praj-17/QA-MCQ-Open-ended huggingface dataset:
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: The first action of the Franco-Prussian War took place on 4 August 1870. This battle saw the unsupported division of General Douay of I Corps, with some attached cavalry, which was posted to watch the border, attacked in overwhelming but uncoordinated fashion by the German 3rd Army. During the day, elements of a Bavarian and two Prussian corps became engaged and were aided by Prussian artillery, which blasted holes in the defenses of the town. Douay held a very strong position initially, thanks to the accurate long-range fire of the Chassepots but his force was too thinly stretched to hold it. Douay was killed in the late morning when a caisson of the divisional mitrailleuse battery exploded near him; the encirclement of the town by the Prussians threatened the French avenue of retreat.

question: What was the date of the first action of the Franco-Prussian War? 

answer: 4 August 1870

question: On that date, which elements were assisted by Prussian artillery forces? 

answer: Bavarian and two Prussian corps

question: Who initially held a strong position during the battle at the border?  

answer: General Douay of I Corps

question: Douay's initial success was credited by what? 

answer: long-range fire of the Chassepots

question: What threatened the French avenue of retreat? 

answer: the encirclement of the town by the Prussians
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: The French were unaware of German numerical superiority at the beginning of the battle as the German 2nd Army did not attack all at once. Treating the oncoming attacks as merely skirmishes, Frossard did not request additional support from other units. By the time he realized what kind of a force he was opposing, it was too late. Seriously flawed communications between Frossard and those in reserve under Bazaine slowed down so much that by the time the reserves received orders to move out to Spicheren, German soldiers from the 1st and 2nd armies had charged up the heights. Because the reserves had not arrived, Frossard erroneously believed that he was in grave danger of being outflanked as German soldiers under General von Glume were spotted in Forbach. Instead of continuing to defend the heights, by the close of battle after dusk he retreated to the south. The German casualties were relatively high due to the advance and the effectiveness of the chassepot rifle. They were quite startled in the morning when they had found out that their efforts were not in vain—Frossard had abandoned his position on the heights.

question: What factor were the French unaware of at the start of the battle? 

answer: German numerical superiority

question: Which French commander miscalculated the severity of the battle? 

answer: Frossard

question: What was a key factor in Frossard's disasterous retreat to the south? 

answer: Seriously flawed communications

question: What factor was credited to the large number of German casualties? 

answer: effectiveness of the chassepot rifle

question: What outcome surprised the Germans the following day? 

answer: Frossard had abandoned his position
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: The Battle of Gravelotte, or Gravelotte–St. Privat (18 August), was the largest battle during the Franco-Prussian War. It was fought about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Metz, where on the previous day, having intercepted the French army's retreat to the west at the Battle of Mars-La-Tour, the Prussians were now closing in to complete the destruction of the French forces. The combined German forces, under Field Marshal Count Helmuth von Moltke, were the Prussian First and Second Armies of the North German Confederation numbering about 210 infantry battalions, 133 cavalry squadrons, and 732 heavy cannons totaling 188,332 officers and men. The French Army of the Rhine, commanded by Marshal François-Achille Bazaine, numbering about 183 infantry battalions, 104 cavalry squadrons, backed by 520 heavy cannons, totaling 112,800 officers and men, dug in along high ground with their southern left flank at the town of Rozerieulles, and their northern right flank at St. Privat.

question: On which date was the Battle of Gravelotte? 

answer: 18 August

question: Which battle was considered the biggest in the war? 

answer: The Battle of Gravelotte

question: Where was the location of the Battle of Gravelotte?  

answer: 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Metz

question: Under which Field Marshall were the combined German forces commanded? 

answer: Count Helmuth von Moltke

question: Who commanded the French Army of the Rhine? 

answer: Marshal François-Achille Bazaine
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: With the defeat of Marshal Bazaine's Army of the Rhine at Gravelotte, the French were forced to retire to Metz, where they were besieged by over 150,000 Prussian troops of the First and Second Armies. Napoleon III and MacMahon formed the new French Army of Châlons, to march on to Metz to rescue Bazaine. Napoleon III personally led the army with Marshal MacMahon in attendance. The Army of Châlons marched northeast towards the Belgian border to avoid the Prussians before striking south to link up with Bazaine. The Prussians, under the command of Field Marshal Count Helmuth von Moltke, took advantage of this maneuver to catch the French in a pincer grip. He left the Prussian First and Second Armies besieging Metz, except three corps detached to form the Army of the Meuse under the Crown Prince of Saxony. With this army and the Prussian Third Army, Moltke marched northward and caught up with the French at Beaumont on 30 August. After a sharp fight in which they lost 5,000 men and 40 cannons, the French withdrew toward Sedan. Having reformed in the town, the Army of Châlons was immediately isolated by the converging Prussian armies. Napoleon III ordered the army to break out of the encirclement immediately. With MacMahon wounded on the previous day, General Auguste Ducrot took command of the French troops in the field.

