Battles & Campaigns · 1871
Battle of Bapaume
Bapaume, Pas-de-Calais, France
What happened
Faidherbe's army marched out to break the German siege of Péronne, and met the Prussians near Bapaume. The young French soldiers held their own against the experienced Prussians. But the French did not follow up their advantage.
Why it matters
It is counted as a French victory, but it did not save Péronne. The French Army of the North was trying to relieve the besieged town of Péronne.
What came next
Péronne surrendered on 10 January, and Faidherbe fought the Prussians again at Saint-Quentin about two weeks later.
Did you know?
A statue of Faidherbe was put up in Bapaume in 1891, taken by the Germans in 1916 and remade in 1929.
Timeline
- 3 Jan 1871Battle of Bapaume.
- 10 Jan 1871Péronne surrenders.
- 19 Jan 1871Battle of St. Quentin.
- 1891Faidherbe's statue is dedicated in Bapaume.