Battle of Sedan
Part of the Franco-Prussian War
Date: September 1, 1870 Location: Sedan, France Result: Decisive German victory
Combatants
Prussia Bavaria	France
Commanders
Wilhelm I Helmuth von Moltke	Napoleon III Patrice MacMahon Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot
Strength
200,000 774 cannon	120,000 564 cannon
Casualties
2,320 dead 5,980 wounded 700 missing (9,000 total)	3,000 dead 14,000 wounded 21,000 captured 82,000 surrendered (120,000 total)

The Battle of Sedan was fought during the Franco-Prussian War on September 1, 1870. It resulted in the capture of Emperor Napoleon III along with his army and practically concluded war in favour of Prussia and its allies, though fighting continued under a new French government. Combatants France Prussia allied with German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III Helmuth von Moltke Strength 500,000 550,000 Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian [citation needed] 100,000 dead or wounded 200,000 civilian [citation needed] The Franco-Prussian War (July... Image File history File links Historical map of the campaign by Sedan (01. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Sedan is a town and commune in France, a sous-préfecture of the Ardennes département. ... Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1894-1918 Prussia (German: ; Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Lithuanian: ; Old Prussian: PrÅ«sa; Polish: ) was, most recently, a historic state originating in East Prussia, an area which for centuries had substantial influence on German and European history. ... The Free State of Bavaria  (German: Freistaat Bayern), with an area of 70,553 km² (27,241 square miles) and 12. ... Wilhelm I of Germany (March 22, 1797 – March 9, 1888), German Emperor (Kaiser), ruled January 18, 1871 – 9 March 1888 and King of Prussia, ruled 2 January 1861 – 9 March 1888. ... Graf Moltke Helmuth Karl Bernhard von Moltke (October 26, 1800 - April 24, 1891), who became Helmuth Graf von Moltke in 1870, was a famous Prussian general. ... Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (April 20, 1808 - January 9, 1873) was the son of King Louis Bonaparte and Queen Hortense de Beauharnais; both monarchs of the French puppet state, the Kingdom of Holland. ... Patrice MacMahon, duc de Magenta President of France, 1873-1879 Marie Edmé Patrice Maurice MacMahon, duc de Magenta, Marshal of France (July 13, 1808 - October 16, 1893) was a Frenchman of Irish descent. ... General Ducrot Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot (February 24th 1817, Nevers - August 16th 1882, Versailles) was a French general. ... Combatants France Prussia allied with German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III Helmuth von Moltke Strength 500,000 550,000 Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian [citation needed] 100,000 dead or wounded 200,000 civilian [citation needed] The Franco-Prussian War (July... The Battle of Wissembourg or Weissenburg was the first battle of the Franco-Prussian War. ... Battle of Spicheren Conflict Franco-Prussian War Date August 6, 1870 Place near Saarbrucken, France Result German victory The Battle of Spicheren, also known as the Battle of Forbach, was a battle during the Franco-Prussian War. ... Combatants Prussia Baden Bavaria Württemberg France Commanders Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Patrice MacMahon Strength 88,000 50,000 Casualties 10,000 dead, wounded, or missing 11,000 dead or wounded 9,000 captured {{{notes}}} The Battle of WÅ“rth, also known as the Battle of Reichshoffen or as the... The Siege of Strasbourg took place during Franco-Prussian War. ... Battle of Mars-La-Tour Conflict Franco-Prussian War Date August 16, 1870 Place Mars-La-Tour, France Result Prussian victory The Battle of Mars-La-Tour was fought on 16 August 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War near the town of Mars-La-Tour in north-east France. ... Combatants Prussia France Commanders Helmuth von Moltke François Achille Bazaine Strength 188,332 732 guns 112,800 520 guns Casualties 20,163 dead, wounded, missing or captured 7,855 dead or wounded, 4,420 captured {{{notes}}} The Battle of Gravelotte (August 18, 1870), was a battle of the Franco... Combatants Prussia France Commanders Prince Friedrich Karl François Bazaine Strength 134,000 180,000 Casualties unknown 180,000 surrendered The Siege of Metz lasting from September 3 – October 23, 1870 was a crushing defeat for the French during the Franco-Prussian War. ... Combatants France Prussia The Battle of Coulmiers was fought on November 9, 1870 between French and Prussian forces. ... Combatants Prussia France Commanders Edwin Freiherr von Manteuffel Louis Faidherbe Strength 18,000 33,000 The Battle of Bapaume was a battle during the Franco-Prussian War which defeated French attempts to relieve the besieged city of Péronne. ... Battle of Le Mans Conflict Franco_Prussian War Date January 10 – 12 1871 Place Le Mans, France Result Prussian victory The Battle of LeMans was a Prussian victory during the Franco_Prussian War which ended French resistance in western France. ... Combatants Prussia France Commanders Charles Denis Bourbaki Strength Casualties {{{notes}}} The Battle of the Lisaine was fought from January 15 to January 17 of 1871 between Prussian and French forces. ... Battle of St. ... The Siege of Paris lasting from September 19, 1870 – January 28, 1871 brought about French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and led to the establishment of the German Empire. ... The Siege of Belfort was a lengthy siege during the Franco-Prussian War. ... Combatants France Prussia allied with German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III Helmuth von Moltke Strength 500,000 550,000 Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian [citation needed] 100,000 dead or wounded 200,000 civilian [citation needed] The Franco-Prussian War (July... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (April 20, 1808 - January 9, 1873) was the son of King Louis Bonaparte and Queen Hortense de Beauharnais; both monarchs of the French puppet state, the Kingdom of Holland. ... Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1894-1918 Prussia (German: ; Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Lithuanian: ; Old Prussian: PrÅ«sa; Polish: ) was, most recently, a historic state originating in East Prussia, an area which for centuries had substantial influence on German and European history. ...

