Franco-British War
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Not to be confused with World War I.
The Franco British War or the War of the Eighth Coalition (21 June 1914 - 12 October 1919) was one of the many major global conflicts in modern history. It was fought by two coalitions, the French Pact of Paris alongside Russia and the Eighth Coalition Lead by the United Kingdom, the North German Confederation, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
| Franco-British War | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Franco-British Rivalry | |||||||||
 British Soldiers preparing for a French Offensive, 1916 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Second French Empire Russian Empire (Until 1917) Russian Republic (From 1917) Kingdom of Serbia Empire of Japan (From 1916) Qing Dynasty (From 1918) Papal States (From 1915) Naples (From 1915) |
 United Kingdom North German Confederation Austro-Hungarian Empire Kingdom of Bulgaria (From 1916) Kingdom of Bavaria (From 1918) Kingdom of Württemberg (From 1918) Baden (From 1918) Kingdom of Belgium Republic of China (Until 1918) Kingdom of Italy (From 1915) Sicily (From 1915) | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Napoleon VI G. Clemenceau Nicholas II Alexander Kerensky Peter I Pope Benedict XV |
George V H. H. Asquith David Lloyd George Wilhelm II Franz Joseph I Charles I Ferdinand I | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 25,248,000 | 35,316,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| ~5,000,000 Total | ~7,200,000 Total | ||||||||
Background
After the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, France has been on a rise in the world. Even with their loss in Mexico, Napoleon III was enjoying great rise in international prestige. This would interfere with the British Pax Britannica, and after the Quebec Revolution, Franco-British relations soured. When the Berlin Conference was called in 1884, France was able to grab large areas of land, most of which the British wanted. After the League of the Three Emperors ended, France was quick to make an alliance with the Russian Empire. After the Assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria Declared war on the Kingdom of Serbia. This lead to Russia declaring war on Austria, and soon France sided with Russia. The North German Confederation would side with Austria, and the war would begin.
British Involvement
Britain would get involved after the French would attempt to go around the Frankfurt Line along the Franco-Prussian borders. This involved invading the neutral Kingdom of Belgium. They were guaranteed by the British since the 1830's, and with this Britain would declare war on France, causing their immediate involvement.
The War from 1914-1916
War in the East
Main Article: Radetzky Campaign
The immediate years during the war were busy, yet quiet. Prussia and Austria had made large gains against the Russians in the Radetzky Campaign, named after the famed general, Joseph Radetzky von Radetz. This Campaign would see large areas of land taken, and the establishment of many German and Austrian Puppet States, such as the Kingdom of Ukraine, Republic of Belarus, and the United Baltic Duchy. This Campaign would last until the Russian defeat in 1918.
War in the West
Main Article: 1914 Invasion of Belgium
The French invasion of Belgium would be slow, and unsuccessful. At the end of 1914, the most the French were able to take was everything south of Brussels. The French were hoping to have crushed the Belgians by then. British Army Command was able to make a landing in Brest, which would end in the biggest defeat in British military history.
War in Italy
Main Article: Italian Campaign
After 1914, the French would need a new front. They decided to intervene in the ongoing Piedmontese-Papal War, which was a continuation of a previous 1880's conflict between the resisting Papal States and the Kingdom of Italy. As in the previous war, the French intervened on the side of the Pope, Benedict XV, who was previously asking the French for help, but the French refused because of their situation in the war. French troops were able to take the Piedmontese capital of Cagliari within weeks and they would soon face the Austrians at the Battle of Venice. The king of Naples would soon be attacked by Sicilian Rebels in 1915 and the British, who were hoping to open a new front, intervened on the side of the Sicilians. This would cause the Neapolitan king to join with France opening a Campaign which would see the sieges of Rome and Naples by the British.
The War from 1917-1919
War in the East
Main Article: Russian Revolution (1917)
After the collapse of the Russian Army at the battle of Brest-Litovsk, the Russian Emperor would soon resign and would be replaced by the Russian Republic under Alexander Kerensky. He would refuse to end the war, and the Russians would be pushed back even further. After Lenin's Revolution in Russia however, the new President of Russia, Vladimir Lenin, would sign a peace deal with the Germans and Austrians giving them Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic, Lithuania, Finland, and the Don-Cossak region. The Cossaks would soon lead a revolution against Germano-Austrian occupation after the war.
War in the West
Main Article: Versailles Treaty
With the war coming to a stand-still, and the casualties reaching 11,000,000, the British Government saw the war as over, with no clear victory in sight, The British would soon ask for conditional surrender, and both sides would end the war without real conflict on October 12, 1919. This proposition was lead by the Austrian Emperor, Charles I, who would be given the title of "Emperor of Peace" by the Pope and his people after the war.
Legacy
Main Article: Legacy of the Franco-British War
"I see to Europe, and I think, 'why would god create such a vile continent?'" - Huey Long, 32nd President of the United States
While the Legacy of the war is debated, many agree it was the most deadly and pointless modern war. While this would surely be the biggest precursor to the Great World War in 1940, Many nations have this war to thank for their existence however, such as Ukraine and others in the East.
Monuments to the War
Main Article: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
After the War, many nations build statues to commemorate the service of their soldiers. Such as the Tomb of the unknown soldier, which most nations have in their capital cities. The Poppy flower soon became the symbol of gratitude and remembrance to those who served, as it was seen to be the first things growing from between the trenches after the war.
In Popular Media
- 'Its a Small World" has a scene dedicated to Charles I, for being the 'bringer of World Peace'.
- "Peaky Blinders" character Oswald Mosley (Played by Sam Claflin) accounts of his experiences in the Franco-British War.
- The King's Man's setting is in the Franco-British War.