Part IX: Attrition
By January of 1871 Metz, Strasbourg and Toul, after determined resistance, fell to Prussian arms. The Prussians now move onto to their next objectives of Sedan, Verdun, and Belfort.
Belfort in particular with its garrison of some 17,000 soldiers under the command of charismatic Pierre Denfert-Rochereau, the Lion of Belfort, presented a significant challenge to the German advance. The French army, as well, was not merely sitting at Chalons but launching a number of raids to take pressure off of the besieged fortresses. Meanwhile, Prussian soldiers were suffering from the effects of these long sieges with disease laying low thousands of soldiers.
The failure to secure a quick decisive victory left the Prussians in a bad position. They had not planned for a long war and the international community was turning against them. Italy and Austria were mobilizing their armies and taking up a stance of armed neutrality. This presented a significant threat to Prussia and forced them to detach manpower to defend these fronts. Britain as well wanted the conflict over as it was disrupting trade with France. Since 1860, with the signing of the Cobden-Chevalier free trade agreement, the British economy had benefited from France purchasing large sums of British manufactured goods. The war was disrupting this as French demand for goods fell. The only great power on Prussia’s side was Alexander of Russia who pledged support in case of an Austrian attack.
To make matters worse for the Prussians the French navy was now beginning to take a significant role in the conflict. The previous summer they had made an ineffective effort to blockade the German coastline. Now having had many months to build up their resources they were ready to try again. This time the French also had the support of the Danish Royal Navy and use of its supply points. King Christian IX of Denmark saw the prolonged conflict as an opportunity to get back at the Prussians for the Danish defeat in the 1864 Schleswig War.