WI: Franco-Prussian War ends in french victory, what are the terms?

What if Napoleon III had chosen to not listen to his wife, instead delegating military power to his generals in the Franco-Prussian War? I hear that there was a pretty solid offensive plan for dealing with the germans, which was u fortunately scrapped by Napoleon III.
So, let's assume that Napoleon manages to grind the prussians into a surrender, or at least a stalemate. What would the peace terms be? Would he choose:
-retaining status quo ante bellum, with the south german states either neutralised or put in France's orbit, or...
-punishing Prussia by dissolving the North German Confederation and possibly annexing the Rhineland?
 
Keeping the Germans as weak as possible was a genuine concern for France back in the day, the dissolution of the NGC and the annexation of the Rhineland sound pretty solid.
 
Politically - ensuring Germany remains fractured and not united. Geographically, extending the frontier to the Rhine.
 
Geographically, extending the frontier to the Rhine.
Thiswould be a great way for France not only to turn all the German states into enemies, but also the Netherlands Belgium and luxemburg, since France would make clear that they intend to have the Rhineborder, which obviouslu includes (partof) those countries. Also it would probably antogonise the British, who don't want France to have a rhine border. This is besides the fact that France suddenly would have a large number of Germans, who do not want to be French, living inside its borders. Personaly believe France can't afford to annex the entire German Rhineland. I think France would know it and accept a smaller price from Germany. Not entirely sure what though, Some have suggested the Sarland and Luxemburg. That could work, although it would probably a bit larger than just that, assuming they could even get Luxemburg (it was Dutch after all, not German).
 
Bismarcks political goal was to further unit the German states. If a French war victory loosens those ties it means the French have won something more significant than territory. It keeps France firmly in place as Europes most powerful nation.
 
Maybe returning the Hessians to independence, having the Prussian Rhineland put under a Catholic Hohenzollern... If they get territory it would be from around Saar, so as to not bite into Bavarian territory.
 
Bismarcks political goal was to further unit the German states. If a French war victory loosens those ties it means the French have won something more significant than territory. It keeps France firmly in place as Europes most powerful nation.

Pretty much this. Bismarck falls, Prussia is stalled, South German states remain independent, Rome remains occupied (maybe until a brokered withdrawal down the road) and France is the primary continental power.
 
Top