Prussian Artillery Gunner #1--single figure
$84.95
Item Number: FPW046
Prussian Artillery Gunner #1
Prussian C-61 Cannon and Crew
The Franco Prussian War of 1870-71 is often overlooked in terms of its geo-political impact on the balance of power in Europe. The war hastened union of the German states as the German Empire under Prussian king Wilhelm I and Chancellor Bismarck and created a new industrial superpower in the heart of Europe. The Prussian artillery played a key role in the Prussian victory with the Krupp breach loaded ‘6 pounder’ being superior to the French muzzle loaded counterparts in accuracy, rate of fire, range, and reliability. It was the Prussian artillery which counterbalanced the superiority of the French chassepot rifle and mitrailleuse early machine guns and contributed to Prussian victory. This set depicts five artillerymen and their gun preparing to engage with the out-ranged and out-gunned French forces.
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR
The Franco-Prussian War was fought between the French under Napoleon III and the Prussians of Otto von Bismarck from 1870-1871. The war was provoked by Bismarck to further his agenda of creating a unified German State, rallying the southern German states to his cause who believed France to be the aggressor. A quick series of victories by the Prussians and Germans in Eastern France lead to the capture of several key cities and Napoleon III himself, leading to the fall of the Second French Empire and the rapid creation of the Third French Republic. The Republican forces were defeated as well culminating in the Siege of Paris. The war ended with the Treaty of Frankfurt in May 1871 and the result of the conflict was a unified German Nation State opening the door for German expansionism and Imperialism. France was ordered to pay significant reparations and to cede Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. The combination of French bitterness and German nationalism resulting from the Franco-Prussian War planted the seeds of the larger First World War some 40 years later.
60mm Hand Painted figure for collectors from the Franco-Prussian War product range.
Released in OCTOBER 2022.
