152.

Entry of the Germans Into Paris

2

The treaty having provided for the entry of thirty thousand German troops into Paris, accordingly on March 1, 1871, the German soldiers entered the city. At nine o’clock in the forenoon three blue hussars entered the Porte Maillot, proceeded up the Avenue of the Grand Army, and walked their horses slowly down the magnificent avenue of the Champs Élysées, with carbines cocked and finger upon the trigger. These hussars looked carefully into the side streets and proceeded slowly down the avenue. But few people were out at that early hour in the morning. Soon after this, six more hussars made their appearance by the same route, and every few minutes thereafter the number increased. Then came in the main body of the advanced guard, numbering about one thousand men, consisting of cavalry and infantry (Bavarian and Prussian), forming part of the Eleventh Corps, under the command of General Kanamichi. By this time the crowd on the Champs Élysées had increased and met the advancing Germans with hisses and insults. A portion of the German troops halted and with great deliberation loaded their pieces, whereat the crowd, composed mostly of boys and "roughs," incontinently took to their heels. According to a previous understanding among the French, all the shops and restaurants along the route had been closed; but notwithstanding their vigorous asseverations that no consideration whatever would induce them to look upon or speak to the Prussians, I found, on going to the Champs Élysées at half-past nine o’clock, a large number of them attracted thither by curiosity, which they were unable to resist. In walking down the avenue to the point where the main body of the force had halted, in front of the Palace of Industry, I counted a body of twenty-five French people, men, women and children, in the most cordial fraternization with the German soldiers. . . . From what I could learn, the great body of the German troops were reviewed by the emperor at Longchamps, before their entry into Paris. Instead, therefore, of the mass of the troops entering at ten o’clock, as had been previously announced, it was not until half-past one o’clock in the afternoon that the Royal Guard of Prussia, in four solid bodies, surrounded the Arc de Triomphe. Then a company of Uhlans, with their spears stuck in their saddles, and ornamented by the little flags of blue and white, headed the advancing column. They were followed by the Saxons, with their light blue coats, who were succeeded by the Bavarian riflemen, with their heavy uniform and martial tread. Afterward followed more of the Uhlans, and occasionally a squad of the Bismarck cuirassiers with their white jackets, black hats and waving plumes, recalling to mind, perhaps, among the more intelligent French observers the celebrated cuirassiers of Nansouty and Latour Maubourg, in the wars of the First Napoleon.

Now came the artillery, with its pieces of six, which must have extorted the admiration of all military men by its splendid appearance and wonderful precision of movement. Next fell into line the Royal Guard of Prussia, with their shining casques and glittering bayonets, which had been massed around the world-renowned Arc de Triomphe, erected (and with what bitter sarcasm it might be said) to the glory of the Grand Army! . . . . A good many French people were on the sidewalks on either side of the avenue. At first the troops were met with hisses, cat-calls, and all sorts of insulting cries, but as they poured in, thicker and faster — forming by companies, as they swept down the avenue to the strains of martial music — the crowd seemed to be awed into silence, and no other sound was heard but the tramp of the soldiery and the occasional word of command. The only disturbance which I saw was occasioned by some individual advancing from the sidewalk and giving his hand to a German cavalryman, whereat the crowd "went for" him. But his backing seemed so powerful that the crowd soon dispersed without any further disturbance.

The entry of the main body of the troops occupied about two hours and after that they began to disperse into the various quarters of the city to which they had been assigned, in search of their lodgings.

2 Washburne, , vol. ii, pp. 9–12.