1870 1871 Collection (#5)

3 - Otto Van Bismarck At Four Stages Of His Career, 1907. Prince Bismark as Chancellor of the newly united German Empire, July 3, 1871

The War of 1870-71. From the plans of the Prussian General Staff and other Sources, 1907. A map showing the Battles round Metz, during August 1870

4 - Otto Van Bismarck At Four Stages Of His Career, 1907. Bismark in his seventieth year, April 12, 1885. Otto Edward Leopold

1 - Otto Van Bismarck At Four Stages Of His Career, 1907. Otto Van Bismarck as Inspector of Dykes and Conservative Deputy in 1850

Le Bourget, 1870, (1884)
Le Bourget, 1870. The Battle of Le Bourget was part of the siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War, fought between 27th and 30th September 1870. After Alphonse de Neuville (1835-1885)

Leon Gambetta proclaiming the Republic of France, 4th September 1870 (1882-1884). After the disastrous defeat of the French by the Prussians at Sedan and the capture of Napoleon III

Marshal MacMahon, French soldier and politician, 1873. Of Irish descent, Patrice MacMahon (1808-1893) was the commander of the French army defeated by the Prussians at the Battle of Sedan in

Francois Certain Canrobert, French general, 1869. After serving in Africa, Canrobert (1809-1895) was appointed aide-de-camp to President Louis-Napoleon

Louis Faidherbe, French soldier and general, 1870
General Louis Faidherbe in 1870, (1865-1905). Faidherbe (1818-1889) was a soldier and a colonial administrator. While serving in Senegal he created the Senegalese Tirailleurs

Sergeant Hoff, French soldier, 1872. Ignace Hoff was a hero of the Franco-Prussian War, who later became a caretaker of the Arc de Triomphe

Charles Denis Bourbaki, French soldier and general, 1868. Bourbaki commanded an army during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870-1871

Sergeant Tanviray at Loigny, 1895. Artist: Dormoy
Sergeant Tanviray at Loigny, 1895. A French soldier recovering the colours from a fallen comrade at the Battle of Loigny in December 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War

The Empress of the French embarking in the Gazelle, 1870 (late 19th century). The Empress Eugenie at Trouville stepping aboard the yacht of Sir John Burgoyne that would take her into exile in England

The bombardment of Strasburg, France, 1875. During the Franco-Prussian War and the Siege of Strasbourg, the city was heavily bombarded by the Prussian army

The Charge of the Cuirassiers at Rezonville, 1870, (c1920). French cavalry in a scene from the Franco-Prussian War. Illustration from Story of the British Nation, Volume IV, by Walter Hutchinson

Discussing the surrender of France after the Battle of Sedan, Franco-Prussian War, 1870 (1900). Artist: Georg Bleibtreu
Discussing the surrender of France after the Battle of Sedan, Franco-Prussian War, 1870 (1900). General Faure, General de Wimpffen, Moltke and Bismarck

Otto von Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg, German statesman, (1900). Otto Edward Leopold, Count von Bismarck (1815-1898) was Chancellor of Prussia and architect of modern Germany

Helmuth Karl Bernhard von Moltke, German Field Marshal, 19th century. As chief of the Prussian General Staff, Moltke (1800-1891)

Scene from the Franco-Prussian War, 1870, 19th century. Artist: Alphonse de Neuville
Scene from the Franco-Prussian War, 1870, 19th century. Found in the collection of the State Art Museum, Tula, Russia

Strasbourg statue, Place de la Concorde, Paris, 1904. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, when Alsace-Lorraine was lost to Germany

Commemoration of the Siege of Belfort, 1896. Artist: F Meaulle
Commemoration of the Siege of Belfort, 1896. The Siege of Belfort was a lengthy siege during the Franco-Prussian War. The garrison held out until the armistice between France and the German Empire

Destruction of Count Bismarcks Cuirassiers by the Mitrailleuse, c1870, (1875). The Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) was declared by France on Prussia

Charge of the Prussian Lancers at Weissenburg, 1870, (1875). The Battle of Weissenburg was the first battle of the Franco-Prussian War

Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia, (1900). Artist: Berner
Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia, (1900). The nephew of King Wilhelm I of Prussia, Frederick Charles (1828-1885) was a general in the Prussian army

Wilhelm I, first Emperor of Germany, (1900). Artist: Paul Bulow
Wilhelm I, first Emperor of Germany, (1900). Wilhelm (1797-1888) became King of Prussia in 1861 and was proclaimed Emperor of Germany in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War

The Dragoons, Battle of Gravelotte, 18th August 1870, (1894). Scene from the battle, the largest engagement in the Franco-Prussian War. An illustration from Le Petit Journal, 7th May 1894

