The Ems Dispatch Sparks War

In July 1870, tensions boiled when France demanded that King Wilhelm I of Prussia permanently renounce a Hohenzollern prince's claim to the Spanish throne, a claim Wilhelm had already withdrawn under French pressure. Chancellor Otto von Bismarck later edited Wilhelm's response and released it as the Ems Dispatch, deliberately making it sound insulting to France. One subtle but significant mistranslation helped stir outrage: Wilhelm's "adjutant" dismissed further French demands, but in German circles that meant a senior aide, whereas in French "adjutant" was understood as a lowly non-commissioned officer. The resulting insult inflamed French public sentiment, and just days later Napoleon III declared war, igniting the Franco-Prussian War.

Previous Fact Next Fact