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The Siege of La Fere[6] during the Franco-Prussian War endured from November 15[1] until November 26, 1870 at the fortress of La Fère in France.[7] French troops stationed in La Fère under the command of Captain Planche resisted the siege of the Imperial German Army, but surrendered the fort on November 26, 1870, resulting in a victory for the Germans.[3][5] During this time, the German army captured thousands of prisoners who were mostly Garde Mobile soldiers,[5][8] as well as many weapons in the hands of the French army.[5] The German shelling of La Fère severely damaged the town in two days.[3] After capturing La Fère, the Germans used cannons to arm the stronghold of Amiens.[1]
| Siege of La Fère | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Franco-Prussian War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 French Republic | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Captain Planche |
 Major General Von Zhilinsky[5] | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
Garde Mobile Franc-tireur | Brigade Infantry No. 4[6] | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 2,000 Infantry and about 70 artillery pieces[7] | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2,000 people were captured,[8] 113 garrison guns of all sizes, along with ammunition, 5,000 personal weapons sets and many military reserves were seized[5] | Unknown | ||||||
Although a small fortress,[1] La Fère posed a threat to the German armies advancing to Amiens because it threatened their rear.[3] The Brigade Infantry No. 4 of the Corps of Prussia, under the command of Major General von Zhilinsky, was tasked with besieging La Fère. On November 15, 1870, after a long journey from Metz, the Germans reached La Fère to carry out a blockade of the fortress.[1][5][6] The French garrison carried out strong assaults but to no avail.[3] For example, on the 20th of November, six French companies attacked the enemy at Menessis on the right bank of the Oise, but were crushed by a German battalion.[5] The commanding officer of the fort decided to send all artillery materials to Lille but locals opposed the idea.[7] When the German siege army pulled in from Soissons, 32 heavy guns and seven batteries were built and armed on the night of November 24 on the heights to the east, 1,500 steps from the fortress. This process was not blocked by the French army. The next day on November 25, German shelling began.[1][5] Facing the tremendous destructive power of the German barrage, the artillery force of the French garrison resisted fiercely.[5] But German artillery (including 6 mortars) destroyed opposition artillery and set the town ablaze.[7]
Under siege by the German 1st Army,[9] La Fère was in a very difficult situation, and Captain Planché capitulated.[5] On 26 November, the French garrison surrendered, while the German artillery was unscathed.[7] German troops entered La Fère on November 27.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f The Franco-German War of 1870—71 (Helmuth Von Moltke)
- ^ Michael Howard, The Franco-Prussian War: The German Invasion of France, 1870-1871, Page 295
- ^ a b c d e Edmund Ollier, Cassell's history of the war between France and Germany, 1870-1871, Page 395
- ^ Julius von Pflugk-Harttung, Wilfred James Long, Adolf Sonnenschein, The Franco-German war, 1870-1871, Page 550
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "The siege operations in the campaign against France, 1870-71."
- ^ a b c Adolph Goetze, The Campaign of 1870-71, tr. by G. Graham, Page 204-209.
- ^ a b c d e "The French Campaign, 1870-1871: Military Description"
- ^ a b "Bismarck In The Franco German War 1870 1871"
- ^ Adolf von Schell, Campaign 1870-1871: The operations of the First Army under General von Goeben; compiled from the official war documents of headquarters of the First Army, Page 2