Battle of Gravelotte
Gravelotte and Saint-Privat, about 10 km west of Metz, Lorraine, France
What happened
Prussian and German armies under King Wilhelm I and Helmuth von Moltke fought the French Army of the Rhine under Marshal François Achille Bazaine. In the Franco-Prussian War, the French army held the ridges west of the fortress city of Metz. German attacks in the south stalled under heavy French fire. In the evening Prussian Guard and Saxon troops took the village of Saint-Privat, and the French fell back into Metz.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It cut off Bazaine's last chance to retreat west, trapping his army in Metz. The German victory later freed their armies to fight elsewhere in France.
What came next
The Siege of Metz lasted over two months, and on 27 October 1870 Bazaine surrendered about 193,000 men. Metz became part of Germany under the Treaty of Frankfurt in 1871.
Did you know?
The Germans lost more men than the French in this battle, even though they won.
Timeline
- 18 August 1870The Battle of Gravelotte is fought.
- 19 August 1870Bazaine's army withdraws into Metz.
- 2 September 1870Napoleon III surrenders at Sedan.
- 27 October 1870The French army in Metz surrenders.
- 10 May 1871The Treaty of Frankfurt is signed.