derek-thomas/squad-v1.1-t5-question-generation huggingface dataset:
A pre-war plan laid out by the late Marshal Niel called for a strong French offensive from Thionville towards Trier and into the Prussian Rhineland. This plan was discarded in favour of a defensive plan by Generals Charles Frossard and Bartélemy Lebrun, which called for the Army of the Rhine to remain in a defensive posture near the German border and repel any Prussian offensive. As Austria along with Bavaria, Württemberg and Baden were expected to join in a revenge war against Prussia, I Corps would invade the Bavarian Palatinate and proceed to "free" the South German states in concert with Austro-Hungarian forces. VI Corps would reinforce either army as needed.

Question: Pre-war, who planned for a strong French offensive? Question: From Thionville towards Trier, what was the final destination of the offensive? Question: Niel's plan was cast aside in favour of a plan by General Frossard and what other general?? Question: The new plan called for which army to remain in a defensive grouping at the German border?
On the French side, planning after the disaster at Wissembourg had become essential. General Le Bœuf, flushed with anger, was intent upon going on the offensive over the Saar and countering their loss. However, planning for the next encounter was more based upon the reality of unfolding events rather than emotion or pride, as Intendant General Wolff told him and his staff that supply beyond the Saar would be impossible. Therefore, the armies of France would take up a defensive position that would protect against every possible attack point, but also left the armies unable to support each other.

Question: Which disaster made French planning supremely essential? Question: Which general was determined to go on the attack over Saar? Question: Planning for the next battle was less based on emotion and more focused on what? Question: Who told LeBoeuf that supply beyond the Saar would be impossible? Question: What did the French armies decide on to protect against every possible attack point?
Following the Army of the Loire's defeats, Gambetta turned to General Faidherbe's Army of the North. The army had achieved several small victories at towns such as Ham, La Hallue, and Amiens and was protected by the belt of fortresses in northern France, allowing Faidherbe's men to launch quick attacks against isolated Prussian units, then retreat behind the fortresses. Despite access to the armaments factories of Lille, the Army of the North suffered from severe supply difficulties, which depressed morale. In January 1871, Gambetta forced Faidherbe to march his army beyond the fortresses and engage the Prussians in open battle. The army was severely weakened by low morale, supply problems, the terrible winter weather and low troop quality, whilst general Faidherbe was unable to command due to his poor health, the result of decades of campaigning in West Africa. At the Battle of St. Quentin, the Army of the North suffered a crushing defeat and was scattered, releasing thousands of Prussian soldiers to be relocated to the East.

Question: What army's defeats turned Gambetta to the Army of the North? Question: Who led the Army of the North? Question: Several smaller victories were acheived by the protection of what? Question: The belt of fortresses were in what area of France? Question: This position in the north allowed whose men to launch fast attacks against Prussian units?
Despite odds of four to one, the III Corps launched a risky attack. The French were routed and the III Corps captured Vionville, blocking any further escape attempts to the west. Once blocked from retreat, the French in the fortress of Metz had no choice but to engage in a fight that would see the last major cavalry engagement in Western Europe. The battle soon erupted, and III Corps was shattered by incessant cavalry charges, losing over half its soldiers. The German Official History recorded 15,780 casualties and French casualties of 13,761 men.

Question: What odds were at stake for the attack launched by the III Corps? Question: What town were the III Corps able to capture? Question: In capturing Vionville, what was further blocked in the west? Question: With battle at Metz, what factor shattered the efforts of III Corps? Question: The Germans recorded how many causualties in the battle?
With the defeat of the First Army, Prince Frederick Charles ordered a massed artillery attack against Canrobert's position at St. Privat to prevent the Guards attack from failing too. At 19:00 the 3rd Division of Fransecky's II Corps of the Second Army advanced across Ravine while the XII Corps cleared out the nearby town of Roncourt and with the survivors of the 1st Guards Infantry Division launched a fresh attack against the ruins of St. Privat. At 20:00, the arrival of the Prussian 4th Infantry Division of the II Corps and with the Prussian right flank on Mance Ravine, the line stabilised. By then, the Prussians of the 1st Guards Infantry Division and the XII and II Corps captured St. Privat forcing the decimated French forces to withdraw. With the Prussians exhausted from the fighting, the French were now able to mount a counter-attack. General Bourbaki, however, refused to commit the reserves of the French Old Guard to the battle because, by that time, he considered the overall situation a 'defeat'. By 22:00, firing largely died down across the battlefield for the night. The next morning, the French Army of the Rhine, rather than resume the battle with an attack of its own against the battle-weary German armies, retreated to Metz where they were besieged and forced to surrender two months later.

