Not With a Whimper But a Bang

It’s September 2nd 1870, and for the Second French Empire the end is nigh. Entirely surrounded by the German Army, the sick and tired Emperor Napoléon III along with 104,000 of France’s finest soldiers surrender to Bismarck and his German coalition in Sedan. For France, it is the greatest military catastrophe since Waterloo fifty-five years earlier. For Bismarck, the road to Paris-and his dream of a united German Empire-now lies open. Yet although one Empire has fallen and another stands ready to be born, the war is far from over.  In Paris, a new Republic has now been proclaimed and behind this new Republic are a people who believe their finest hour is now upon them. The fate of the Republic, of France, and all of Europe now hangs in the balance.

Franco-Prussia Background Guide