German technology with breachloading centerfire rifles with internal magazines that could be loaded and fired lying down beat French technology with single shot breachloaders and muzzle loaders that had to be loaded and fired while standing.
The old story of better technology winning was repeated.
The French Chassepot rifle was much better than the Prussian Rifle (Dreyse).
The Prussian artillary was much better than anything the French had and the Prussian military organization was light years ahead of the French.
Kind of like 1940 when the Germans used a new style of warfare against the French.
Have you forgotten the Needle Gun? Called such for it’s pinpoint accuracy at long range. Probably the most important weapon on either side.
“German technology with breachloading centerfire rifles with internal magazines that could be loaded and fired lying down beat French technology...” [fella, post 5]
“Have you forgotten the Needle Gun? Called such for it’s pinpoint accuracy at long range...” [Jumper, post 12]
Your timelines and technical details are mixed up.
The Prussians adopted von Dreyse’s needle gun in 1841. A single-shot breechloader, it derived its colloquial name from the long sharp-pointed firing pin, which punctured the paper or cloth cartridge from the rear, passed through the charge, and struck the priming pellet mounted on the base of the bullet. Noted for poor breech sealing and unremarkable accuracy, it was the principal infantry weapon of the Prussian army until the Mauser M1871 was adopted, after the Franco-Prussian War.
Metallic cartridges were still quasi-experimental in 1870-71 and played no role in the conflict.
The Germans did not adopt a repeating rifle until 1884; when they did, they chose a modified version of the M1871 Mauser.
The French made the biggest leap of the century just two years after, adopting the Lebel Modele 1886 repeater, firing an 8mm bottleneck cartridge charged with smokeless powder. It proved so strong, durable, and accurate that it soldiered on in French service to WW2, though as a reserve substitute standard arm after 1893.