question: What factor forced the French to retreat to Metz? 

answer: the defeat of Marshal Bazaine's Army

question: At Metz, what was the approximate number of Prussian troops? 

answer: over 150,000

question: Who formed the new French Army of Chalons? 

answer: Napoleon III and MacMahon

question: Along with the Army of the Meuse, what other army did Moltke march north with? 

answer: the Prussian Third Army

question: How many casualties did Moltke suffer at Beaumont? 

answer: 5,000 men
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: When the war had begun, European public opinion heavily favored the Germans; many Italians attempted to sign up as volunteers at the Prussian embassy in Florence and a Prussian diplomat visited Giuseppe Garibaldi in Caprera. Bismarck's demand for the return of Alsace caused a dramatic shift in that sentiment in Italy, which was best exemplified by the reaction of Garibaldi soon after the revolution in Paris, who told the Movimento of Genoa on 7 September 1870 that "Yesterday I said to you: war to the death to Bonaparte. Today I say to you: rescue the French Republic by every means." Garibaldi went to France and assumed command of the Army of the Vosges, with which he operated around Dijon till the end of the war.

question: At the start of the war, which country did European public opinion champion? 

answer: the Germans

question: In which city did many Italians attempt to proffer their services to the Prussian embassy? 

answer: Florence

question: What caused a dramatic shift in Italian sentiment toward the war? 

answer: Bismarck's demand for the return of Alsace

question: To whom is the quote, "Rescue the French Republic by every means" attributed? 

answer: Garibaldi

question: What army did Garibaldi gain command of in France? 

answer: the Army of the Vosges
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: On 10 October, hostilities began between German and French republican forces near Orléans. At first, the Germans were victorious but the French drew reinforcements and defeated the Germans at the Battle of Coulmiers on 9 November. After the surrender of Metz, more than 100,000 well-trained and experienced German troops joined the German 'Southern Army'. The French were forced to abandon Orléans on 4 December, and were finally defeated at the Battle of Le Mans (10–12 January). A second French army which operated north of Paris was turned back at the Battle of Amiens (27 November), the Battle of Bapaume (3 January 1871) and the Battle of St. Quentin (13 January).

question: On which date did hostilities between the German and French troops begin near Orleans? 

answer: 10 October

question: Which side was initially successful at the Battle of Coulmiers? 

answer: the Germans

question: On which date did the French triump over the Germans at the Battle of Coulmiers? 

answer: 9 November

question: On which date were the French forced to abandon Orleans? 

answer: 4 December

question: Of the three battles that occured north of Paris, which was the first that forced the French army to retreat? 

answer: Battle of Amiens
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: Although public opinion in Paris was strongly against any form of surrender or concession to the Prussians, the Government realised that it could not hold the city for much longer, and that Gambetta's provincial armies would probably never break through to relieve Paris. President Trochu resigned on 25 January and was replaced by Favre, who signed the surrender two days later at Versailles, with the armistice coming into effect at midnight. Several sources claim that in his carriage on the way back to Paris, Favre broke into tears, and collapsed into his daughter's arms as the guns around Paris fell silent at midnight. At Tours, Gambetta received word from Paris on 30 January that the Government had surrendered. Furious, he refused to surrender and launched an immediate attack on German forces at Orleans which, predictably, failed. A delegation of Parisian diplomats arrived in Tours by train on 5 February to negotiate with Gambetta, and the following day Gambetta stepped down and surrendered control of the provincial armies to the Government of National Defence, which promptly ordered a cease-fire across France.

question: What was public opinion in Paris strongly opposed to? 

answer: any form of surrender

question: On what date did president Trochu resign? 

answer: 25 January

question: Who replaced President Trochu? 

answer: Favre

question: In which French city was the surrender made official? 

answer: Versailles

question: Who disregarded the surrender and launched a failed attack on the Germans? 

answer: Gambetta
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: The quick German victory over the French stunned neutral observers, many of whom had expected a French victory and most of whom had expected a long war. The strategic advantages possessed by the Germans were not appreciated outside Germany until after hostilities had ceased. Other countries quickly discerned the advantages given to the Germans by their military system, and adopted many of their innovations, particularly the General Staff, universal conscription and highly detailed mobilization systems.

question: What stunned neutral observers about the end of the war? 

answer: The quick German victory

question: What outcome had most people expected from the war? 

answer: French victory

question: Whose strategic advantages were not appreciated until after the war over? 

answer: the Germans

question: What German advantages were discerned by other countries in the aftermath?  

