September 19, 1870 · Île-de-France Theater
September 19, 1870
The siege of Paris lasted 131 days, from September 19, 1870 to January 28, 1871. A city of two million people was surrounded by German forces and systematically starved. Food ran out progressively: horses were eaten first, then zoo animals (the elephant Castor and Pollux were sold as steaks), then rats and cats. Bread was adulterated with sawdust. A daily ration fell to 300 calories toward the siege's end. German artillery began a deliberate bombardment of the city in January 1871, killing hundreds of civilians and producing international outrage but no change in the military situation. Multiple sorties by the Paris garrison failed to break through the siege lines. When the armistice was finally signed on January 28, Paris was on the verge of outright famine.
Commanders