What's a good Franco-Prussian War read?

[Westmarcher]

Often been put off wargaming this war because it only lasted from 1870 to 1871. Seemed rather one-sided and a lot of effort for such a relatively short war (only book I've read was about the siege of Paris .... a long time ago). Yet, it is so popular. So, I've decided I need to rectify my ignorance. Where should I start? Any recommendations?

[Chris Pringle]

It's similar in scale to the American Civil War, just compressed into smaller space and shorter time: the armies were each about as large as the total Confederate forces (or 50% of the Union), and FPW had just as many big battles. And in some respects it is more interesting to wargame than ACW, because the opposing armies are much more different in weaponry and doctrine, and that asymmetry offers fun tactical challenges.

Quintin Barry's two volumes are a pretty good way to get into FPW:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Franco-Prussian-War-1870-71-Campaign-Overthrow/dp/1906033455/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438541719&sr=1-2&keywords=barry+sedan
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Franco-Prussian-War-1870-71-Government-National/dp/1906033463/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438541719&sr=1-1&keywords=barry+sedan

Or Wawro:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Franco-Prussian-War-German-Conquest-1870-1871/dp/052161743X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438541789&sr=1-2&keywords=wawro

Hope this helps.
Chris

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

'A Day of Battle' by Ascoli concentrates on Mars-La-Tours, but an excellent read if you know the battlefield.

Howard 'The Franco-Prussian War' is widely considered the best starting read.

Osprey ' Gravelotte-Saint Privat' or Franco-Prussian War are good basic starts.

Siege of Paris is then worth a retread after you get the chronology sorted.

[Shedman]

And from the world of fiction there is Emile Zola's La Débâcle - he interviewed loads of French and German combatants  for it  - I think it is free at the Gutenberg Project

BTW if you think the FPW isn't worth the effort then the 1859 Franco-Austrian war in Italy beats it hands down. It lasted from April 29 til  July 11, 1859 - 73 days, the 4 main battles range in size from a few thousand to a quarter of a million and to top it off the Austrian army took to wearing greatcoats immediately afterwards so the army is almost useless for any other conflict. It's one of my favourite periods

[Le Manchou]

Here is a bibliography for people who can read in French. Pre world war I books on the subject are MUCH better than today's books, and you can find most of them in pdf for free in the Gallica electronic library of the French national library. The last three are in English.

Bibliographie

Ouvrages en français :

-Général Boulanger, L'invasion allemande Jules Rouff et Cie éd., Paris, non daté, 3 volumes.

-Dick de Lonlay , Français et Allemands histoire anecdotique de la guerre de 1870-1871, Garnier Frères éd., Paris, 1887, 6 volumes.

-Recueil des dépêches télégraphiques officielles de la guerre de 1870. (dépêches françaises).

-A. Grouard, Critique stratégique de la guerre franco-allemande, R. Chapelot éd., Paris, 1905, 3 volumes.

-L. Rousset, Histoire générale de la guerre franco-allemande (1870-1871), Montgredien et Cie éd., Paris, 1900, 6 volumes.

-Maréchal Bazaine, L'armée du Rhin., Plon, Paris, 1872.

-D'Aurelle de Paladines, La première armée de la Loire. Plon, Paris, 1872.

-Chanzy, La deuxième armée de la Loire. Plon, Paris, 1871.

-Moltke, La guerre de 1870 édition française, Le Soudier, Paris, 1891

-Moltke, Correspondance militaire., Lavauzelle, Paris, 2 volumes.

-A. Duquet, Froeschwiller. Charpentier éd., Paris, 1909.

-Michiels, Histoire de la guerre franco-prussienne. Picard-Dentu, Paris, 1872.

-Palikao, Un ministère de la guerre de 24 jours. Plon, Paris, 1871.

-W. Rustow, Études stratégiques et tactiques sur les guerres les plus récentes, T3, édition française, Dumaine, Paris, 1880.

-Souvenirs du général Jarras, chef d'état-major de l'armée du Rhin, Plon, Paris, 1891.

Trochu, L'armée française en 1867, Amyot, Paris, 1867.

Stoffel, Rapports militaires, écrits de Berlin, 1866-1870, Garnier Frères, Paris, 1871.

Comte de Rascon, L'armée de l'Allemagne du Nord, Lahure, Paris, 1880.

Général Favé, Nos revers, Dumaine, Paris, 1871.

Un officier d'état-major de l'armée du Rhin, Les causes de nos désastres, projet de réorganisation de l'armée, J. Rozez, Bruxelles, 1871.

Duc de Gramont, La France et la Prusse avant la guerre, Dentu, Paris, 1872.

Ouvrages en anglais :

-von Tiedemann, The siege operations in the campaign against France, 1870-71. version anglaise, Londres, 1877.

-von Verdy du Vernois, Studies in leading of troops. Vol. I, The Infantry Division as a part of an Army Corps, version anglaise, Hudson press, Kansas City, 1906.

-Wilhelm von Blume, The Operations of the German Armies in France from Sedan to the End of the War.

-

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Wow! Great list Le Manchou!

[Leman]

Quintin Barry's two volume set is worth a look. Wawro is rubbish - don't touch with a barge pole.
Michael Howard - The Franco-Prussian War is a superb one volume classic
Sedan 1870 and France at Bay by Douglas Fermer - a very well written two volume study of the war
First Reich by David Stone is a good one volume history of the war.
The Reality of War by Leonce Patry is an autobiographical account dealing mainly with the Republican phase of the war.
L'ete 1870 en Alsace du Nord by Michael Busser is full of inspirational paintings of the war
1870 Les Soldats et Leurs Batailles by Bernard Giovanangeli is also full of artwork depicting the war.
Also take a look at the Helion and Co. catalogue. It contains some really good stuff on the war, including translated pamphlets and studies made by contemporary British officers.

Considering everything that went on during the FPW don't be put off by the length. The French were beaten owing to poor organisation and command. The actual soldiers and their weapons, especially in the imperial phase were fine and it is quite possible to rewrite history on the wargames table. In comparison, the FPW lasted from August to February. I also game the war of movement on the western front in 1914, which lasted from August to November, yet I have happily invested as much time and effort into that. Similarly, if you game the ACW then strictly speaking the figures and flags used in 1861/early 62 should look quite different from 1864/5, plus the troops and flags east and west were also different in appearance.

[Westmarcher]

That's excellent, lads. Thank you.

[mollinary]

Also worth a look on the Internet are the memoirs of Philip Sheridan, who was with the Prussians from Gravelotte to after Sedan, and Paul von Hindenburg, who served in the Guards.

Mollinary

[Chad]

If you can find it Cassel' History of the Franco-German War is worth buying. Expensive and maybe dated, but the maps are excellent.

Chad

[cameronian]

All good stuff; I would reiterate what Lemmey says (well he IS a Field Marshall), start with Prof Howard's 'The Franco Prussian War'. Fantastic grasp of the big picture, excellent accounts of battle and beautifully written, then branch out. Don't forget Bruce Weigle's 1870, ostensibly a book of rules but the background notes are superb. It's a great period and if you're susceptible, it will suck you in, look at us poor devils, it's worse than going to drink.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Good call Chad, I also have Cassell.
My dad also has the Illustrated London Gazette, a great contemporary read if you want a flavour of the disbelief at how bad the French high command!

[Leman]

Cassel was a present from my bro; an excellent chap. I also have the Franco-German War edited by Major General Maurice. Loads of good stuff in there, plus armies in two scales and I've played in four different scales.

[Steve J]

Howard's book is a great intro to the war and I highly recommend it.