The 120,000 strong French Army of Châlons, commanded by Marshal Patrice MacMahon and accompanied by the French emperor Napoleon III, was attempting to relieve the Siege of Metz, only to be caught by the Prussian Meuse Army and defeated at the battle of Beaumont. The Meuse Army and the Prussian Third Army, commanded by Field-Marshal Helmuth von Moltke and accompanied by Prussian King Wilhelm I and Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck cornered MacMahon's army at Sedan, in a massive encirclement battle. Marshal MacMahon was wounded during the attacks and command passed to General Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot. Chalons or Châlons is the name or part of the name of several communes in France: Châlons, in the Isère département Châlons-en-Champagne, formerly Châlons-sur-Marne, in the Marne département Chalon-sur-Saône, in the Saône-et-Loire d... Patrice MacMahon, duc de Magenta President of France, 1873-1879 Marie Edmé Patrice Maurice MacMahon, duc de Magenta, Marshal of France (July 13, 1808 - October 16, 1893) was a Frenchman of Irish descent. ... Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (April 20, 1808 - January 9, 1873) was the son of King Louis Bonaparte and Queen Hortense de Beauharnais; both monarchs of the French puppet state, the Kingdom of Holland. ... Combatants Prussia France Commanders Prince Friedrich Karl François Bazaine Strength 134,000 180,000 Casualties unknown 180,000 surrendered The Siege of Metz lasting from September 3 – October 23, 1870 was a crushing defeat for the French during the Franco-Prussian War. ... Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1894-1918 Prussia (German: ; Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Lithuanian: ; Old Prussian: PrÅ«sa; Polish: ) was, most recently, a historic state originating in East Prussia, an area which for centuries had substantial influence on German and European history. ... Graf Moltke Helmuth Karl Bernhard von Moltke (October 26, 1800 - April 24, 1891), who became Helmuth Graf von Moltke in 1870, was a famous Prussian general. ... Wilhelm I of Germany (March 22, 1797 – March 9, 1888), German Emperor (Kaiser), ruled January 18, 1871 – 9 March 1888 and King of Prussia, ruled 2 January 1861 – 9 March 1888. ... Bismarck redirects here. ... Sedan is a town and commune in France, a sous-préfecture of the Ardennes département. ... General Ducrot Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot (February 24th 1817, Nevers - August 16th 1882, Versailles) was a French general. ...

