Page "Franco-Prussian War" Paragraph 64

Faced with the German blockade of Paris, the new French government called for the establishment of several large armies in France's provinces.

These new bodies of troops were to march towards Paris and attack the Germans there from various directions at the same time.

In addition, armed French civilians were to create a guerilla force — the so-called Francs-tireurs — for the purpose of attacking German support lines.