October 18, 1870
Faced with a severe deficit of troops on the Western Front, Field Marshall Von Moltke orders about 1/3 of the forces garrisioning the Bismarck Line to transfer west in order to contain the French breakthrough. Archduke Albert's Austrians there now enjoy a 2:1 numerical advantage over the remaining Bismarck Line garrisioning soldiers. Albert is in the process of readying a late-autumn offensive set to begin November 1.
October 27, 1870
Surrounded on all sides by enemies, and with no sizeable force to protect them, the German states of Baden and Wurtemberg agree to unconditional surrender to the Allied powers. Bavaria takes over most of the administrative dutites of both states.
November 1, 1870
Archduke Albert's Army of Bavaria launches his offensive on the Bismarck Line. Engineers plant huge amounts of dynamite at several points in the easternmost portion of the line. The following titanic explosions are followed by a three hour heavy artillery bombardment.
Explosions Rock the Bismarck Line
At around 6 AM in the morning, assault troops attack the points taken out by the dynamite, followed by regular infantry. The Austrians sustain heavy casualties, but breach the line, and soon the way to Silesia is open.
November 10, 1870
Emperor Napoleon III and Kaiser Franz Josef send a joint peace comittee to Berlin.
With the delegates is a letter written by Franz Josef, considered the better writer of the two emperors, detailing why Prussia and the North German Confederation are better off accepting defeat and not fighting on. Only the future will tell if Bismarck will surrender.
To Be Continued...
Faced with a severe deficit of troops on the Western Front, Field Marshall Von Moltke orders about 1/3 of the forces garrisioning the Bismarck Line to transfer west in order to contain the French breakthrough. Archduke Albert's Austrians there now enjoy a 2:1 numerical advantage over the remaining Bismarck Line garrisioning soldiers. Albert is in the process of readying a late-autumn offensive set to begin November 1.
October 27, 1870
Surrounded on all sides by enemies, and with no sizeable force to protect them, the German states of Baden and Wurtemberg agree to unconditional surrender to the Allied powers. Bavaria takes over most of the administrative dutites of both states.
November 1, 1870
Archduke Albert's Army of Bavaria launches his offensive on the Bismarck Line. Engineers plant huge amounts of dynamite at several points in the easternmost portion of the line. The following titanic explosions are followed by a three hour heavy artillery bombardment.
Explosions Rock the Bismarck Line
At around 6 AM in the morning, assault troops attack the points taken out by the dynamite, followed by regular infantry. The Austrians sustain heavy casualties, but breach the line, and soon the way to Silesia is open.
November 10, 1870
Emperor Napoleon III and Kaiser Franz Josef send a joint peace comittee to Berlin.
With the delegates is a letter written by Franz Josef, considered the better writer of the two emperors, detailing why Prussia and the North German Confederation are better off accepting defeat and not fighting on. Only the future will tell if Bismarck will surrender.
To Be Continued...
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