Sit of Strasbourg

The Siège of Strasbourg took place during the Franco-German Guerre of 1870. The seat ended in the rendering of the fortress of Strasbourg, the September 28th 1870.

Situation before the seat

After the Battle of Frœschwiller-Wœrth, the Crown prince Frederic ordered to the general August von Werder to move with its army towards the fortress of Strasbourg. At the time, the fortress of Strasbourg (with that of Metz) was regarded as one of the places best defended of France. The army of Werder was strong of 40.000 men of the Wurtemberg and of Bade which is located on the other side of the the Rhine compared to Strasbourg. The French garrison was strong of 17.000 pennies the orders of the Uhrich general, 68 years old.

First bombardments

Werder knows the value which the capture of the city would have, also it rejetta initially the option, more human but also longer, of the seat which would have obliged the famished troops to go. Instead of that, it decided to pass to the action as of the beginning by bombarding the fortifications and the civilians who were inside. The August 23rd the German guns of seat opened fire, causing considerable damage at the city and its monuments. The archbishop of Strasbourg went to meet Werder to request it to cease the bombardments and to save the civil population. He even went to ask Uhrich to pay 100.000 Francs each day when Werder did not bombard the city. Uhrich refused the proposal, but soon Werder realized that it could not continue such bombardments with the quantity of ammunition which remained to him.

The seat

Werder continued to bombard the city while concentrating on certain parts of fortifications. The lines of seat allemande approached the city quickly as the other fortress neighborhood were reduced to the state of ruin. The September 11th, a delegation of Swiss volunteers entered the city to help to evacuate the non-combatant ones. This delegation brought the news of the French defeat at the time of the Bataille of Sedan, which meant that no reinforcement was going to arrive at Strasbourg. The September 19th, the civilians remained in the city asked Uhrich to capitulate, but he refused, thinking that a favorable exit was still possible. However, the same day, Weder launched an attack and captured one of the fortifications of the city. This event started to make doubt Uhrich of its capacity to defend the city. The September 27th, Uhrich began negotiations with Werder and the city went the next day.

Consequences

The capitulation of Strasbourg made it possible the forces of Werder to begin in new operations, in the south-east of France. They fought in particular with Belfort which went in November.

Sources

Howard, Michael The Franco-Prussian War New York, 1962

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