rajpurkar/squad huggingface dataset:
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

The Battle of Wörth (also known as Fröschwiller or Reichshoffen) began when the two armies clashed again on 6 August near Wörth in the town of Fröschwiller, about 10 miles (16 km) from Wissembourg. The Crown Prince of Prussia's 3rd army had, on the quick reaction of his Chief of Staff General von Blumenthal, drawn reinforcements which brought its strength up to 140,000 troops. The French had been slowly reinforced and their force numbered only 35,000. Although badly outnumbered, the French defended their position just outside Fröschwiller. By afternoon, the Germans had suffered c. 10,500 killed or wounded and the French had lost a similar number of casualties and another c. 9,200 men taken prisoner, a loss of about 50%. The Germans captured Fröschwiller which sat on a hilltop in the centre of the French line. Having lost any hope for victory and facing a massacre, the French army disengaged and retreated in a westerly direction towards Bitche and Saverne, hoping to join French forces on the other side of the Vosges mountains. The German 3rd army did not pursue the French but remained in Alsace and moved slowly south, attacking and destroying the French garrisons in the vicinity.

Question: What battle began when two armies collided in the town of Froschwiller?
Answer: The Battle of Wörth

Question: On what date did the Battle of Worth begin?
Answer: 6 August

Question: What was the estimated number of troops in Prussia's 3rd Army?
Answer: 140,000 troops

Question: What number of troops did France have to contend with?
Answer: 35,000

Question: Instead of pursuing the French as they retreated, the Germans decided to remain where?
Answer: Alsace
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

In Prussia, some officials considered a war against France both inevitable and necessary to arouse German nationalism in those states that would allow the unification of a great German empire. This aim was epitomized by Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck's later statement: "I did not doubt that a Franco-German war must take place before the construction of a United Germany could be realised." Bismarck also knew that France should be the aggressor in the conflict to bring the southern German states to side with Prussia, hence giving Germans numerical superiority. Many Germans also viewed the French as the traditional destabilizer of Europe, and sought to weaken France to prevent further breaches of the peace.

Question: In which country was a war against France condsidered desirable?
Answer: Prussia

Question: What was the overarching Prussian motive in starting a war with France?
Answer: unification of a great German empire

Question: Who had no doubts that a Franco-German war was totally necessary?
Answer: Chancellor Otto von Bismarck

Question: Who did Bismarck feel needed to be viewed as the aggressor in the conflict?
Answer: France

Question: In bringing the southern German states to align with Prussia, what tactical outcome was achieved?
Answer: Germans numerical superiority
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

On 18 August, the battle began when at 08:00 Moltke ordered the First and Second Armies to advance against the French positions. By 12:00, General Manstein opened up the battle before the village of Amanvillers with artillery from the 25th Infantry Division. But the French had spent the night and early morning digging trenches and rifle pits while placing their artillery and their mitrailleuses in concealed positions. Finally aware of the Prussian advance, the French opened up a massive return fire against the mass of advancing Germans. The battle at first appeared to favor the French with their superior Chassepot rifle. However, the Prussian artillery was superior with the all-steel Krupp breech-loading gun. By 14:30, General Steinmetz, the commander of the First Army, unilaterally launched his VIII Corps across the Mance Ravine in which the Prussian infantry were soon pinned down by murderous rifle and mitrailleuse fire from the French positions. At 15:00, the massed guns of the VII and VIII Corps opened fire to support the attack. But by 16:00, with the attack in danger of stalling, Steinmetz ordered the VII Corps forward, followed by the 1st Cavalry Division.

Question: On what date did the battle begin?
Answer: 18 August

Question: Who order the First and Second armies to advance against the French?
Answer: Moltke

Question: Which general opened the battle with artillery from the 25th Infantry Division?
Answer: General Manstein

Question: Who did the battle first appear to favor?
Answer: the French

Question: Who was the commander of the First Army?
Answer: General Steinmetz
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

French infantry were equipped with the breech-loading Chassepot rifle, one of the most modern mass-produced firearms in the world at the time. With a rubber ring seal and a smaller bullet, the Chassepot had a maximum effective range of some 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) with a short reloading time. French tactics emphasised the defensive use of the Chassepot rifle in trench-warfare style fighting—the so-called feu de bataillon. The artillery was equipped with rifled, muzzle-loaded La Hitte guns. The army also possessed a precursor to the machine-gun: the mitrailleuse, which could unleash significant, concentrated firepower but nevertheless lacked range and was comparatively immobile, and thus prone to being easily overrun. The mitrailleuse was mounted on an artillery gun carriage and grouped in batteries in a similar fashion to cannon.

Question: What modern, mass-produced weapon were the French infantry provided?
Answer: Chassepot rifle

Question: What was the maximum effective range of the Chassepot rifle?
Answer: 1,500 metres (4,900 ft)

Question: In which type of warfare did the French best utilize the Chassepot?
Answer: trench-warfare

Question: What precedent of the machine gun did the French troops also possess?
Answer: the mitrailleuse

Question: On what was the mitrailleuse mounted?
Answer: on an artillery gun carriage
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

On 1 September 1870, the battle opened with the Army of Châlons, with 202 infantry battalions, 80 cavalry squadrons and 564 guns, attacking the surrounding Prussian Third and Meuse Armies totaling 222 infantry battalions, 186 cavalry squadrons and 774 guns. General De Wimpffen, the commander of the French V Corps in reserve, hoped to launch a combined infantry and cavalry attack against the Prussian XI Corps. But by 11:00, Prussian artillery took a toll on the French while more Prussian troops arrived on the battlefield. The French cavalry, commanded by General Marguerite, launched three desperate attacks on the nearby village of Floing where the Prussian XI Corps was concentrated. Marguerite was killed leading the very first charge and the two additional charges led to nothing but heavy losses. By the end of the day, with no hope of breaking out, Napoleon III called off the attacks. The French lost over 17,000 men, killed or wounded, with 21,000 captured. The Prussians reported their losses at 2,320 killed, 5,980 wounded and 700 captured or missing. By the next day, on 2 September, Napoleon III surrendered and was taken prisoner with 104,000 of his soldiers. It was an overwhelming victory for the Prussians, for they not only captured an entire French army, but the leader of France as well. The defeat of the French at Sedan had decided the war in Prussia's favour. One French army was now immobilised and besieged in the city of Metz, and no other forces stood on French ground to prevent a German invasion. Nevertheless, the war would continue.

