WarData.net Franco-Prussian War Timeline

WarData.net ~~~ Franco-Prussian War Timeline

WarData.net ~ Franco-Prussian War Timeline Explanation

This table contains various events related to the Franco-Prussian War of 1879-1871.

The dates are to the nearest day when possible. Those events dated to the nearest year are less certain, naturally, than those dated to the precise day.

Event

Date

Comments

Prussian Army introduces Dreyse needle rifle	1835	The Dreyse "needle gun" (14.53mm) was first issued by the Prussian army on a limited basis in 1835; it was general issue by the Danish War of 1864 and helped to raise battlefield lethality to new levels in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.
French Army introduces the mitrailleuse	1860	With a practical rate of fire of 100 to 200 rounds per minute, the mitrailleuse was unwieldy and hard to deploy; the French had yet to develop effective tactics for its use in 1870 (Wawro, p. 53).
Dreyse needle rifle becomes general issue throughout Prussian Army	1864	The Dreyse was becoming obsolete at the time of the Franco-Prussian War, with an effective range of 400 to 600 yds and a rate of fire of four or five rounds per minute; an infantryman could carry only 70 rounds (Wawro, p. 52).
French Army adopts the Chassepot rifle	1866	The Chassepot had an effective range of 1,000 yds (maximum range of 1,500 yds) and a rate of fire between eight and fifteen rounds a minute; it also had more stopping power than the Dreyse and an infantryman could carry 105 rounds easily (Wawro, p. 52).
Prussian Army adopts Krupp breech-loading artillery	1867	The Prussian Army adopted Krupp breech-loading steel guns, a six-pound field gun, and a 24-pound heavy gun; they had 3x the accuracy, 2x the rate of fire, 1.5x greater range, and many times the destructiveness of the French artillery (Wawro, p. 58).
Roon declares Prussian Army reforms complete	October 20, 1867	*****
Demonstration in Paris	January 10, 1870	About 100,000 people demonstrate against Bonaparte's Second Empire after the death of Victor Noir, a republican journalist killed by the Emperor's cousin, Pierre Bonaparte.
Spain begins process of offering crown to Prince Leopold	April 1870	Badsey, p. 29
News of Hohenzollern Candidature breaks in Paris	July 2, 1870	Badsey, p. 29
France threatens war if Hohenzollern Candidature is accepted	July 6, 1870	Foreign Minister Duke Agenor de Gramont addressed the Assembly with a public statement from the council that France would pursue 'peace if that is possible, war if that is inevitable' to prevent the Hohenzollern Candidature (Badsey, p. 29).
French Ambassador Benedetti meets with Prussian King Wilhelm at Ems spa	July 9, 1870	French Count Benedetti has a friendly meeting with King Wilhelm I of Prussia at the spa of Bad Ems; they discuss the withdrawal of the Hohenzollern Candidature (Badsey, p. 29).
France orders recall of troops from Algeria	July 9, 1870	Howard, p. 67
Napoleon III reorganizes army command structure	July 11, 1870	There was now to be only one army, of eight corps, under his personal command, and the three marshals would be compensated with the command of exceptionally large corps, three divisions strong instead of two (Howard, p. 63).
Prussian military attache in France tells King Wilhelm about France's preparations for war	July 11, 1870	Orders for forage were placed, commissions attached to railway companies, officers recalled from leave, and transports prepared in Toulon to collect troops from Algiers and Rome, and artillery depots were bustling with activity (Howard, p. 57).
Prince Karl withdraws his son Leopold from the Hohenzollern Candidature	July 12, 1870	Prince Karl Anton withdraws his son Leopold from the Candidature, but the French are not satisfied and Benedetti is ordered to demand a guarantee that Leopold would never accept and an apology from Wilhelm for the insult to France (Badsey, p. 29)
France calls up reservists	July 12, 1870	Howard, p. 58
Ambassador Benedetti and Wilhelm I have a final meeting at Ems	July 13, 1870	At their final meeting, Wilhelm politely and correctly declines the demand for an apology and also declines further contact with the ambassador. A sensationalized version redrafted by Bismarck appears in Berlin papers the same evening (Badsey, p. 29-30).
France orders full mobilization	July 14, 1870	Howard, p. 68
Germany begins mobilization	July 15, 1870	Howard, p. 59
France calls up Garde Mobile	July 17-18, 1870	Howard, p. 68-69
Elements of four French corps in position before Metz	July 18, 1870	Howard, p. 72
France declares war on Prussia beginning the Franco-Prussian War	July 19, 1870	The Hohenzollern candidature for the Spanish throne was offered to a relative of the King of Prussia; this was unacceptable to the French and became the causus belli for a war for which the French were willing but unprepared; the Prussian were both.
Austria announces its neutrality	July 20, 1870	Howard, p. 64