Question: Which army's defeat compelled Prince Charles to attack? Question: Which prince ordered an artillery attack against Canrobert? Question: As the Second Army pushed into Ravine, the XII Corps cleared out which adjacent town? Question: The surving soldiers of the 1st Guards Infantry Division launched a new attack against what? Question: Which army was forced to retreat to Metz and surrender two months later?
When the war began, the French government ordered a blockade of the North German coasts, which the small North German navy (Norddeutsche Bundesmarine) with only five ironclads could do little to oppose. For most of the war, the three largest German ironclads were out of service with engine troubles; only the turret ship SMS Arminius was available to conduct operations. By the time engine repairs had been completed, the French fleet had already departed. The blockade proved only partially successful due to crucial oversights by the planners in Paris. Reservists that were supposed to be at the ready in case of war, were working in the Newfoundland fisheries or in Scotland. Only part of the 470-ship French Navy put to sea on 24 July. Before long, the French navy ran short of coal, needing 200 short tons (180 t) per day and having a bunker capacity in the fleet of only 250 short tons (230 t). A blockade of Wilhelmshaven failed and conflicting orders about operations in the Baltic Sea or a return to France, made the French naval efforts futile. Spotting a blockade-runner became unwelcome because of the question du charbon; pursuit of Prussian ships quickly depleted the coal reserves of the French ships.

Question: A blockade of what coastline was ordered by the French government at the start of the war? Question: The small North German navy had how many ironclads at their disposal? Question: What was the name of the only turret ship that was able to conduct operations? Question: How many ships was the French navy able to dispatch to sea? Question: In pursuing Prussian ships, what resource was quickly depleted?
The Battle of Spicheren, on 5 August, was the second of three critical French defeats. Moltke had originally planned to keep Bazaine's army on the Saar River until he could attack it with the 2nd Army in front and the 1st Army on its left flank, while the 3rd Army closed towards the rear. The aging General von Steinmetz made an overzealous, unplanned move, leading the 1st Army south from his position on the Moselle. He moved straight toward the town of Spicheren, cutting off Prince Frederick Charles from his forward cavalry units in the process.

Question: Which battle was the second of three key French losses? Question: On what date did the battle of Spicheren take place? Question: Moltke had originally planned to kee Bazaine's army on what river? Question: Which general's zeal and lack of planning led to cutting off Prince Charles from his calvary? Question: Which town was the site of General von Steinmetz's grave error?
The Prussian General Staff developed by Moltke proved to be extremely effective, in contrast to the traditional French school. This was in large part due to the fact that the Prussian General Staff was created to study previous Prussian operations and learn to avoid mistakes. The structure also greatly strengthened Moltke's ability to control large formations spread out over significant distances. The Chief of the General Staff, effectively the commander in chief of the Prussian army, was independent of the minister of war and answered only to the monarch. The French General Staff—along with those of every other European military—was little better than a collection of assistants for the line commanders. This disorganization hampered the French commanders' ability to exercise control of their forces.

Question: The General Staff developed by Moltke proved to be what? Question: What was key factor did the Prussian General Staff study? Question: What was the goal in the General Staff studying past operations? Question: The structure also reinforced Moltke's ability control large formations spread out over what? Question: Who is essentially considered the commander in chief of the Prussian army?
The Germans expected to negotiate an end to the war but immediately ordered an advance on Paris; by 15 September Moltke issued the orders for an investment of Paris and on 20 September the encirclement was complete. Bismarck met Favre on 18 September at the Château de Ferrières and demanded a frontier immune to a French war of revenge, which included Strasbourg, Alsace and most the Moselle department in Lorraine of which Metz was the capital. In return for an armistice for the French to elect a National Assembly, Bismarck demanded the surrender of Strasbourg and the fortress city of Toul. To allow supplies into Paris, one of the perimeter forts had to be handed over. Favre was unaware that the real aim of Bismarck in making such extortionate demands was to establish a durable peace on the new western frontier of Germany, preferably by a peace with a friendly government, on terms acceptable to French public opinion. An impregnable military frontier was an inferior alternative to him, favoured only by the militant nationalists on the German side.

Question: What did the Germans expect to negotiate? Question: On what date was the encirclement of Paris complete? Question: Bismarck and Favre met on what date? Question: What was the location of Bismarck and Favre's meeting? Question: Bismarck demanded the surrender of Strasbourg and what fortress city?
By 16:50, with the Prussian southern attacks in danger of breaking up, the Prussian 3rd Guards Infantry Brigade of the Second Army opened an attack against the French positions at St. Privat which were commanded by General Canrobert. At 17:15, the Prussian 4th Guards Infantry Brigade joined the advance followed at 17:45 by the Prussian 1st Guards Infantry Brigade. All of the Prussian Guard attacks were pinned down by lethal French gunfire from the rifle pits and trenches. At 18:15 the Prussian 2nd Guards Infantry Brigade, the last of the 1st Guards Infantry Division, was committed to the attack on St. Privat while Steinmetz committed the last of the reserves of the First Army across the Mance Ravine. By 18:30, a considerable portion of the VII and VIII Corps disengaged from the fighting and withdrew towards the Prussian positions at Rezonville.

