Spagnoli, Cederic Verdun dans la guerre de 70

The memory of the 1870 war has been given far too little attention in French politics, art and literature, both in Verdun and elsewhere. The courage shown by the inhabitants of Verdun during the siege of 1870 is part of the city's long military history, which saw a total of eleven sieges between 1792 and the battle of 1916. The Battle of Verdun in 1916 pushed the siege of 1870 out of people's memories. Nevertheless, Verdun suffered under the German blockade for more than 80 days in August 1870. The city was bombarded three times, on 24 August, 26 September and from 13 to 15 October. With its numerous sorties and combat readiness, the garrison was an obstacle to German communications. Only the surrender of Metz and the threat of large-scale bombardment explain the surrender of Verdun on 9 November 1870. After 1871, with France's defeat and the loss of Alsace-Lorraine, the Meuse was only a few dozen kilometres from the new border, which explains the increased militarisation of the area. Verdun was occupied for 1,000 days and was the last town to be evacuated by the Germans in September 1873. Although the occupation was marked by a certain, albeit limited, repression, it took place in a fairly peaceful atmosphere overall, which did not, however, exclude resentment towards the Germans.