The First Modern war.

[Gibbs505]

"The Franco-Prussian War."
The German Conquest of France in 1870-1871.
By Geoffrey Wawro.

ISBN 0 521 58436 1

For some reason, there is a derth of information about this war, yet it has had ramifications, echoing down to today!

Why do I call this the "First" modern war? Because this war was fought with weapons that have ancesters today. Also, unlike the US Civil War, this was fought between two old enemies, who had anicient grudges to settle. It was also fought under political condition's not dissimilar to that today., in which Germany(Prussia) sought to keep Great Britian out of the conflict and France endevoured to get great Britian involved!

When started, the war was considered, 'to close to call'. For, although Prussia and it's allies had twice the number of troops that the french had, the french troops were considered the toughest and most battle hardened in europe. As well, France had the best rifle in the world, the Chassepot! They also had one of the early 'machine guns', the Mitrailleuse.

Out of France's stunning defeat, followed by the humiliating terms imposed on it, came the rage that lead inexorably to the series of the Great European war, of WW1 and WW2. And thus we have the world we have today.

Complete with maps and photos, this is a book well worth a read!

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