Question: By late afternoon, what were the Prussian southern attacks at risk of? Question: Which Prussian general commanded the attack against the French at St. Privat? Question: What factor immobilised the Prussian Guard? Question: By nightfall a major component of the VII and VII Corps withdrew towards what Prussian position?
The Prussian Army, under the terms of the armistice, held a brief victory parade in Paris on 17 February; the city was silent and draped with black and the Germans quickly withdrew. Bismarck honoured the armistice, by allowing train loads of food into Paris and withdrawing Prussian forces to the east of the city, prior to a full withdrawal once France agreed to pay a five billion franc war indemnity. At the same time, Prussian forces were concentrated in the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. An exodus occurred from Paris as some 200,000 people, predominantly middle-class, went to the countryside.

Question: Under what provision was the Prussian Army permitted to have a victory parade? Question: What did the Prussian Army hold in Paris on 17 February? Question: To hounour the armistice, Bismarck allowed train loads of what into Paris? Question: France had to consent to pay how much in war indemnity? Question: An ensuing mass exodus from Paris saw how many people head for the countryside?
When the news arrived at Paris of the surrender at Sedan of Napoleon III and 80,000 men, the Second Empire was overthrown by a popular uprising in Paris, which forced the proclamation of a Provisional Government and a Third Republic by general Trochu, Favre and Gambetta at Paris on 4 September, the new government calling itself the Government of National Defence. After the German victory at Sedan, most of the French standing army was either besieged in Metz or prisoner of the Germans, who hoped for an armistice and an end to the war. Bismarck wanted an early peace but had difficulty in finding a legitimate French authority with which to negotiate. The Government of National Defence had no electoral mandate, the Emperor was a captive and the Empress in exile but there had been no abdication de jure and the army was still bound by an oath of allegiance to the defunct imperial régime.

Question: Whose surrender hit Paris as big news? Question: Which empire was overthrown by a popular uprising in Paris? Question: The uprising forced a proclamation of what? Question: How did the new government refer to itself? Question: Bismarck desired an early piece but lacked what in the negotiation process?
A series of swift Prussian and German victories in eastern France, culminating in the Siege of Metz and the Battle of Sedan, saw the army of the Second Empire decisively defeated (Napoleon III had been captured at Sedan on 2 September). A Government of National Defence declared the Third Republic in Paris on 4 September and continued the war and for another five months, the German forces fought and defeated new French armies in northern France. Following the Siege of Paris, the capital fell on 28 January 1871 and then a revolutionary uprising called the Paris Commune seized power in the capital and held it for two months, until it was bloodily suppressed by the regular French army at the end of May 1871.

Question: A series of Prussian and German victories took place in what part of France? Question: What seige did these victories lead to? Question: What battle was a result of the Prussian and German victories in eastern France? Question: Which army definitively defeated Napolean III? Question: On what date did the Government of National Defence declare the the Third Republic in Paris?
Some historians argue that Napoleon III also sought war, particularly for the diplomatic defeat in 1866 in leveraging any benefits from the Austro-Prussian War, and he believed he would win a conflict with Prussia. They also argue that he wanted a war to resolve growing domestic political problems. Other historians, notably French historian Pierre Milza, dispute this. On 8 May 1870, shortly before the war, French voters had overwhelmingly supported Napoleon III's program in a national plebiscite, with 7,358,000 votes yes against 1,582,000 votes no, an increase of support of two million votes since the legislative elections in 1869. According to Milza, the Emperor had no need for a war to increase his popularity.

Question: Some historians counter that Napolean III sought what? Question: Napoleon III belived he would win the Astro-Prussian war and win a conflict with what country? Question: It is also argued that Napoleon III thought a war would resolve the growing issue of what? Question: Before the war, French voters overwhelming supported what program of Napoleon III? Question: Who proposed that Emperor needed no war to increase his public appeal?
To relieve pressure from the expected German attack into Alsace-Lorraine, Napoleon III and the French high command planned a seaborne invasion of northern Germany as soon as war began. The French expected the invasion to divert German troops and to encourage Denmark to join in the war, with its 50,000-strong army and the Royal Danish Navy. It was discovered that Prussia had recently built defences around the big North German ports, including coastal artillery batteries with Krupp heavy artillery, which with a range of 4,000 yards (3,700 m), had double the range of French naval guns. The French Navy lacked the heavy guns to engage the coastal defences and the topography of the Prussian coast made a seaborne invasion of northern Germany impossible.