answer: their military system

question: What is at least one German innovation that other countries would later adopt in other wars? 

answer: highly detailed mobilization systems
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: The effect of these differences was accentuated by the pre-war preparations. The Prussian General Staff had drawn up minutely detailed mobilization plans using the railway system, which in turn had been partly laid out in response to recommendations of a Railway Section within the General Staff. The French railway system, with multiple competing companies, had developed purely from commercial pressures and many journeys to the front in Alsace and Lorraine involved long diversions and frequent changes between trains. Furthermore, no system had been put in place for military control of the railways, and officers simply commandeered trains as they saw fit. Rail sidings and marshalling yards became choked with loaded wagons, with nobody responsible for unloading them or directing them to the destination.

question: The effect of German victory and ensuing influence stems back to what factor? 

answer: pre-war preparations

question: What was the Prussian General staff quick to utilize at the onset of the war? 

answer: detailed mobilization plans using the railway system

question: What was one factor behind the inefficiency of the French railway system? 

answer: multiple competing companies

question: What factor especially affected travel to the front in Alsace and Lorraine? 

answer: frequent changes between trains

question: Who was responsible for dealing with chaotic train yards and unloaded wagons? 

answer: nobody
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: At the Battle of Mars-la-Tours, the Prussian 12th Cavalry Brigade, commanded by General Adalbert von Bredow, conducted a charge against a French artillery battery. The attack was a costly success and came to be known as "von Bredow's Death Ride", which was held to prove that cavalry charges could still prevail on the battlefield. Use of traditional cavalry on the battlefields of 1914 proved to be disastrous, due to accurate, long-range rifle fire, machine-guns and artillery. Von Bredow's attack had succeeded only because of an unusually effective artillery bombardment just before the charge, along with favorable terrain that masked his approach.

question: Who commanded the Prussian 12 Cavalry Brigade? 

answer: General Adalbert von Bredow

question: What did General von Bredow lead a charge against at the Battle of Mars-la-Tour? 

answer: a French artillery battery

question: What did von Bredow's Pyrrhic victory become known as? 

answer: von Bredow's Death Ride

question: What military tactic proved to be unsuccessful on the 1914 battlefields? 

answer: Use of traditional cavalry

question: What was one of two factors that led von Bredow's narrow success on the battlefield? 

answer: favorable terrain that masked his approach
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: In the Prussian province of Posen, with a large Polish population, there was strong support for the French and angry demonstrations at news of Prussian-German victories—a clear manifestation of Polish nationalist feeling. Calls were also made for Polish recruits to desert from the Prussian Army—though these went mainly unheeded. An alarming report on the Posen situation, sent to Bismarck on 16 August 1870, led to the quartering of reserve troop contingents in the restive province. The Franco-Prussian War thus turned out to be a significant event also in German–Polish relations, marking the beginning of a prolonged period of repressive measures by the authorities and efforts at Germanisation.

question: In which Prussian province did a large Polish population reside? 

answer: Posen

question: What was there strong support of in Posen? 

answer: the French

question: What calls were made for the Polish recruits? 

answer: to desert from the Prussian Army

question: On what date did Bismarkck receive the disturbing report on the Posen situation? 

answer: 16 August 1870

question: What significant consequence was a result of German-Polish relations? 

answer: prolonged period of repressive measures
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: The causes of the Franco-Prussian War are deeply rooted in the events surrounding the unification of Germany. In the aftermath of the Austro–Prussian War of 1866, Prussia had annexed numerous territories and formed the North German Confederation. This new power destabilized the European balance of power established by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 after the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon III, then the emperor of France, demanded compensations in Belgium and on the left bank of the Rhine to secure France's strategic position, which the Prussian chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, flatly refused. Prussia then turned its attention towards the south of Germany, where it sought to incorporate the southern German kingdoms, Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden and Hesse-Darmstadt, into a unified Prussia-dominated Germany. France was strongly opposed to any further alliance of German states, which would have significantly strengthened the Prussian military.

question: What are the causes of the Franco-Prussian War deeply rooted in? 

answer: the unification of Germany

question: In the aftermath of the Austro-Prussian war, formed what group? 

answer: North German Confederation

question: What was the effect of that new group on the European balance of power? 

answer: new power destabilized

question: What established the European balance of power in 1815? 

answer: the Congress of Vienna

question: As Prussia sought to incorporated several German kingdoms, what stance did France assume? 