Napoleon slights General Bazaine	July 24, 1870	After having scapegoated General Bazaine for the Mexican debacle of 1866-7, Napoleon III further insulted him by subordinating him to General Leboeuf, much lower on the promotion rosters; the blow to Bazaine's pride was "annihilating" (Wawro, p. 70).
Napoleon III arrives in Metz to take command of the army	July 27, 1870	Howard, p. 79
French armies begin advance to Saarbrücken	July 31, 1870	Howard, p. 80
Saarbrücken, Battle of	August 2, 1870	French capture Saarbrücken (Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 832)
France suspends recruitment of Garde Mobile	August 4, 1870	Howard, p. 69
Wissembourg, Battle of	August 4, 1870	The advance guard of the Third German Army carried the French position, and captured the town of Weissenburg, at a cost of 91 officers and 1,460 men. The French lost 2,300 killed, wounded and prisoners. French General Abel Donay was killed in the battle.
Spicheren, Battle of	August 6, 1870	After an obstinate encounter, the French were driven from all their positions with heavy loss, and compelled to retreat on Metz. The Germans lost 223 officers and 4,648 men. General von Francois was killed in the battle.
A great French victory announced at Paris stock exchange	August 6, 1870	*****
Fröeschwiller, Battle of	August 6, 1870	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 832; Harbottle, p. 304 (Wörth)
General Leboeuf commands the army to concentrate on Châlons	August 7, 1870	Wawro, p. 141
Paris newspapers admit General Frossard's corps is in retreat	August 7, 1870	Wawro, p. 141
Napoleon gives orders for French army to retire to Châlons	August 7, 1870	Howard, p. 123-4
Emperor Napoleon decides to move to the fortress of Metz	August 7, 1870	Wawro, p. 141
Napoleon III relinquishes command of the Army of the Rhine to Bazaine	August 9, 1870	*****
French Premier Olliver forced to resign	August 9, 1870	Howard, Wawro, p. 140; Badsey, p. 37
Emperor Napoleon removes General Leboeuf	August 11, 1870	Howard, Wawro, p. 141; Badsey, p. 37
Command of the French armies devolves to General Bazaine	August 11, 1870	Wawro, p. 141
Borny, Battle of	August 14, 1870	Inconclusive engagement but the battle delayed Bazaine twelve hours in escaping from Metz, allowing the Prussians to swing around and attack from the west. Prussian casualties were 5,000 officers and men; French casualties about 3,500 officers and men.
Emperor Napoleon elevates Bazaine to Generalissimo	August 14, 1870	Wawro, p. 141
Colombey, Battle of	August 14, 1870	Harbottle, p. 76
Rezonville, Battle of	August 16, 1870	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 834
Mars-La-Tour, Battle of	August 16, 1870	The Germans, though at times very hard pressed, succeeded in holding their ground; desperate and costly charges by the German cavalry against the French infantry, notably Von Bredow's brigade, which allowed the German infantry to reform.
Vionville, Battle of	August 16, 1870	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 834
Gravelotte-St Privat, Battle of	August 18, 1870	The battle was most hotly contested, but while the French held their ground in the neighbourhood of Gravelotte, the Germans turned their right flank at Saint Privat, and they were eventually obliged to abandon all their positions.
Metz, Siege of	August 18 - October 26, 1870	Invested by the Germans after the defeat of Bazaine at Gravelotte, and after several half-hearted, poorly-planned and eventually unsuccessful sorties, Bazaine surrenders to Prince Frederick Charles with 3 marshals, 6,000 officers, and 173,000 men.
Advance of MacMahon from Châlons	August 21-28, 1870	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 835
French sortie from Metz, First	August 26/27, 1870	Wawro, p. 196; Howard, p. 261-2
Nouart, Battle of	August 29, 1879	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 835
Beaumont, Battle of	August 30, 1870	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 835; Harbottle, p. 42
Bazeilles, Battle of	August 31, 1870	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 835
French sortie from Metz, Second	August 31 - September 1, 1870	Wawro, p. 198; Howard, p. 262-3
Noisseville, Battle of	August 31, 1870	Harbottle, p. 205
Sedan, Battle of	September 1, 1870	This was the decisive battle of the war. The French under Marshal Macmahon were driven from all their positions by the Germans retired into Sedan, losing 3,000 killed, 14,000 wounded, and 21,000 prisoners; 83,000 later surrendered along with Napoleon III.
Fall of the Second Empire; Proclamation of the Third Republic	September 4, 1870	*****
Paris, First Siege of	September 20, 1870 - January 28, 1871	Paris was invested by the main German army, under the King of Prussia and von Moltke, September 20, 1870. In spite of a gallant defence and many sorties, the city surrendered January 28, 1871.
Chevilly, Battle of	September 30, 1870	A sortie from Paris under General Vinoy was repulsed by the Sixth German Corps under Von Tumpling, with a loss of 74 officers and 2,046 men. The Germans lost 28 officers and 413 men killed and wounded.
