Surrender of Belfort, February 15, 1871 (Casiez-Bourgeois Chicory, Cambrai) - G. Germain

On November 3, 1870, General Treskow captured Belfort. On the French side, the stronghold had 16,000 men and 300 cannons. It was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Denfert-Rochereau. The siege lasted 3 months (103 days). One by one, all the defensive works established by Colonel Denfert were taken out by the Germans.

All resistance became impossible. However, Colonel Denfert refused to surrender. Only on the orders of the national defense government does he open the fortress door to the Germans, from whom he exits with arms and baggage on February 18, 1871.

At the end of the war, despite the French defeat, the territory of Belfort remains French.

The artist takes liberties with military fact: Denfert-Rochereau does not leave Belfort with military honors, as here depicted; he had refused them. The Prussian soldiers should therefore not be present in this painting.