Map Help: France wins the Franco-Prussian War.

Saphroneth

Banned
France has an artillery disadvantage, a rifle range (and accuracy) advantage, and the miltrailleuse which OTL was badly misused. I don't think it's impossible for an ATL to see them win, though it'd be a minor win unless something big changed a few years back or unless the diplomatic situation was different.
 

longsword14

Banned
France has an artillery disadvantage
They did not.
Bean counting does not help. The difference in technology was not such that it could lead to overwhelming advantages. France had changed its army, with Napoleon III not being in favour (as expected) of a mass conscripted army. A slow command with very good soldiers but dull superiors was going to fail.
Hard to see changes within half a decade or so with things being as they were.
Had someone decided to throw the British into the match, the outcome would have been the same even if the fight would have lasted a bit longer.
 
personally I think the best chance the French had was in 1866... if they had provided support they would have had another front from the Bavarians, as well as states like Hanover who were opposing Prussian efforts at unification. The Prussians would have had to deal with another major army the French) in addition to the Austrians and that might have enough.

However, the French didn't, and Prussia basically forced the German states that were opponents into line, making for a far more dangerous threat to France in 1870.

Given the commanders the French had, their lack of a realistic strategic plan, and the well developed Prussian plan (split the French apart and defeat them in detail) it would have taken a supreme commander on the French side with far more energy and foresight to prevent that. The French had a sick Napoleon III.
 
But in 1866, France was friendly with Prussia. In 1859, they had fought against Austria. Could they turn it around in such a short time?
 
Top