Editing Franco-Prussian War (section)

===Siege of Paris===
[[File:Anton von Werner - Im Etappenquartier vor Paris - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|Troops quarter in Paris, by [[Anton von Werner]] (1894)]]

{{main|Siege of Paris (1870–1871)}}

Prussian forces commenced the [[Siege of Paris (1870)|siege of Paris]] on 19 September 1870. Faced with the blockade, the new French government called for the establishment of several large armies in the French provinces. These new bodies of troops were to march towards Paris and attack the Germans there from various directions at the same time. Armed French civilians were to create a guerilla force—the so-called ''[[Francs-tireurs]]''—for the purpose of attacking German [[supply line]]s.

Bismarck was an active supporter of the bombardment of the city. He sought to end the war as soon as possible, very much fearing a change in the international situation unfavorable to Prussia, as he himself called it "the intervention of neutrals".{{Sfn|Wawro|2003|p=280}} Therefore, Bismarck constantly and actively insisted on the early start of the bombardment, despite all the objections of the military command. Von Blumenthal, who commanded the siege, was opposed to the bombardment on moral grounds. In this he was backed by other senior military figures such as the Crown Prince and Moltke. Nevertheless, in January, the Germans fired some 12,000 shells (300–400 daily) into the city.{{sfn|Howard|1991|p=286}}

The siege of the city caused great hardships for the population, especially for the poor from cold and hunger.