Background

With the defeat of Marshal Bazaine's Army of the Rhine at Gravelotte, they were forced to retire to Metz where they were besieged by over 150,000 Prussian troops of the First and Second Armies (Siege of Metz). Emperor Napoleon III, along with Marshal MacMahon, formed the new French Army of Châlons to march on to Metz to rescue Bazaine. With Napoleon III personally leading the army, with Marshal MacMahon in attendance, they led the Army of Châlons in a left-flanking march northeast towards the Belgian border in an attempt to avoid the Prussians before striking south to link up with Bazaine. Painting of François Achille Bazaine by Jean-Adolphe Beauce on campaign in Mexico François Achille Bazaine (February 13, 1811 - September 23, 1888) was a French general, marshal of France from 1864. ... Combatants Prussia France Commanders Helmuth von Moltke François Achille Bazaine Strength 188,332 732 guns 112,800 520 guns Casualties 20,163 dead, wounded, missing or captured 7,855 dead or wounded, 4,420 captured {{{notes}}} The Battle of Gravelotte (August 18, 1870), was a battle of the Franco... City motto: Si paix dedans, paix dehors (French: If peace inside, peace outside) City proper (commune) Région Lorraine Département Moselle (57) Mayor Jean-Marie Rausch Area 41. ... Combatants Prussia France Commanders Prince Friedrich Karl François Bazaine Strength 134,000 180,000 Casualties unknown 180,000 surrendered The Siege of Metz lasting from September 3 – October 23, 1870 was a crushing defeat for the French during the Franco-Prussian War. ...

The Prussians, under the command of von Moltke, took advantage of this maneuver to catch the French in a pincer grip. It was considered unwise at the time, because the Prussians had repeatedly outmaneuvered the French in the string of victories through August of 1870, and the march both depleted the French forces and left both flanks exposed. Leaving the Prussian First and Second Armies besieging Metz, Moltke took the Prussian Third Army and the Army of the Meuse northward where they caught up with the French at Beaufort on August 30. After a hard-fought battle with the French losing 5,000 men and 40 cannons in a sharp fight, they withdrew towards Sedan. The intention of the French was to rest the army, which had been involved in a long series of marches, resupply with ammunition and then retreat, rather than giving battle in the town. A pincer movement whereby the blue force doubly envelops the red force. ... Beaufort is: The name of some places in the United States of America: Beaufort, North Carolina Beaufort, South Carolina Beaufort County, North Carolina Beaufort County, South Carolina The name of a place in Australia: Beaufort, Victoria The name of several communes in France: Beaufort, in the Haute-Garonne département...

Having reformed in the town, the Army of Châlons deployed the First Corps to check the Prussian advance, was immediately isolated by the converging Prussian armies. They could not retreat owing to the exhaustion of the troops, and they were short on ammunition. The rear of the French was protected by the Fortress of Sedan, and offered a defensive position at Calvaire d'Illy, which had both hills and woods to provide cover for any defense.

Moltke's estimation of the condition of the French troops was more optimistic than the reality. He believed that the only chance for the French to preserve even part of their army was to continue the retrograde movement. Thus, he divided his forces into three groups: one to detain the French where they were, another to race forward and catch them on the retreat, and a third, the smallest force, to hold the river bank. The French were unable to move, and had to fight "where they stood". The result is that the Prussians had encircled the French.

Battle

The battle opened with the Army of Châlons, with 202 infantry battalions, 80 cavalry squadrons and 564 artillery guns, attacking the surrounding Prussian Third and Meuse Armies totaling 222 infantry battalions, 186 cavalry squadrons and 774 artillery guns. Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. An infantry is a body of soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other... Kircholm, a 1925 painting by Wojciech Kossak. ... Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ...

Napoleon had ordered MacMahon to break out of the encirclement, and the only point that seemed possible to use was the town of La Moncelle, whose flank was protected by a fortified town. The Prussians also picked La Moncelle as one point where they would mount their breakthrough, Prince George of Saxony and the Prussian XI Corps was assigned to the task, and General von der Tann ordered to attack Bazeilles on the right flank.

