Soldiers of Revolution: The Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune

The Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 introduced new military technologies, transformed the organization of armies, and upset the continental balance of power, leading to the Paris Commune of 1871 and the militarized class conflict that led to the Russian Revolution of 1917. This militarized class conflict and the brutality of the Commune's repression slaughtered an old utopian faith that appeals to reason and morality could resolve social tensions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2022
Publisher: Verso Books

The Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 marked a significant turning point in the history of warfare, introducing revolutionary military technologies that transformed the organization of armies. This war also upset the continental balance of power, propagating new regimented ideas of nationhood and conflict resolution. However, the advent of mass armies necessitated massive mobilization and the arming of working people, who gained a new power through German social democracy and popular insurgent French movements. This militarized class conflict, exemplified by the Paris Commune of 1871, grew directly from the discontent of radicalized soldiers and civilians forced into armed service on behalf of institutions they began to distrust. The brutal repression of the Commune not only resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Parisians but also shattered the utopian belief that reason and morality could resolve social tensions. This war marked a crucial juncture, as it blurred the lines between war and revolution, and revolution and armed struggle, setting the stage for future conflicts and transformations.

The Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 introduced new military technologies, transformed the organization of armies, and upset the continental balance of power, promulgating new regimented ideas of nationhood and conflict resolution more widely.

However, the mass armies that became a new standard required mass mobilization and the arming of working people, who exercised a new power through both a German social democracy and popular insurgent French movements. As in the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Paris Commune of 1871 grew directly from the discontent among radicalized soldiers and civilians pressed into armed service on behalf of institutions they learned to mistrust. If this militarized class conflict, the brutality of the Commune's subsequent repression not only butchered the tens of thousands of Parisians but also slaughtered an old utopian faith that appeals to reason and morality could resolve social tensions.

War among nations became linked to revolution and revolution to armed struggle.

Weight: 458g
Dimension: 161 x 242 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788730549