and Troyes. Strasbourg was ceded to Germany in the Treaty of Frankfurt on 10 May 1871. Analysis The French commandant surrendered the fortress despite possessing plentiful stocks of food and ammunition. The French garrison did not possess sufficient aggressiveness to disrupt the German preparations and left the most probable avenue of attack unprepared. The fortress and the city lacked accommodations capable of withstanding the powerful German breech-loading guns and the French fortress artillery, despite its numerical superiority, was quickly silenced and reduced to simple harassment fire. The Germans, in contrast, made thorough preparations for every eventuality. While the initial terror bombardment was underway, arrangements for a regular siege operation continued undisturbed. The German siege lines were pushed energetically every day and failings were constantly critiqued and quickly corrected. Casualties The French lost 17,562 troops, 1,277 artillery pieces, 140,000 rifles, including 12,000 Chassepots, 50 locomotives and their supplies captured. The French National Guards were dispersed. The Germans lost 936 officers and men, including 177 killed and died of wounds, 715 wounded and 44 missing. Horse losses were 78, of which 37 killed or died of wounds, 29 wounded and 12 missing. Some 861 French soldiers died from all causes by the end of the siege. The German General Staff estimated 2,500 French combatants killed or wounded. A total of 341 civilians were killed by the bombardment and a further 600–2,000 wounded. An estimated 448 houses were completely destroyed and 10,000 inhabitants, including refugees, were rendered homeless. The German government compensated three quarters of the costs of the siege and occupation to the city. Citations References Strasbourg, Siege of Strasbourg 1870 Strasbourg, Siege of Strasbourg 1870 in France History of Strasbourg August 1870 events September 1870 events