Prussia, after the successful Brother’s War against Austria, won the influence over the multiple little German states there and asserted itself as the Major Germanic Power. Now, the second French Empire under Napoleon III, wanted to buy Luxembourg, owned by the Netherlands Bismarck, the Minister of Prussia, arranged itself to make the King of the Netherlands retire his accord and published the Ems Dispatch (a telegram). Bismarck used that to make the people of France very angry and rallies to his side all the German states Napoleon III had no choice but to declare war against this humiliation, a war that turned very bad for France. The Prussian had already mobilized and rushed to kill the French Army The French were not prepared, as most of his army was dispersed around the world and had no time to mobilize Even if the French had superior infantry equipment, theirs tactics and artillery were misused and quickly defeated.The Prussians captured the Emperor Napoleon III and quickly occupied all North-East FranceA Revolution exploded in Paris and the third French Republic was proclaimed, which Government began to negotiate with Prussia Then, because they negotiated, the “Commune de Paris” happened, where soldiers and workers in Paris revolted and refused to sign peace with the Prussians The Republic, helped a bit by Prussia, quickly crushed them, with an iron hand (brutal reprisal and punishment).

Now the peace was very harsh : Alsace-Moselle annexed by the newly formed German Empire (formed in Versaille) A new German Empire, under Prussian leadership, is formed A immense amount of gold is due to Prussia, and until France has paid, Prussia can occupy part of France. Thus, after the war, a new movement of “Revanchism” was formed, where people, humiliated by the war, wanted revenge and Alsace-Moselle to come back to their rightful owner, France.  Also, the Newly German Empire was now almost the biggest power of mainland Europe.