Question: What did Napoleon III plan to relieve pressure from an expected German attack? Question: What country were the French hoping to be allied with? Question: What military strength could Denmark to France in a war? Question: What had Prussia been discovered building around big north German ports? Question: What did the French navy lack in engaging coastal defenses?
The Prussian Army was composed not of regulars but conscripts. Service was compulsory for all of men of military age, and thus Prussia and its North and South German allies could mobilise and field some 1,000,000 soldiers in time of war. German tactics emphasised encirclement battles like Cannae and using artillery offensively whenever possible. Rather than advancing in a column or line formation, Prussian infantry moved in small groups that were harder to target by artillery or French defensive fire. The sheer number of soldiers available made encirclement en masse and destruction of French formations relatively easy.

Question: What was the Prussian Army composed of, instead of regulars? Question: Service was mandatory for all men sharing which feature? Question: Together, Prussia and Germany expected to amass how many soldiers? Question: German tactics relied on what type of battle strategy? Question: What is an example of a German encirclement battle?
In addition, the Prussian military education system was superior to the French model; Prussian staff officers were trained to exhibit initiative and independent thinking. Indeed, this was Moltke's expectation. The French, meanwhile, suffered from an education and promotion system that stifled intellectual development. According to the military historian Dallas Irvine, the system "was almost completely effective in excluding the army's brain power from the staff and high command. To the resulting lack of intelligence at the top can be ascribed all the inexcusable defects of French military policy."

Question: What Prussian system was superior to the French example? Question: Prussian military officers were trained to exude what type thinking? Question: What commander of the General Staff held the expectaion of independent thinking in his officers? Question: What did the French dearth of an education and promotion system stifle? Question: Which military historian criticized the French system as being defective?
The French breech-loading rifle, the Chassepot, had a far longer range than the German needle gun; 1,500 yards (1,400 m) compared to 600 yd (550 m). The French also had an early machine-gun type weapon, the mitrailleuse, which could fire its thirty-seven barrels at a range of around 1,200 yd (1,100 m). It was developed in such secrecy, that little training with the weapon had occurred, leaving French gunners with no experience; the gun was treated like artillery and in this role it was ineffective. Worse still, once the small number of soldiers who had been trained how to use the new weapon became casualties, there were no replacements who knew how to operate the mitrailleuse.

Question: What aspect of the Chassepot was superior to the German needle gun? Question: What French weapon was considered a rough prototype of the first machine gun? Question: How many barrels did the mitrailleuse feature? Question: What was the range of the mitrailleuse? Question: Treating the mitrailleuse like what rendered it far less effective
The French Marines and naval infantry intended for the invasion of northern Germany were dispatched to reinforce the French Army of Châlons and fell into captivity at Sedan along with Napoleon III. A shortage of officers, following the capture of most of the professional French army at the Siege of Metz and at the Battle of Sedan, led naval officers to be sent from their ships to command hastily assembled reservists of the Garde Mobile. As the autumn storms of the North Sea forced the return of more of the French ships, the blockade of the north German ports diminished and in September 1870 the French navy abandoned the blockade for the winter. The rest of the navy retired to ports along the English Channel and remained in port for the rest of the war.

Question: The French Marines and naval infantry were dispatched to reinforce what? Question: The French navy fell captive where? Question: Who also was captured at Sedan? Question: The autumn storms of what sea forced the return of yet more French ships? Question: On which rough date did the French navy abandon their blockade?
Marshal MacMahon, now closest to Wissembourg, spread his four divisions over 20 miles (32 km) to react to any Prussian invasion. This organization of forces was due to a lack of supplies, forcing each division to seek out basic provisions along with the representatives of the army supply arm that was supposed to aid them. What made a bad situation much worse was the conduct of General Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot, commander of the 1st Division. He told General Abel Douay, commander of the 2nd Division, on 1 August that "The information I have received makes me suppose that the enemy has no considerable forces very near his advance posts, and has no desire to take the offensive". Two days later, he told MacMahon that he had not found "a single enemy post ... it looks to me as if the menace of the Bavarians is simply bluff". Even though Ducrot shrugged off the possibility of an attack by the Germans, MacMahon tried to warn the other divisions of his army, without success.

Question: Which marshal was closest to Wissembourg? Question: How many divisions did MacMahon command? Question: Over how many miles did MacMahon's divisions cover? Question: Whose conduct made a bad situation worse? Question: What group did General Ducrot command?