Episode 1: The War That Made the Modern World

The war that reshaped Europe began with a diplomatic insult and ended with the collapse of an empire.In 1870, France and Prussia went to war. Within months, Napoleon III was captured, Paris was under siege, and a new German Empire had been proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.In this opening episode, we explore the causes, course and consequences of the Franco-Prussian War. From Bismarck’s calculated provocation to the catastrophic defeat at Sedan, this is the story of how a short war transformed the balance of power in Europe and helped create the modern world.In this episode: Why the war began  How quickly France collapsed  What it meant for Germany and Europe Music: Gnossiennes by Erik Satie, performed by Chase Coleman. Recording sourced from IMSLP under Creative Commons licence. Explore more stories from French history on the website: https://letrangerpodcast.com/  Follow for updates and new episodes on Bluesky: @letrangerpodcast.bsky.social