Forward!, 1891. Artist: F Meaulle
Forward!, 1891. Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871. A print from the Le Petit Journal, 31st January 1891

French anti-Prussian cartoon, 1871. Cartoon from Actualite published during the Franco-Prussian war (1870-1871). From a private collection

L Executif 1870-1871. Artist: Pilotell
L Executif 1870-1871. Cartoon from La Caricature depicting France losing Alsace-Lorraine to Germany, the consequence of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871. From a private collection

Porte du Point du Jour, Siege of Paris, 1870-1871. Artist: Paul Roux
Porte du Point du Jour, Siege of Paris, 1870-1871. Part of the fortifications defending Paris during the Prussian siege, the Porte du Point du Jour was the point where French government forces gained

Garde Mobile des Departements, Siege of Paris, 1870-1871. Print from a series titled Souvenirs du Siege de Paris. After the disastrous defeat of the French at Sedan and the capture of Napoleon III

Garde Mobile - Officier, Siege of Paris, 1870-1871. Print from a series titled Souvenirs du Siege de Paris. After the disastrous defeat of the French at Sedan and the capture of Napoleon III

Cavalerie de la Garde Nationale, Siege of Paris, 1870-1871. Print from a series titled Souvenirs du Siege de Paris. After the disastrous defeat of the French at Sedan and the capture of Napoleon III

Bataillon de Guerre de la Garde Nationale, Siege of Paris, 1870-1871. Print from a series titled Souvenirs du Siege de Paris

Garde Nationale Sedentaire - Officier Cantinierre, Siege of Paris, 1870-1871. Print from a series titled Souvenirs du Siege de Paris

Carnaval de 1871; Wilhelm I of Prussia entering Paris, February 1871
Carnaval de 1871 ; Wilhelm I of Prussia entering Paris, February 1871. Wilhelm I of Prussia was proclaimed the first Emperor of a united Germany in a ceremony in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles

M et Mme Josephine, Siege of Paris, Franco-Prussian War, 1870 (1872). Artist: Auguste Bry
M et Mme Josephine, Siege of Paris, Franco-Prussian War, 1870 (1872). A soldier, holding a rifle with bayonet attached, standing in front of a heavy artillery piece. From a private collection

Soldiers of the Garde Nationale, Siege of Paris, 1870-1871. Artist: Auguste Bry
Soldiers of the Garde Nationale, Siege of Paris, 1870-1871. Two hungry soldiers filling up jerrycans with water and dreaming of having soup to eat

Death of Commandant de Dampierre, Siege of Paris, Franco-Prussian War, 13th October 1870. Dampierre was killed by rifle fire while on a reconnaissance to try to ascertain Prussian troop movements

Battle of Reichshoffen, Franco-Prussian war, 6th August 1870. French infantry of an African regiment making a bayonet charge against a Prussian artillery position

Soyez les Freres!, allegory of Republican France, 1871. Artist: E Courtaux
Soyez les Freres!, allegory of Republican France, 1871. Cartoon from a series titled La Grande Crucifiee!!! depicting Marianne as Republican France

Choeur des Girondins, song sheet, Franco-Prussian war, 1870-1871. Patriotic song on the theme of the glory of death in the cause of the defence of France. From a private collection

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In the late 19th century, a series of events unfolded that would shape the course of European history. The year was 1870, and tensions were rising between Prussia and France. A map of Prussia from around 1872 reveals the territorial boundaries that played a crucial role in these events. At the center of it all was Count Otto von Bismarck, a brilliant Prusso-German statesman. His strategic maneuvers and political acumen would soon come into play as war loomed on the horizon. The Franco-Prussian War erupted in 1870, with one significant battle being the Battle of Reichshoffen, also known as the Battle of Worth, which took place on August 5th. As hostilities escalated further, Paris found itself under siege for an extended period from September 19th, 1870 to January 28th, 1871. This prolonged Siege of Paris became a symbol of resistance for both sides involved in this conflict. Multiple images depicting this historic event capture its magnitude and significance. One such image shows Moltke at Paris in September 1870—a striking portrayal by an unknown artist that encapsulates the intensity surrounding this pivotal moment in history. Another captivating visual is a map illustrating The Siege of Paris itself—an intricate depiction created in1907 that showcases how this city became a battleground during those fateful months. Finally, on January18th, 1871, the ProclamationoftheGermanEmpireatVersailles markeda turning pointinEuropeanhistory. ThebirthoftheGermanEmpirewasannounced, andBismarck'svisionofunifyingGermanyunderPrussianleadershipbecameareality. Thisproclamationforeveralteredthebalanceofpoweronthecontinentandsetthestageforfutureconflictsandalliances.