The war that reshaped Europe began with a diplomatic insult and ended with the collapse of an empire.

In 1870, France and Prussia went to war. Within months, Napoleon III was captured, Paris was under siege, and a new German Empire had been proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

In this opening episode, we explore the causes, course and consequences of the Franco-Prussian War. From Bismarck’s calculated provocation to the catastrophic defeat at Sedan, this is the story of how a short war transformed the balance of power in Europe and helped create the modern world.

In this episode:

•  Why the war began 
•  How quickly France collapsed 
•  What it meant for Germany and Europe 

Music: Gnossiennes by Erik Satie, performed by Chase Coleman. Recording sourced from IMSLP under Creative Commons licence.

 Explore more stories from French history on the website: https://letrangerpodcast.com/ 
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