Siege of Longwy (1871)

Siege of Longwy (1871)
Part of Franco-Prussian War
Date16 — 25 January [2] 1871[3]
Location
Result German Victory.[4]
Belligerents
 French Republic

 North German Confederation

Commanders and leaders
Colonel Massaroly[4] Georg von Kameke[2]
Colonel Von Cosel[2]
Casualties and losses
Nearly 4,000 people were captured, 200 artillery pieces and a number of military reserves were seized[4] 9 people killed and 20 injured[5]

The siege of Longwy was a military conflict during the Franco-Prussian War, which took place from 16 to 25 January 1871,[2] in the Longwy which was near the border of Belgium and Luxembourg. (Under a Personal Union with the Netherlands)[6] After the artillery fire from the Prussian army, the siege ended with the defenders of Longwy under the command of Colonel Massaroly surrendering to Prussia under the command of Colonel Von Cosel. With this victory, the Prussian army captured many prisoners and cannons (many of which were damaged) of the enemy.[2][4] This was one of the consecutive victories of the German army in a short period of time during the war.[7] The town of Longwy was badly damaged during the siege.[5]

  1. ^ William J. Duiker, Jackson J. Spielvogel, The Essential World History, Volume 2: Since 1500, p. 481: "On January 18, 1871, in the Chamber of Mirrors in the […] Palace of Versailles of Louis XIV, William was crowned Emperor (Kaiser) of the empire. Second German Empire (First was the Holy Roman Empire Middle Ages)".
  2. ^ a b c d e f The French campaign, 1870-1871. Military description by A. Niemann. Tr. from the German by Colonel Edward Newdigate.
  3. ^ "The Franco-German war of 1870-71"
  4. ^ a b c d "The siege operations in the campaign against France, 1870-71."
  5. ^ a b Edmund Ollier, Cassell's history of the war between France and Germany, 1870-1871, Volume 2, Pages 169-170.
  6. ^ Wilhelm Rüstow, The war for the Rhine frontier, 1870: Its political and military history, Volume 1, Page 100
  7. ^ "Prussia and the Franco-Prussian war. Containing a brief narrative of the origin of the kingdom, its past history, and a detailed account of the causes and results of the late war with Austria; with an account of the origin of the present war with France, and of the extraordinary campaign into the heart of the empire. Including biographical sketches of King William and Count von Bismarck"