Online Conference 6-7 May 2021
May 10 2021 marks the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Frankfurt, which officially ended the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. Though largely forgotten in Britain today, this conflict ushered in transformative changes to the European geopolitical system, and had a profound impact on the development of the modern state.
French and German nationalism were both significantly shaped by this event, which also brought about wider political and social changes in education, health policy, and, of course, the theories and practices of the conduct of war.
This two-day conference, organized under the auspices of King’s College London’s Sir Michael Howard Centre for the History of War, in conjunction with the Embassy of France in the UK, seeks to interrogate the significance and legacies of some the key political, social, cultural, and military transformations brought about by this crucial turning point in both European and world history.
View the Conference Programme here
Please register via Eventbrite, all registered attendees will receive an email containing log in information prior to the conference.
Reassessing the Franco-Prussian War 150 Years On (kcl.ac.uk)
Image
The Cemetery of St. Privat by Alphonse-Marie-Adolphe de Neuville (1881)
Alphonse-Marie-Adolphe de Neuville - Foto eines Gemäldes
The cemetery of Saint-Privat near Metz became a bloody battlefield [Battle of Gravelotte] on which 42,000 soldiers died. On 18 August 1870, the French troops, recognizable by their red trousers, fought there in the last moves against the Prussian army. The light, which penetrates through the battle smoke in the upper part of the picture, emphasizes the drama of the fight. Neuville points out that even defeat can be honorable. With the image he defends the republican patriotism and strengthens the French resolve. The painting, which was first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1881, earned the artist the title of officer of the Legion of Honor.
Public domain