Gambetta leaves Paris by balloon	October 7, 1870	Howard, p. 239
Bellevue, Battle of	October 18, 1870	Marshal Bazaine unsuccessfully attempted to break through the lines of the Germans investing Metz, and wasdriven back into the city with a loss of 64 officers and 1,193 men. The Germans lost 75 officers and 1,703 men.
French Army surrenders at Metz	October 27, 1870	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 836
Le Bourget, Battle of	October 27 - 30, 1870	A determined sortie by the French from Paris, carrying the village of Le Bourget. They held their ground there until October 30, when they were driven out by the Prussian Guard Corps, losing 1,200 prisoners; the Germans lost 34 officers and 344 men.
Black Monday in Paris	October 31, 1870	*****
Revolt of the Gardes Nationales	October 31, 1870	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 836
Belfort, Siege of	November 3, 1870 - February 15, 1871	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 837
Coulmiers, Battle of	November 9, 1870	After maintaining their position for the greater part of the day, the Germans were driven back, having lost 576 killed and wounded, 800 prisoners, an ammunition column and 2 guns. The French losses were about 1,500.
Amiens, Battle of	November 27, 1870	The French, under General Faure, were compelled to abandon the city, but the Germans, under Manteuffel, failed to secure a decisive victory. French losses were 1,383 killed and wounded, and 1,000 missing; the Germans, 76 officers and 1,216 men.
Beaune-la-Rolande, Battle of	November 28, 1870	Wawro, 2003; Harbottle, p. 42
Great Sortie from Paris	November 29-30, 1870	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 836
Villiers-Champigny, Battle of	November 30 - December 3, 1870	A sortie from Paris, under General Ducrot, against the Wurtembergers. On December 3, the French, who had at first gained some successes, were finally repulsed, with a loss of 424 officers and 9,053 men; the Germans, 156 officers and 3,373 men.
Loigny-Pouprey, Battle of	December 1, 1870	Harbottle, p. 164-5
Orleans, Battle of	December 2-4, 1870	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 836; Harbottle, p. 210
Beaugency, Battle of	December 8/9, 1870	Wawro, 2003
Second Sortie from Paris	December 21, 1870	Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 836
Hallue, Battle of	December 23/24, 1870	Inconclusive; Dupuy & Dupuy, p. 836; Harbottle, p. 124
Bapaume, Battle of	January 2/3, 1871	The result was indecisive, and though the French gained some tactical successes, the result strategically was an advantage to the Germans, as General Faidherbe was compelled to desist from his attempt to raise the siege of Peronne.
Start of the Bombardment of Paris	January 5, 1871	*****
Le Mans, Battle of	January 10-12, 1871	A French army 150,000 strong was completely routed by a German force of 50,000; the French force was so completely demoralised as to be no longer an effective fighting unit. The Germans took 20,000 prisoners, losing only 200 officers and 3,200 men.
Belfort, Battle of	January 15-17, 1871	*****
Proclamation of the German Empire; Wilhelm I acclaimed emperor at Versailles	January 18, 1871 - 1918	*****
Saint Quentin, Battle of	January 19, 1871	Victory of Von Goben and 33,000 Germans over the French, 40,000 strong, under General Faidherbe. The French were decisively defeated, with a loss of 3,500 killed and wounded, 9,000 prisoners, and 6 guns. The Germans lost 96 officers and 2,304 men.
Buzenval, Battle of	January 19/20, 1871	The French, advancing under cover of a fog, established themselves in the Park of Buzenval for a short time before, unsupported, they were forced to retire. The Germans lost 40 officers and 570 men; the French 189 officers and 3,881 men.
Armistice agreed	January 26, 1871	*****
Convention of Versailles; Capitulation of Paris	January 28, 1871	The garrison, under the command of General Trochu, made a gallant defence, many serious sorties taking place, but the Germans gradually mastered the outer defences, and finally, being much straitened by famine, the city surrendered January 28, 1871.
Bourbaki's army interned in Switzerland	February 1, 1871	*****
Bourbaki's army retreats to Switzerland	February 2, 1871	*****
Elections for French national assemby at Bordeaux	February 8, 1871	*****
Preliminary peace treaty between France and Germany signed at Versailles	February 26, 1871	*****
Germans parade through Paris	March 1, 1871	*****
Paris Commune established; Reign of Terror in Paris	March 18 - May 28, 1871	*****
Paris, Second Siege of	April 2, 1871	*****
Treaty of Frankfurt	May 10, 1871	The Treaty of Frankfurt was signed May 10, 1871, at the end of the Franco-Prussian War. It: * confirmed the Franco-German frontier * set a framework for the withdrawal of German troops * regulated payment of a French War Indemnity
Bloody Week in Paris	May 21, 1871	*****
End of the Paris Commune	May 28, 1871	*****

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