Battle of St. Quentin (1871)

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This article is about a battle during the Franco-Prussian War. For other battles of the same name, see Battle of St. Quentin.

Battle of St. Quentin

Part of the Franco-Prussian War

Date	January 19, 1871
Location	St. Quentin, France
Result	Prussian victory

Belligerents

German Empire

France

Commanders

August Karl von Goeben

Louis Faidherbe

Strength

33,000

40,000

Casualties and losses

2,400

3,500 killed and wounded,
9,000 captured

v • d • e 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 – Villersexel – Le Mans – Lisaine – St. Quentin – Paris – Belfort

The Battle of St. Quentin was a battle during the Franco-Prussian War which defeated French attempts to relieve the besieged city of Paris.

While the Prussian Armies under Wilhelm I besieged Paris, the Prussian I Army, now under the command of August Karl von Goeben was sent to deal with French forces north of Paris. After a first attempt to relieve Paris had been checked at the battle of Bapaume, the French were planning another relief effort.

Von Goeben marched his army north and met the irregular French army under General Louis Faidherbe near Saint Quentin. On January 19 the Prussians attacked and decisively defeated the French forces. The same day General Trochu attempted a breakout of Paris but it too was defeated. No other significant attempts would be made to lift the siege of Paris.