answer: strongly opposed to any further alliance of German states
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: The French Army consisted in peacetime of approximately 400,000 soldiers, some of them regulars, others conscripts who until 1869 served the comparatively long period of seven years with the colours. Some of them were veterans of previous French campaigns in the Crimean War, Algeria, the Franco-Austrian War in Italy, and in the Franco-Mexican War. However, following the "Seven Weeks War" between Prussia and Austria four years earlier, it had been calculated that the French Army could field only 288,000 men to face the Prussian Army when perhaps 1,000,000 would be required. Under Marshal Adolphe Niel, urgent reforms were made. Universal conscription (rather than by ballot, as previously) and a shorter period of service gave increased numbers of reservists, who would swell the army to a planned strength of 800,000 on mobilisation. Those who for any reason were not conscripted were to be enrolled in the Garde Mobile, a militia with a nominal strength of 400,000. However, the Franco-Prussian War broke out before these reforms could be completely implemented. The mobilisation of reservists was chaotic and resulted in large numbers of stragglers, while the Garde Mobile were generally untrained and often mutinous.

question: In peacetime, what the approximate number of French soldiers? 

answer: 400,000

question: Veterans of the French Army had prviously fought in which war in Italy? 

answer: the Franco-Austrian War

question: The "Seven Weeks War" was between which two countries? 

answer: Prussia and Austria

question: Who reformed the low numbers of troops by implementing universal conscription? 

answer: Marshal Adolphe Niel

question: If a citizen was for some reason not conscripted, in what militia were they were registered? 

answer: the Garde Mobile
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: The Prussian army was controlled by the General Staff, under Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke. The Prussian army was unique in Europe for having the only such organisation in existence, whose purpose in peacetime was to prepare the overall war strategy, and in wartime to direct operational movement and organise logistics and communications. The officers of the General Staff were hand-picked from the Prussian Kriegsakademie (War Academy). Moltke embraced new technology, particularly the railroad and telegraph, to coordinate and accelerate mobilisation of large forces.

question: What entity controlled the Prussian army? 

answer: the General Staff

question: Who commanded the General Staff? 

answer: Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke

question: What was the unique purpose of the Prussian Army during peacetime? 

answer: to prepare the overall war strategy

question: The officers of the General Staff were hand-selected from which place? 

answer: Prussian Kriegsakademie (War Academy)

question: What new technologies in particular were courted by Moltke? 

answer: the railroad and telegraph
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: General Frossard's II Corps and Marshal Bazaine's III Corps crossed the German border on 2 August, and began to force the Prussian 40th Regiment of the 16th Infantry Division from the town of Saarbrücken with a series of direct attacks. The Chassepot rifle proved its worth against the Dreyse rifle, with French riflemen regularly outdistancing their Prussian counterparts in the skirmishing around Saarbrücken. However the Prussians resisted strongly, and the French suffered 86 casualties to the Prussian 83 casualties. Saarbrücken also proved to be a major obstacle in terms of logistics. Only one railway there led to the German hinterland but could be easily defended by a single force, and the only river systems in the region ran along the border instead of inland. While the French hailed the invasion as the first step towards the Rhineland and later Berlin, General Le Bœuf and Napoleon III were receiving alarming reports from foreign news sources of Prussian and Bavarian armies massing to the southeast in addition to the forces to the north and northeast.

question: On which date did Frossard's and Bazaines's troops cross the German border? 

answer: 2 August

question: What proved its worth against the Dreyse rifle? 

answer: The Chassepot rifle

question: Which regiment did their respective corps force from the town of Saarbrucken? 

answer: the Prussian 40th Regiment of the 16th Infantry Division

question: How many casualties did the French suffer at Saarbrucken? 

answer: 86 casualties

question: How many casualties did the Prussians suffer at Saarbrucken? 

answer: 83 casualties
Title: Franco-Prussian_War
Context: According to some historians, Bismarck adroitly created a diplomatic crisis over the succession to the Spanish throne, then edited a dispatch about a meeting between King William of Prussia and the French ambassador, to make it appear that the French had been insulted. The French press and parliament demanded a war, which the generals of Napoleon III assured him that France would win. Napoleon and his Prime Minister, Émile Ollivier, for their parts sought war to solve their problems with political disunity in France. On 16 July 1870, the French parliament voted to declare war on the German Kingdom of Prussia and hostilities began three days later. The German coalition mobilised its troops much more quickly than the French and rapidly invaded northeastern France. The German forces were superior in numbers, had better training and leadership and made more effective use of modern technology, particularly railroads and artillery.

question: A dispatch was edited about a meeting between the French ambassador and what Prussian king? 

answer: King William

question: What was the purpose of editing the dispatch? 

answer: to make it appear that the French had been insulted

question: On which date did the French parliament vote to declare war on Prussia? 

answer: 16 July 1870

question: What diplomatic crisis was Bismarck credited with skillfully creating?  

answer: succession to the Spanish throne

question: Where did the quickly mobilised troops first invade in France? 

answer: northeastern France