[War and Management] What Happened in 'Balmi'

French painter Horace Vernet's painting 'Battle of Valmy' [Image source= London National Gallery website/ http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The 'Battle of Valmy,' which appears early in the history of the French Revolution, is known as a turning point that paved the way for the establishment of the French First Republic. The German literary giant Goethe also praised the Battle of Valmy, saying, "On September 20, 1792, on this very day, a new era in world history began here."

However, in terms of scale, it was merely a very small localized battle. The French and Prussian armies clashed near Valmy, resulting in a combined casualty count of just over 500. The battle itself consisted mainly of a few exchanges of artillery fire and ended quietly after ten days of standoff when the Prussian army withdrew. Nevertheless, the ten days bought the French revolutionary government time to proclaim the First Republic, allowed local militias to gather in Paris, and created an opportunity for the tide of the war to turn.

Until just before the Battle of Valmy, the French army had suffered continuous defeats. The Prussian army, which had invaded since July of that year, was the strongest force in Europe and was advancing relentlessly toward Paris. The French army was a poor force newly conscripted mainly from peasants, as the officer corps, mostly composed of nobles, had been decimated by the Great Revolution. The remaining French officers were even appealing for peace negotiations, having given up on fighting.

Despite the imminent risk of Paris falling in an instant, the Prussian army did not charge with cavalry but instead hesitated after several bombardments and eventually withdrew. The reason for the Prussian army's hesitation was due to orders from Duke of Braunschweig, the Prussian commander at the time. Why the Duke of Braunschweig did not order an attack remained a mystery until after the war, when it was revealed after his death. Among his belongings were found a large number of jewels owned by the French Bourbon royal family. It was uncovered that the Duke of Braunschweig had accepted bribes from the French revolutionary government and deliberately slowed the advance.

The Duke of Braunschweig, having already judged that the outcome was decided, carelessly slowed the advance, but this reversed history. The victory at Valmy ensured that the famous Napoleon did not fade into obscurity but survived in history. Fourteen years later, in 1806, Napoleon captured the Prussian capital Berlin and dominated Europe. The careless complacency that failed to foresee the impact of a very small localized battle ultimately resulted in national humiliation.