Franco-Prussian War order of battle
This is an order of battle of the French and German Armies at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. France. Order of battle at the beginning of the war: Army of the Rhine. Commander in Chief: Emperor Napoléon III Chief of Staff: Marshal Edmond Le Bœuf French Infantry divisions were square divisions, with two infantry brigades of two infantry regiments each. Generally, one brigade per division also had a light infantry (chasseur) battalion. French cavalry divisions were also generally square, with two brigades of two regiments each, but the cavalry divisions  of the Imperial Guard Corps, the 1st Corps, and the 6th Corps had three brigades. Germany. Order of battle on 1 August 1870: Commander in Chief: Wilhelm I (King of Prussia) Chief of the General Staff: General Helmuth von Moltke Quarter-Master General: "Generalleutnant" Eugen Anton Theophil von Podbielski Inspector-General of Artillery: "General der Artillerie" Gustav Eduard von Hindersin Inspector-General of Engineers: "Generalleutnant" Franz von Kleist Commissary-General: "Generalleutnant" Albrecht von Stosch Staff Department Chiefs: "Oberstleutnant" Paul Bronsart von Schellendorff; "Oberstleutnant" Julius von Verdy du Vernois; "Oberstleutnant" Karl von Brandenstein First Army. Commander: General Karl Friedrich von Steinmetz  (later General von Manteuffel) Chief of Staff: Generalmajor Oskar von Sperling Second Army. Commander: "General der Kavallerie" Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia Chief of Staff: Oberst Gustav von Stiehle Third Army. Commander: Crown Prince of Prussia Chief of Staff: "Generalleutnant" Leonhard von Blumenthal Belgium. Though not a belligerent in the conflict, the Belgian army was mobilized and placed on readiness at the country's borders in fear of a preemptive attack by either party through the neutral territory during the Franco-Prussian War. (See Belgium and the Franco-Prussian War). Commander-in-Chief: King Leopold II Chief of Staff: Lieutenant  General Bruno Renard Minister of War: Major General Henri Guillaume Army of Observation. The Army of Observation ("Armée d'Observation") numbered approximately 55,000 men. Its role was to defend the country's borders. Commander: Lieutenant-General Baron Félix Chazal Chief of Staff: Colonel Monoyer Army of Antwerp. The Army of Antwerp ("Armée d'Anvers"), based in the "National Redoubt" fortress in Antwerp, numbered approximately 15,000. It was a defensive force, designed to hold the city of Antwerp alone. Approximately 8,000 additional men served as guards at other fortresses around the country, including Liège. Commander: Lieutenant-General Alexis-Michel Eenens Chief of Staff : Colonel Henri Alexis Brialmont