Battle of Bapaume (1871)

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Battle of Bapaume
Part of Franco-Prussian War
Date January 3, 1871 Location Bapaume, France Result Prussian strategic victory
Combatants
Prussia	France
Commanders
Edwin Freiherr von Manteuffel	Louis Faidherbe
Strength
18,000	33,000

Franco-Prussian War
Wissembourg – Spicheren – Wœrth – Borny-Colombey – Strasbourg – Mars-la-Tour – Gravelotte – Metz – Beaumont – Noiseville – Sedan – Bellevue – Coulmiers –Amiens – Beaune-la-Rolande – Hallue – Bapaume – Le Mans – Lisaine – St. Quentin – Paris – Belfort

The Battle of Bapaume was a battle during the Franco-Prussian War which defeated French attempts to relieve the besieged city of Péronne. The battle was fought on January 3, 1871 near the town of Bapaume.

The Prussian 1st Army had reached Bapaume at the end of December while at the same time the French Army of the North under Faidherbe moved out to break the German siege of Péronne. Both sides encountered each other near Bapaume. Although Faidherbe's green troops held their own against the outnumbered but experienced Prussians, they didn't follow up their advantage and retreated. As a consequence, Péronne surrendered on January 10. Soon the Prussians would be reinforced and two weeks later they would meet Faidherbe in battle again at Saint Quentin.