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Armée de l'Est
Encyclopedia
The Armée de l'Est was a French army which took part in the Franco-Prussian War
of 1870–71. It was formed towards the end of the war out of the remains of the Loire Army, paramilitaries (Freischärlern) and new recruits.
and the interruption of the German supply lines. However, it suffered a defeat at Belfort in the battle of the Lisaine
. The retreat of the South went chaotically and slowly, the army was surrounded in the area of Pontarlier
, close to the Swiss
border.
General Bourbaki was relieved of his duties and made a suicide attempt. The new General Justin Clinchant
bat in Switzerland for military asylum. From 1 to 3 February 1871 87,000 men transgressed at Les Verrières
the Swiss–French border and were interned for six weeks. The Swiss General Hans Herzog
(1819–1894), Swiss general during the border occupation 1870–71, oversaw the internment of the defeated Bourbaki army. The transition of the Bourbakiarmee is shown on the Bourbaki Panorama in Lucerne
.
Although General Herzog had as best he could placed his troop contingents (of the already partly demobilized army) reassigned to the places where the French were crossing the border, these units probably would have had little chance against the German pursuers of the French, led by the German General Edwin von Manteuffel. And there was theoretically quite a motive for such an attack: Prussia
had waived his rights for Neuenburg
in the Neuenburgerhandel in 1856/57 after mediation by the European powers. Neuenburg, which was where the Bourbaki troops entered Switzerland, had been a Prussian principality until 1857.
The inclusion of 87,000 by hunger and cold drawn soldiers (3% of the then Swiss population), which had to be housed, medically treated and guarded, placed major demands on the young Swiss federal state. The internees were distributed to 190 localities in all cantons except the Ticino, because it was not reasonable to send the internees over the snow-covered Gotthard in January - the railway trough the Gotthard was only opened in 1882. In addition to military, government and relief agencies also the civilian population was helping a lot in supporting the strangers. Most of them did not only need medical treatment but also new clothes and shoes. Some hundred of them were too weak to survive the ordeal and were buried on Swiss ground.
The humanitarian mission contributed to the self-confidence and identity of the young Switzerland.
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of 1870–71. It was formed towards the end of the war out of the remains of the Loire Army, paramilitaries (Freischärlern) and new recruits.
History
The task of the army should be the relief of the besieged fortress of BelfortBelfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
and the interruption of the German supply lines. However, it suffered a defeat at Belfort in the battle of the Lisaine
Battle of the Lisaine
The Battle of the Lisaine was fought from 15 January to 17 January 1871 between Prussian and French forces. The French were led by Charles Denis Bourbaki, and were attempting to relieve the Siege of Belfort. Early in the morning the French forces under Bourbaki with only a few thousand men against...
. The retreat of the South went chaotically and slowly, the army was surrounded in the area of Pontarlier
Pontarlier
Pontarlier is a commune and one of the two sub-prefectures of the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-History:...
, close to the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
border.
General Bourbaki was relieved of his duties and made a suicide attempt. The new General Justin Clinchant
Justin Clinchant
Justin Clinchant was a French Army general, entered the army from St Cyr in 1841.From 1847 to 1852 he was employed in the Algerian campaigns, and in 1854 and 1855 in the Crimea. At the assault on the Malakoff he greatly distinguished himself at the head of a battalion...
bat in Switzerland for military asylum. From 1 to 3 February 1871 87,000 men transgressed at Les Verrières
Les Verrières
Les Verrières is a municipality in the district of Val-de-Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.-Geography:Les Verrières has an area, , of . Of this area, or 46.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 50.7% is forested...
the Swiss–French border and were interned for six weeks. The Swiss General Hans Herzog
Hans Herzog
Hans Herzog was a Swiss army officer, and was elected Switzerland's General during the Franco-Prussian War.Born in Aarau, he became an artillery lieutenant in 1840, and then spent six years in travelling , before he became a partner in his father's business in 1846...
(1819–1894), Swiss general during the border occupation 1870–71, oversaw the internment of the defeated Bourbaki army. The transition of the Bourbakiarmee is shown on the Bourbaki Panorama in Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
.
Although General Herzog had as best he could placed his troop contingents (of the already partly demobilized army) reassigned to the places where the French were crossing the border, these units probably would have had little chance against the German pursuers of the French, led by the German General Edwin von Manteuffel. And there was theoretically quite a motive for such an attack: Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
had waived his rights for Neuenburg
Canton of Neuchâtel
Neuchâtel is a canton of French speaking western Switzerland. In 2007, its population was 169,782 of which 39,654 were foreigners. The capital is Neuchâtel.-History:...
in the Neuenburgerhandel in 1856/57 after mediation by the European powers. Neuenburg, which was where the Bourbaki troops entered Switzerland, had been a Prussian principality until 1857.
The inclusion of 87,000 by hunger and cold drawn soldiers (3% of the then Swiss population), which had to be housed, medically treated and guarded, placed major demands on the young Swiss federal state. The internees were distributed to 190 localities in all cantons except the Ticino, because it was not reasonable to send the internees over the snow-covered Gotthard in January - the railway trough the Gotthard was only opened in 1882. In addition to military, government and relief agencies also the civilian population was helping a lot in supporting the strangers. Most of them did not only need medical treatment but also new clothes and shoes. Some hundred of them were too weak to survive the ordeal and were buried on Swiss ground.
The humanitarian mission contributed to the self-confidence and identity of the young Switzerland.