Franco Prussian War (feb 9, 1870 – jun 10, 1871)
Description:
In order to encourage the southern German States to join the Prussian Empire, Germany provoked a war with France in hopes that a national cause would give them the reasoning they needed to join. Over the course of a year Germany was able to depose the French government and declare a German Empire in Versailles itself. As a result of the war, Germany also got Alsace-Lorraine and a 5 billion Franc payout. This set the stage for World War I and the French desire to control German industrial output and receive a large payment of reparations.Added to timeline:
Date:
feb 9, 1870
jun 10, 1871
~ 1 years and 3 months