Franco-Prussian War. Otto Bismarck against Napoleon III. 1870—1871

The British military historian, a professor at the University of Oxford, dedicated his work to the military conflict between the empire of Napoleon III and the German states led by Prussia. The war, provoked by the Prussian chancellor O. Bismarck and formally initiated by Napoleon III, ended in defeat and the collapse of France, as a result of which Prussia managed to transform the North German Confederation into a unified German Empire. While working on the book, the author researched and drew upon a colossal volume of scientific and documentary material and presented his view on the causes and consequences of this war.

Howard analyzed the state of the opposing troops, including their structure, armament, and technology, provided a vivid description of the battles, and presented a gallery of portraits of key figures in the events, including Wilhelm I, Bismarck, Leopold of Hohenzollern, Benedetti, and others.

In conclusion, the scholar notes that Germany's great victory subsequently turned into a calamity for both itself and the rest of the world.