Siege of Mézières (1870–1871)

The siege of Mézières^[10] was a siege battle during the Franco-Prussian War,^[6] it took place from November 17, 1870 until January 2, 1871, in Mézières-en-Gâtinais which is located on the banks right of the river Meuse in France.^[1][10] After suffering from a German artillery strike,^[9] the French army at Mézières under the command of Colonel Vernet, surrendered to Germany under the command of Major General Wilhelm von Woyna on January 2, 1871. Although lasting just over a day,^[8][11] German artillery bombardment caused French defenders and civilians in Mézières heavy losses.^[9] With the victory, the Germans captured many French officers and soldiers, with many cannons and supplies from the enemy's reserves. Not only that, the victory at the Siege of Mézières made the German army have complete dominance of the railway line in the north extending from Metz and Mézières to Paris, capital of France.^[8][12][13]

Siege of Mézières (1870–1871)
Part of Franco-Prussian War
Date November 17, 1870[1] — January 2, 1871[2] Location Mézières-en-Gâtinais, Loiret, France[3] Result German Victory[4][5][6][7]
Belligerents
French Republic	North German Confederation  Prussia
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Vernet[8]	Georg von Kameke Wilhelm von Woyna
Units involved
	14th Division[6]
Strength
2,000 Infantry[6]	Unknown
Casualties and losses
98 officers and 2,000 soldiers were captured , 106 artillery pieces , many military reserves and ammunition depots were seized[8][9]	Unknown

The battle

Fort Mézières was located in the northern part of France.^[6] After the defeat of the French army in the Battle of Sedan in September 1870, the German army and the defenders of France at Mézières have done agreements with each other:^[8] for those who defended the fortress, these forces supplied materials from their reserves so that the Germans kept a large number of prisoners, and thus the Germans did not attack Mézières for some time.^[6] The thing is, in the countryside around Mézières there were many franc-tireur soldiers of France. The franc-tireurs made it difficult for the Prussian wounded convoys, and had ambushed some Prussian forces in late October. On Early November, divisions of 1st Infantry of Prussia were sent to Mézières, and the end of May, they were reinforced.^[8] In general, by mid-November, the Prussian army had more firmly encircled the fortress,^[1] and many skirmishes had occurred between the Prussian army and franc-tireur forces. For example, the Prussians fought for an army to run on the franc-tireur Rocroy, before pulling to the village and defeated the franc-tireur forces.^[8] On December 19, after the fall of the fortress of Montmédy, the Prussian 14th Division moved in front of Mézières.^[6] On December 22, fighting broke out between the Prussian 14th Division and franc-tireur forces. Having completely blockaded Mézières and engaged the franc-tireurs, the Prussians began to prepare for artillery fire. Initially, the commander of the siege corps was Lieutenant General Georg von Kameke, before Major General Wilhelm von Woyna took over on December 25.^[8] When Fort Verdun surrendered, the heavy cannons loads were brought by rail from Clermont near the south side of the Mézières, and only the freezing in the area prevented the Prussian army from building batteries.^[6]

Early on December 31, 1870, the Prussian cannons and field guns opened fire.^[6] Overall, the Prussian artillery force that day was a resounding success.^[8] At first, the artillery of the garrison resisted fiercely, but by the afternoon they were silenced.^[6] The town of Mézières was badly damaged. And, on the night of January 1, 1871, the French surrender was completed, and on January 2, the Prussian army advanced to capture the town.^[8] After signing an agreement, most French officers were taken prisoner and was detained in Würzburg.^[14] Not long after that, the Prussians captured the fortress of Rocroi.^[9]

References

1. Julius von Pflugk-Harttung, Wilfred James Long, Adolf Sonnenschein, The Franco-German war, 1870-1871, Page 553
2. Stig Förster, Jorg Nagler (biên tập), On the Road to Total War: The American Civil War and the German Wars of Unification, 1861-1871, Page 322
3. Georges Monmarché, France, Page 67
4. "Republican France, 1870–1912, her presidents, statesmen, policy vicissitudes and social life"
5. The New Annual Army List, Militia List, and Yeomanry Cavalry List, Page 218
6. "The Franco-German War of 1870—71", Helmuth Von Moltke)
7. Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx, Frederick Engels: collected works, Page 225
8. "The siege operations in the campaign against France, 1870-71."
9. "The French Campaign, 1870–1871: Military Description"
10. Adolph Goetze, The Campaign of 1870-71, tr. by G. Graham, Pages 181-193.
11. Germany 1815-90; Vol II 1852-71, Page 524
12. Martin van Creveld, Supplying War: Logistics from Wallenstein to Patton, Page 95
13. Michael Howard, The Franco-Prussian War: The German Invasion of France, 1870-1871, Page 297
14. Edmund Ollier, Cassell's history of the war between France and Germany, 1870-1871, Page 140