Frantirera

Frantirers ( FR. Francs-tireurs - free arrows) - French partisans during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870–71 .

Francois in Vosges during the Franco-Prussian War

In 1868, the Minister of War of France, Marshal Niel, began to form detachments of francists, which were supposed to complement the national guard . Retired soldiers were enlisted in the francis, and since all these detachments were formed in the eastern provinces of France, the French government was counting on their assistance in the conduct of the “ small war ”. However, the quick capture by the Germans of the eastern provinces of France at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 made it impossible to use them.

After the defeat of the French army at Sedan, the new government, the decided to resort to the services of the francists. At the request of Gambetta , 404 infantry, 4 cavalry and 26 artillery detachments were formed very quickly, a total of about 45 thousand people.

However, the history of the Franco-Prussian war gives few examples of the real benefits brought by the francists: the explosion of the Fontenoy bridge on the Moselle river on the German communications line by the Vosges arrows; defense of Chateaudeau by the franchises of Colonel Lipovsky; the actions of the legion of franciers in the and, finally, the activities of the “horse-scouts of the Seine ” during the siege of Paris .

The reason for this, in addition to the lack of discipline and internal adhesion among the francis, was the cruel repressions by which the Germans responded to every manifestation by the francis of their activities. The Germans considered the francists to be illegal combatants and, if captured, shot them ^[1] .