This led to the opening engagement, where the French First Corps had barricaded the streets, and enlisted the aid of the population. Tann sent a brigade across pontoon bridges at 0400 hours, and encountered stiff resistance, holding only the southern end of the town. The combat drew new forces, as French Brigades from the First, Fifth and Twelfth Corp arrived. At 0800 the Prussian Eighth division arrived, and Tann decided that it was time for a decisive attack. He had not been able to bring artillery to bear from long range, and so committed his last brigade to storm the town, followed up by the artillery from the other side of the Meuse. The artillery reached the Bazeilles at 0900 hours.

The fighting continued to spread to the south of the town, and the Eighth Division was sent to reinforce the Bavarians fighting at La Moncelle where they had attempted to mount a breakthrough of the French defense. Fighting began in earnest at 0600, and the wounded MacMahon had elevated General Auguste Ducrot to command, who received the news at 0700. Ducrot ordered the retreat that Moltke had expected, but was overruled almost immediately by General De Wimpffen, who threw his forces against the Saxons at La Moncelle. This led to a brief rally for the French, who drove back the artillery around La Moncelle and pressed the Bavarians and the Saxons. However, with the taking of Bazeilles, and the arrival of fresh waves of Prussian troops, the counter-attack began to collapse. General Ducrot Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot (February 24th 1817, Nevers - August 16th 1882, Versailles) was a French general. ... Emmanuel Felix de Wimpffen (1811-1884) was a French soldier. ...

But by 1100 hours, Prussian artillery took a toll on the French while more Prussian troops arrived on the battlefield. After an intense bombardment and Prussian attacks from the northwest and east, and Bavarian attacks from the southwest, the Army of Châlons was driven into the Bois de la Garenne and surrounded. The French cavalry, commanded by General Margueritte, launched three desperate attacks on the nearby village of Floing where the Prussian XI Corps was concentrated. Marguerite was killed leading the very first charge and the two additional charges led to nothing but heavy losses. Jean Auguste Margueritte (1823-September 6, 1870), French General, father of Victor Margueritte and Paul Margueritte. ...

Conclusion and aftermath

By the end of the day, with no hope of breaking out, Napoleon III called off the attacks. The French lost over 17,000 men killed and wounded with 21,000 captured. The Prussians reported their losses at 2,320 killed, 5,980 wounded and 700 captured or missing.

By the next day, on 2 September, Napoleon III ordered the white flag to be run up and surrendered himself and the entire Army of Châlons to Moltke and the Prussian King. The capture of the French emperor left the Prussians without an opposing government willing to make a quick peace. Indeed, two days after news hit Paris of Emperor Napoleon's III capture, the French Second Empire was overthrown in a bloodless revolution, leading to the creation of a new provisional government which would drag the war on for five more months in hopes of changing France's fortunes.

The Brandenburg Gate lit up after the battle of Sedan. Sign in English -"What a change through God's guidance"

Napoleon III having a conversation with Bismarck after being captured in the Battle of Sedan.

But the defeat at Sedan and the capture of Napoleon III sealed the doom of France. With the Second Empire overthrown, Napoleon III was permitted to leave Prussian custody for exile in England, while, within a fortnight, the Prussian Meuse Army and the Third Army went on to besiege Paris. Image File history File links Description: Brandenburger Tor in Berlin after the battle of Sedan Source: Bismarck. ... Image File history File links Description: Brandenburger Tor in Berlin after the battle of Sedan Source: Bismarck. ... The Brandenburg Gate in 1871 The Brandenburg Gate in the Nazi era Soldier of the Polish Army during the Battle of Berlin The Brandenburg Gate in 1982. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (905x565, 114 KB) Description: Otto von Bismarck and Napoleon III. after the battle of Sedan Source: Bismarck. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (905x565, 114 KB) Description: Otto von Bismarck and Napoleon III. after the battle of Sedan Source: Bismarck. ... Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (20 April 1808- 9 January 1873) was President of France from 1849 to 1852, and then Emperor of the French under the name Napoléon III from 1852 to 1870. ... Bismarck redirects here. ... The Siege of Paris lasting from September 19, 1870 – January 28, 1871 brought about French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and led to the establishment of the German Empire. ...