1890 Kurz and Allison View of Franco-Prussian War Second Battle of Orléans, France

This is a c. 1890 Kurz and Allison view of the Second Battle of Orléans during the Franco-Prussian War. Kurz and Allison illustrate the French army being surrounded by the Bavarian army on the left (note the blue and white Bavarian flag) and the Prussian army on the right (the army marches behind the red and black Prussian flag). French troops are depicted dying by both gunfire and bayonet. After two days of combat, the French had lost 19,000 men (12,000 of whom were captured) while German casualties amounted to 1,746. The Germans occupied Orléans for the second time during the war on December 5, the day after the battle ended.

The Franco-Prussian War

The Franco-Prussian War lasted from July 19, 1870 until January 28, 1871. The French suffered a series of defeats that eventually led to a siege on Paris, which lasted from September 17, 1870, until January 28, 1871. Over 180,000 Prussian and German soldiers laid siege to the city, and even though a reported 500,000 French soldiers occupied Paris, the Prussian army outclassed the French soldiers to such a degree that the French army could not break the siege. The Prussian commanders had no intention of attacking the city. However, as the siege wore on, it became obvious that such measures would be necessary. In the end, over 12,000 shells were fired on Paris in an effort to break Parisian morale. Paris also suffered horrible outbreaks of tuberculosis and other diseases. The Armistice was finally signed on January 27th, and the siege lifted. The Germans held a victory parade in Paris on March 1, 1871.

Publication History and Census

This view was created and published by Kurz and Allison c. 1890. This is the only known cataloged example.