German armies 1870-71 (1) : Prussia

In 1870 Bismarck, Prime Minister of Prussia, engineered a war with France that would result in the fall of the Second Empire. It was the first modern European war and saw the use of bolt action rifles, machine guns, railway transport and professional general staffs. This war led to Germany's unification as a militaristic nation, and was central to France's military development, influencing her disastrous tactics in 1914. This book looks at the Prussian Army during this short war, and details its organisation and uniforms.