Chapter 127 “Last Lesson”
While Spain was summarizing, a new round of conflict broke out between Germany and France.
Since the war broke out between the two sides in 1870, the two countries, whether government or private, have been enemies of life and death.
Alsace and Lorraine, which were cut off by the Germans, as well as the 5 billion francs in war reparations, became a permanent pain in the hearts of the French.
The “Frankfurt Peace Treaty” only ended the state of war between the two countries. The contradiction between the two countries did not ease but became more acute.
But another fact that France had to face after the Franco-Prussian War was that it was powerless to confront Germany.
In this case, as Kissinger put it:
“Under the torment of the memory of the past and the ambition to die,
France elevates its frustration to the fact that for nearly 50 years, it only wants to take back Alsace and Lorraine… Now it is difficult for France to deal with Germany on its own;
So always need to ally with other countries to protect themselves.
Likewise, France is always ready to ally with any country that is hostile to Germany…”
The strong hatred led to the constant calls for revenge against Germany by the French people, which eventually led to the crisis of the German-French War in 1875.
Although finally under the sanctions of Britain and Russia, Germany was forced to promise not to take the initiative to attack France, but the sentiment of mutual opposition among the people was still high.
The time has come to the present January 1877.
French writer Alphonse Toude, three years later than the original history, published the short story “The Last Lesson”.
The last lesson was published in the Paris “Gazette de France” and received widespread attention as soon as it was published.
“Suddenly the church bell struck twelve. The prayer bell also rang. The trumpet of the Prussian soldiers came from outside the window – they had stopped.
Mr. Hammer stood up, pale, and I don’t think he’s ever been so tall.
“My friends,” he said, “I—I—”
But he was choked, and he couldn’t go on.
He turned towards the blackboard, picked up a piece of chalk, used all his strength, and wrote two large letters: “Long live France!”
Then he stayed there, leaning his head against the wall, didn’t say a word, only made a gesture to us: “School is over,?? – you guys go.”
The eternal pain in the hearts of French people, the shame of losing their rights and humiliating the country, was awakened by Alphonse Toude once again, and countless grieved French people looked at Alsace-Lorraine, where the east no longer belonged to France.
The freedom-loving and proud French had to face the pain of ceding their land again.
The French compatriots in Alsace seem to be being forced to learn German by the Prussians, while their homeland is powerless to help them.
The anti-German voice in France once again swept the country, and the voice of revenge against Germany resounded again.
Although the French have no strength to defeat the flourishing Germans.
But just like the countless passionate young people in our country, although there is little hope, they cannot stand this humiliation.
The mourner will win.
The voice of giving your life for the motherland resounds in Paris!
French men are not dead yet, their backbone still exists.
French President McMahon did not stop this kind of behavior. The purpose of the establishment of the French Republic, to a great extent, was to fight against the Germans and take back Alsace and Lorraine.
But he remains calm, and France is now taking revenge on Germany, which is tantamount to seeking death.
European countries will never allow an unchecked Germany, and if the Germans further weaken the French, it is foreseeable that there will be an anti-German alliance on the European continent.
This means that France has a gold medal to avoid death.
Similarly, the powers will not allow the French to turn against the wind. The current situation in Europe is the best for the European powers.
At least the British and the Russians are happy to see the current state of equilibrium on the European continent.
Just like the German-French war crisis in 1875, the Russians sympathized with the French experience, but also maintained the post-Frankfurt Peace Treaty.
That is, the state of French defeat.
But the current situation is different from that in 1875.
The Russians and the British fought a blush in the Ottomans.
At least in the eyes of German Prime Minister Bismarck, Britain and Russia are bound to be impossible to unite against Germany without gaps as they did in 1875.
So the German media, controlled by Bismarck, were instructed to launch a frenzied campaign against France.
Germany was not afraid of the French in war, but Bismarck, who had a premonition that there would be no war, still tried his best to suppress the militant Prussian soldiers.
A series of movements against France are just to deal with the anti-German voices in France, and fight against each other to express the attitude of the Germans.
The two countries, which have shown no weakness, once again let the relationship between the two sides be on the same page.
Bismarck’s Germany would not take the lead in attacking, but in the face of France’s anti-German attitude, except for anti-French actions, it seems that only the threat of war can silence the French.
In mid-January, the German Empire announced an increase in military spending.
The number is unknown, but it still shows the attitude of the German Empire.
The Germans’ deterrence by force further aroused the anger of the French, and the voice of domestic anti-German and revenge became louder and louder.
The French responded uncompromisingly.
The President of the French Third Republic, McMahon, responded decisively and increased the military expenditure of the French Army.
Under the tension, the American Civil War, which had just swept across Europe, was once again replaced by tensions between Germany and France.
No matter how the United States fights, after all, it is outside of Europe and not the center of the world.
But Europe is different. Germany and France can be said to be the two big powers.
Once a war breaks out again, it is extremely likely that many European countries will be involved.
At this moment, the British, the current world hegemon, once again stood up and called on both sides to resolve the issue peacefully.
The British, who are prevalent in isolationism, are also trying their best to maintain the current state of Europe.
There is not much difference in strength between countries~www.readmtl.com~England, Germany, France, Russia, Austria and Italy, barely counting Spain, the European version of the seven-nation hegemony.
The British, who are trying their best to maintain the balance of power in Europe, have changed the target of suppression in Europe from the French to Germany and Russia.
But in contrast, the strength of the Germans seems to be more feared.
Therefore, the banquet convened by British Ambassador Russell solemnly invited diplomats from various countries.
Try to solve this crisis amicably at the banquet.
If not, it will instantly turn into a negotiating arena between the United Kingdom and Europe.
If the Germans continue to weaken the French, it is very likely that they will lead to a boycott of the European Union.
Even the Austro-Hungarian Empire may turn against the water, and the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 can still be vividly remembered.
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slag m..