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| Battle of Bapaume | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theFranco-Prussian War | |||||||
 Part of thepanoramic painting "Battle of Bapaume" ofCharles Édouard Armand-Dumaresq showing General Faidherbe. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 French Republic | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
  Edwin Freiherr von Manteuffel | Louis Faidherbe | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 18,000 | 25,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 750 soldiers 52 officers | 1,569 soldiers 53 officers | ||||||
_French_1st_Anniversary_Medal_1872%2c_obverse.jpg)
_French_1st_Anniversary_Medal_1872%2c_reverse.jpg)
TheBattle of Bapaume took place during theFranco-Prussian War, brought about by French attempts to relieve the besieged city ofPéronne, Somme. The battle was fought on 3 January 1871 near the town ofBapaume.[1]
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 did not follow up their advantage. As a consequence, Péronne surrendered on 10 January. Soon the Prussians would be reinforced and two weeks later they would meetFaidherbe in battle again atSaint Quentin.
50°06′16″N2°51′07″E / 50.1044°N 2.8519°E /50.1044; 2.8519
