1-154-323 - Art Media-Private Collection/Heritage Images

'Le Jour du Bataille' ('The Day of the Battle'), Siege of Paris, Franco-Prussian War, 1870 (1871). After the disastrous defeat of the French at Sedan and the capture of Napoleon III, the Prussians surrounded Paris on 9 September 1870. The city held out despite famine, disease and cold until a bombardment with heavy siege guns led to its surrender on 28 January 1871. Between 30 November and 3 December a French army of 80,000 men under the command of General Ducrot attempted, without success, to break through the Prussian encirclement.