Question: On which date did the battle begin with the Army of Chalons attacking various Prussian divisions?
Answer: 1 September 1870

Question: Who commanded the French V Corps in reserve?
Answer: General De Wimpffen

Question: As the French were hard-hit by the Prussian artillery, what continued to show up to the battlefield?
Answer: more Prussian troops

Question: Which commander of the French calvary led three desperate attacks on Floing?
Answer: General Marguerite

Question: How many casualties did the French suffer?
Answer: over 17,000 men
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

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?
Answer: Marshal Niel

Question: From Thionville towards Trier, what was the final destination of the offensive?
Answer: the Prussian Rhineland

Question: Niel's plan was cast aside in favour of a plan by General Frossard and what other general??
Answer: Bartélemy Lebrun

Question: The new plan called for which army to remain in a defensive grouping at the German border?
Answer: Army of the Rhine
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

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?
Answer: the disaster at Wissembourg

Question: Which general was determined to go on the attack over Saar?
Answer: General Le Bœuf

Question: Planning for the next battle was less based on emotion and more focused on what?
Answer: the reality of unfolding events

Question: Who told LeBoeuf that supply beyond the Saar would be impossible?
Answer: General Wolff

Question: What did the French armies decide on to protect against every possible attack point?
Answer: a defensive position
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

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?
Answer: Army of the Loire's

Question: Who led the Army of the North?
Answer: General Faidherbe

Question: Several smaller victories were acheived by the protection of what?
Answer: belt of fortresses

Question: The belt of fortresses were in what area of France?
Answer: northern France

Question: This position in the north allowed whose men to launch fast attacks against Prussian units?
Answer: Faidherbe's
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

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?
Answer: four to one

Question: What town were the III Corps able to capture?
Answer: Vionville

Question: In capturing Vionville, what was further blocked in the west?
Answer: escape attempts

Question: With battle at Metz, what factor shattered the efforts of III Corps?
Answer: incessant cavalry charges

Question: The Germans recorded how many causualties in the battle?
Answer: 15,780
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

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 prince ordered an artillery attack against Canrobert?
Answer: Prince Frederick Charles

Question: Which army's defeat compelled Prince Charles to attack?
Answer: defeat of the First Army,

Question: As the Second Army pushed into Ravine, the XII Corps cleared out which adjacent town?
Answer: Roncourt

Question: The surving soldiers of the 1st Guards Infantry Division launched a new attack against what?
Answer: ruins of St. Privat

Question: Which army was forced to retreat to Metz and surrender two months later?
Answer: French Army of the Rhine
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

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?
Answer: North German coasts

Question: The small North German navy had how many ironclads at their disposal?
Answer: only five

Question: What was the name of the only turret ship that was able to conduct operations?
Answer: SMS Arminius

Question: How many ships was the French navy able to dispatch to sea?
Answer: 470

Question: In pursuing Prussian ships, what resource was quickly depleted?
Answer: coal reserves
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

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?
Answer: Battle of Spicheren

Question: On what date did the battle of Spicheren take place?
Answer: 5 August

Question: Moltke had originally planned to kee Bazaine's army on what river?
Answer: the Saar River

Question: Which general's zeal and lack of planning led to cutting off Prince Charles from his calvary?
Answer: General von Steinmetz

Question: Which town was the site of General von Steinmetz's grave error?
Answer: Spicheren
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

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?
Answer: extremely effective

Question: What was key factor did the Prussian General Staff study?
Answer: previous Prussian operations

Question: What was the goal in the General Staff studying past operations?
Answer: learn to avoid mistakes

Question: The structure also reinforced Moltke's ability control large formations spread out over what?
Answer: significant distances

Question: Who is essentially considered the commander in chief of the Prussian army?
Answer: The Chief of the General Staff
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

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?
Answer: an end to the war

Question: On what date was the encirclement of Paris complete?
Answer: 20 September

Question: Bismarck and Favre met on what date?
Answer: 18 September

Question: What was the location of Bismarck and Favre's meeting?
Answer: the Château de Ferrières

Question: Bismarck demanded the surrender of Strasbourg and what fortress city?
Answer: Toul
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

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?
Answer: breaking up

Question: Which Prussian general commanded the attack against the French at St. Privat?
Answer: General Canrobert

Question: What factor immobilised the Prussian Guard?
Answer: lethal French gunfire

Question: By nightfall a major component of the VII and VII Corps withdrew towards what Prussian position?
Answer: Rezonville
Title: Franco-Prussian_War

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: What did the Prussian Army hold in Paris on 17 February?
Answer: a brief victory parade

Question: Under what provision was the Prussian Army permitted to have a victory parade?
Answer: the terms of the armistice

Question: To hounour the armistice, Bismarck allowed train loads of what into Paris?
Answer: food

Question: France had to consent to pay how much in war indemnity?
Answer: five billion franc

Question: An ensuing mass exodus from Paris saw how many people head for the countryside?
Answer: 200,000