Today in 1871, on the outskirts of Paris, France

Attacking Prussian forces began the bombardment of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War.

Eventually, Prussian forces captured the French capital, ending the war with a Prussian victory and establishing Germany as a country.

 

Ironically, the war and German victory set in motion an ongoing conflict that would eventually engulf all of Europe and the rest of the world in World War I and World War II.