Siege of Longwy (1871)

Part of Franco-Prussian War

Date	16 – 25 January 1871
Location	Longwy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France
Result	German Victory.

Belligerents

French Republic

North German Confederation

Prussia
German Empire

Commanders and leaders

Colonel Massaroly

Georg von Kameke

Colonel Von Cosel

Casualties and losses

Nearly 4,000 people were captured, 200 artillery pieces and a number of military reserves were seized

9 people killed and 20 injured

v t e Franco-Prussian War
Saarbrücken Wissembourg Spicheren Wörth Bitche Lichtenberg Phalsbourg Marsal Borny–Colombey Strasbourg Toul Mars-la-Tour Gravelotte Metz Buzancy Nouart Beaumont Noisseville Bazeilles Sedan Montmédy Soissons Paris Sceaux Chevilly Nompatelize Bellevue Artenay Châtillon Verdun Neu-Breisach Châteaudun Sélestat 1st Buzenval Ognon Gray Le Bourget Dijon Belfort La Fère Coulmiers Havana Dreux Chat Chateauneuf-en-Thimerais Thionville Ladon Mézières Bretoncelles Amiens Beaune-la-Rolande Varize Villiers Villepion Loigny–Poupry Orléans Chateauneuf Buchy Beaugency Fréteval Vendôme Pesmes Longeau Epuisay Nuits Saint Georges Tours Hallue Péronne Bapaume Rocroi Villersexel Le Mans Lisaine Longwy St. Quentin 2nd Buzenval Pontarlier Belgian reaction Paris Commune

Franco-Prussian War

The siege of Longwy was a military conflict during the Franco-Prussian War, which took place from 16 to 25 January 1871, in the Longwy which was near the border of Belgium and Luxembourg. (Under a Personal Union with the Netherlands) 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. This was one of the consecutive victories of the German army in a short period of time during the war. The town of Longwy was badly damaged during the siege.

The Battle

During the Sieges of Montmédy and Mézières, Prussian soldiers were dispatched to observe the detachment in Longwy, and sometimes carry out a campaign against the franc-tireur's of France. Communication between the franc-tireur soldiers and French troops stationed in Longwy led to the officer commanding the fort to know the movements of the enemy. Faced with this situation, he sent two battalions to hold back the Prussian detachments at Tellancourt and Frenois la Montague. Although the Prussians were raided and the French took a number of prisoners, the French were defeated overnight on 26 and 27 December 1870. Initially, the German army formed a siege detachment of Longwy consisting of infantry and cavalry of the Landwehr militia led by Major Count Von Schmettau, but later, the armies were in charge of the siege. Longwy arrived. From the end of November, the Prussian army under the command of Colonel Von Cosel blockaded Longwy, and Georg von Kameke assumed command of the 14th Infantry Division. In the Prussian siege corps, Major Wolf was the commander of the artillery force, and Colonel Schott was entrusted with the management of construction works for the Prussian siege. Between 16 and 19 January 1871, to keep the French garrison unaware of the German preparations for the attack, and even to keep the French from grasping the construction of Building German batteries, the German field batteries took positions supported by the area opposite the fort, and opened fire on Longwy. This first artillery attack caused panic among the townspeople, and the French garrison took up arms until they were exhausted. And, on 19 January, the Germans launched their artillery bombardment.

After strengthening the defense, the French in the fortress launched a counterattack. Thanks to its high terrain and fortified stone fortifications, Longwy stood up to German bombardment. On 22 January, however, the French were unable to prevent the Germans from building their own horizontal trenches, and on that day the Prussian Artillery reaped the rewards. The artillery battle between the two factions continued for several days. In the last days, the German shelling became fierce, pushing the French into chaos. Finally, on 24 January, when the Germans were preparing for the widening of the horizontal trench of their own, the French requested a ceasefire to negotiate their surrender. On the morning of 25 January the French army at Longwy formally surrendered. During this period, the French army was defeated everywhere, and 3 days after the fall of Longwy, the French capital Paris also fell into a similar situation.

References

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)".
^ The French campaign, 1870-1871. Military description by A. Niemann. Tr. from the German by Colonel Edward Newdigate.
"The Franco-German war of 1870-71"
^ "The siege operations in the campaign against France, 1870-71."
^ Edmund Ollier, Cassell's history of the war between France and Germany, 1870-1871, Volume 2, Pages 169-170.
^ Wilhelm Rüstow, The war for the Rhine frontier, 1870: Its political and military history, Volume 1, Page 100
"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"
"My days of adventure: the fall of France, 1870-71"
"William I. and the German empire. A biographical and historical sketch"

Bibliography

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