Why didn’t Prussia dissolve France in 1871? Prussia, along with other German states, defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. However, Prussia didn’t dissolve France because its primary goal was not to dismantle or annex France entirely.
The war was primarily fought over the issue of German unification. Prussia’s Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, sought to unite the numerous German states under Prussian leadership, which would ultimately lead to the creation of the German Empire in 1871.
Bismarck’s strategy was not to utterly destroy France but to weaken it strategically and politically, ensuring that it wouldn’t pose a threat to the newly formed German Empire. As part of the peace settlement, France ceded the territories of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany, which significantly weakened France’s military and political position but didn’t dissolve the country entirely.
Moreover, Bismarck was keen on maintaining a balance of power in Europe to prevent the emergence of a hostile coalition against Germany. Therefore, instead of seeking France’s complete dissolution, Bismarck focused on consolidating German power and ensuring stability in Europe through alliances and diplomacy.
