Treaty of Frankfurt (1871)

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The Treaty of Frankfurt (French: Le traité de Francfort; German: Friede von Frankfurt) was a peace treaty signed in Frankfurt on May 10, 1871, at the end of the Franco-Prussian War. The terms of the treaty, regarded as harsh among the French, created a general animosity among them towards Germany, known as revanchism. The French resentment of the terms of the treaty indirectly led to the entangled alliances preceding World War I, and to the Great War itself.

The treaty:

  • Confirmed the frontier between the French Third Republic and the German Empire - involving the annexation of most of Alsace and the Lorraine departement of Moselle
  • Gave residents of the annexed Alsace-Lorraine region until October 1, 1872 to decide between keeping their French nationality and emigrating, or to remain in the region and become German citizens.
  • Set a framework for the withdrawal of German troops from certain areas
  • Regulated the payment of France's war indemnity of five billion francs (due within three years)
  • Recognized the acceptance of William I of Prussia to be German Emperor
  • Required military occupation in parts of France until the staggering indemnity was paid (to the surprise of Germany, the French paid the indemnity quickly.)

The treaty also clarified the following points:

  • The use of navigable waterways in connection to Alsace-Lorraine
  • Trade between the two countries
  • The return of prisoners of war


Diplomacy of the Great Powers 1871-1913
Great Powers
British Empire | German Empire | French Third Republic | Russian Empire | Austria-Hungary | Italy
Treaties and agreements
Treaty of Frankfurt | League of the Three Emperors | Treaty of Berlin
German-Austrian Alliance | Triple Alliance | Reinsurance Treaty | Franco-Russian Alliance
Anglo-Japanese Alliance | Anglo-Russian Entente | Entente Cordiale | Triple Entente
Events
Russo-Turkish War | Congress of Berlin | Scramble for Africa | Fleet Acts | The Great Game
Fashoda Incident | Pan-Slavism | Boxer Rebellion | Boer War | Russo-Japanese War
First Moroccan Crisis | Dreadnought | Agadir Crisis | Bosnian crisis | Italo-Turkish War | Balkan wars