abstract
| - The Battle of Bazeilles was fought on 1 September 1870. It was part of the larger Battle of Sedan during the Franco-Prussian War and was one of the first occurrences of modern urban warfare. The battle took place in Bazeilles, France, a small village in the Ardennes department near Sedan and involved a force of Bavarian soldiers pitched in battle against French marines and partisans. The battle was, in effect, an ambush of a force of Bavarians (who were allies of the Prussians), by a small detachment of the "Blue Division" Troupes de marine (also known as marsouins), under the command of General de Vassoigne. Marsouin snipers, along with local guerrillas, fired on the Bavarians using quick-firing Chassepot breech-loading rifles. Although outnumbered ten to one, the French held the village until Napoleon III gave orders to withdraw. A small group under commander Arsene Lambert remained in the last house on the road to Sedan, the Auberge Bourgerie, fighting to the last bullet in order to cover the retreat. After 7 hours of conflict, the Bavarians took the village. They captured Francs-tireurs partisans who, along with other civilians, were considered unlawful combatants. These men were then executed. Later the same day, France suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Sedan, where Napoleon III was captured along with his army. Coupled with the loss of another French army at Metz, these events effectively ended Napoleon III's Empire, ushering in the Third Republic. People of the new Republic saw continued partisan warfare for several months. General de Vassoigne famously remarked about the French soldiers involved in the battle, stating that "The troupes de marine fought beyond the extreme limits of duty." The anniversary of the Battle of Bazeilles, and specifically the defense of the last house on the road to Sedan, is now celebrated by the Troupes de marine as an identity building event.
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