. They assumed the siege would be short, but they were mistaken. As the Prussian armies approached, they surrounded the city from different directions. Crown Prince Albert's army moved in from the north. Crown Prince Frederick moved in from the south. By September 19, the encirclement was complete and the siege officially began.

During the siege, the German high command made specific choices about how to fight.

Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck wanted to shell the city with artillery. He believed this would force a quick surrender. However, the King of Prussia and General Leonhard von Blumenthal disagreed. They felt that shelling civilians would violate the rules of engagement. They also worried it would make other neutral countries turn against Germany. Instead, they chose a strategy of starvation. They wanted to squeeze the city until the defenders had no choice but to surrender. This methodical approach aimed to destroy the city's outer forts while minimizing German casualties.

Inside Paris, the situation became increasingly desperate as months passed.

The French tried to break the siege with three major military attempts. In late November, 80,000 soldiers attempted an attack at the Battle of Villiers. In December, another breakout was attempted at Le Bourget. The weather during this time was extremely harsh. In one instance, temperatures fell to 7°F (−14°C). Soldiers lacked fuel for warmth, leading to over 900 cases of frostbite. These attempts failed, and the French suffered heavy casualties. To communicate with the outside world, the French even used hot air balloons.

At least 66 balloons were sent out during the siege to carry mail and messages.

Internal conflict also grew within the city of Paris.

On October 31, an angry mob invaded the Hôtel de Ville. They took General Trochu and his leaders hostage. This was caused by the low morale following defeats at Metz and Le Bourget. While the uprising was eventually settled peacefully, the government arrested 22 leaders. This made the radicalized population even more angry. By January 1871, the situation reached a breaking point. The Prussians deployed heavy Krupp siege artillery on January 25. The intensified bombardment, combined with starvation and disease, forced the government's hand. On January 28, 1871, the Government of National Defense signed an armistice with the North German Confederation. This agreement finally allowed food shipments to enter the city.

The consequences of the siege changed the map of Europe.

The French defeat allowed the North German Confederation to unify with South German states. This led to the official declaration of the German Empire. In Paris, the disgruntled population eventually took control of the city. They formed a new government known as the Paris Commune. The siege left a lasting impact on French and German relations for many years. It also demonstrated how modern warfare could involve the total isolation of entire cities. The events of 1870 and 1871 helped shape the political systems of the modern era.