PRINCIPAL COMBATANTS: French Communards vs. the Third French Republic
PRINCIPAL THEATER(S): Paris and other major French cities
DECLARATION: None
MAJOR ISSUES AND OBJECTIVES: The Communards rebelled against a French government humiliated by defeat in the Franco-Prussian War.
OUTCOME: The Communard rebellion was largely crushed during “Bloody Week,” May 21–28, 1871.
APPROXIMATE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MEN UNDER ARMS: Communards, about 50,000; government forces, 130,000
CASUALTIES: Communards, 25,000 killed, 41,000 imprisoned; government, 879 killed, 6,775 wounded

This civil conflict was the direct result of France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. The Battle of Sedan ended in a crushing French defeat and cut short the reign of Napoleon III (1808–73). In Paris, the Third French Republic was established, and Parisians resisted a Prussian siege until starvation forced their capitulation on January 28, 1871. The National Assembly, having evacuated to Bordeaux, negotiated the humiliating Treaty of Sedan with Prussia. Those legislators who had evacuated were primarily monarchist holdovers. The true republicans had remained in Paris, and it was these leaders who now repudiated the peace terms and proclaimed the Commune of Paris, a republic independent from the Third French Republic.

The Commune was proclaimed on March 18, 1871, and soon boasted a military strength exceeding 212,000, but in reality mustered no more than about 50,000. Against this army, which took to the streets of Paris in opposition to the new government led by Adolphe Thiers (1797–1877), were some 130,000 government troops under the command of the very able Marshal Patrice Mac-Mahon (1808–93).

The Communard army operated from behind barricades built mainly of the cobblestones of the Parisian streets. After desultory exchanges, Mac-Mahon decided to make a decisive move on May 21. With 70,000 troops, he stormed the barricades in a seven-day battle christened Bloody Week. The assault culminated in the capture of Communard headquarters at the Hôtel de Ville and the summary execution of thousands of Communards. In all, about 25,000 Parisians died, either in battle or by on the spot execution. Another 3,000 subsequently died in prison, and 270 were sentenced in court to execution. Some 7,500 revolutionaries were exiled.

The Paris Commune had been suppressed with unbridled brutality and decisiveness. Its destruction ensured the survival of the Third Republic and ended the Communards’ dream of a workers’ state.
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