WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.320 Hi, I'm Jesse Alexander, 00:00:01.320 --> 00:00:05.920 and thank you for supporting this companion episode of Glory and Defeat. 00:00:05.920 --> 00:00:08.850 Industrially mass-produced artillery was, 00:00:08.850 --> 00:00:13.095 without doubt, the most important weapon of the Franco-Prussian War. WEBVTT 00:00:13.095 --> 00:00:16.590 In particular, at the decisive battle of Sedan. 00:00:16.590 --> 00:00:22.320 It's no surprise then that German guns were far superior to their French counterparts. WEBVTT 00:01:47.455 --> 00:01:51.090 The M1867 fired a seven kilograms shell, WEBVTT 00:01:51.090 --> 00:01:54.480 but the shell's timing fuses often malfunction. 00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:59.000 The French artillery had been the best in Europe in the Napoleonic Wars, 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:03.430 but they were far behind their enemy in 1870-'71. WEBVTT 00:02:03.430 --> 00:02:07.550 The effect of modern artillery on the soldiers was observed in 00:02:07.550 --> 00:02:13.745 gruesome detail by Alsatian pastor Karl Klein after a battle in his village. WEBVTT 00:02:13.745 --> 00:02:17.765 Then behold these mutilated bodies. 00:02:17.765 --> 00:02:20.075 One has a severed arm or leg, 00:02:20.075 --> 00:02:23.425 another has his whole head shot off of his body. WEBVTT 00:02:23.425 --> 00:02:26.610 A third has his skull smashed to pieces. 00:02:26.610 --> 00:02:33.040 A fourth has his body torn open so that his intestines lie buried. WEBVTT 00:02:33.970 --> 00:02:38.300 The body of the 19th-century soldier is the first 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:41.730 to experience the destructive power of the industrial age, WEBVTT 00:02:41.730 --> 00:02:44.075 and its profitable products. 00:02:44.075 --> 00:02:46.025 For Alfred Krupp on the other hand, 00:02:46.025 --> 00:02:49.235 the performance of his guns in 1870-'71 00:02:49.235 --> 00:02:53.255 is the beginning of a career as an industrial magnate. WEBVTT 00:02:53.255 --> 00:02:55.835 Thanks again for supporting Glory and Defeat, 00:02:55.835 --> 00:02:58.560 and I'll see you next week. WEBVTT 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:25.800 The standard field gun in Prussian batteries was the breach 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:30.150 loading C/67 produced by their COAP works in Essen. 00:00:30.150 --> 00:00:35.580 The C/67 could fire up to 10 4.5 kilogram shells a minute, WEBVTT 00:00:35.580 --> 00:00:39.675 making it the fastest and most effective gun of its time. 00:00:39.675 --> 00:00:42.590 The shells could be led with an impact fuse, WEBVTT 00:00:42.590 --> 00:00:46.820 incendiary, or shrapnel consisting of 48 lead balls. 00:00:46.820 --> 00:00:51.050 Its steel barrel allowed a longer range and lasted far 00:00:51.050 --> 00:00:55.960 longer before suffering damage from heat than the French bronze barrels. WEBVTT 00:00:55.960 --> 00:01:01.490 The C/67 had a crew of five and was pulled by a team of six horses. WEBVTT 00:01:01.490 --> 00:01:04.970 Since French guns were only pulled by a team of four horses, 00:01:04.970 --> 00:01:09.670 French cruise more often had to abandon their guns if a horse was hit. 00:01:09.670 --> 00:01:12.765 The Krupp guns did have some weaknesses though. 00:01:12.765 --> 00:01:15.770 For example, they have a higher risk of a shell going WEBVTT 00:01:15.770 --> 00:01:19.175 off in the barrel and potentially killing the crew. 00:01:19.175 --> 00:01:24.740 This was relatively common in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, but by 1870, WEBVTT 00:01:24.740 --> 00:01:27.605 the C/67 is more reliable, 00:01:27.605 --> 00:01:31.610 and Alfred Krupp engages successfully in lobbying and WEBVTT 00:01:31.610 --> 00:01:36.080 bribery to influence decision-makers to adopt his guns. 00:01:36.080 --> 00:01:41.750 The French artillery began the war using La Hitte bronze muzzle-loaders but did 00:01:41.750 --> 00:01:47.455 start using the new M1867 bronze breech loaders during the siege of Paris.