286:
Germany. Schnaebelé successfully resists but then a second man in a gray blouse appears. Returning a few steps into French territory, Schnaebelé exclaims (in German): "What do you want from me? I'm
Guillaume Schnaebele Commissioner Special Pagny. I am here at home! This is the border." His two attackers do not listen and continue to grapple him across the border. The two French farmers do not intervene, but the six German rail workers on hearing the cries for help come into view. But what they see deters action: the two assailants remove their blouses and are shown to be wearing uniforms of the German police. Everything is then perfectly clear. They handcuff Schnaebelé by the wrist and lead him on foot to the village of Novéant and then by train to Metz. There he is thrown into prison and held incommunicado.
214:
embarrassment to the
Republican government, who knew well that the French army was no better off than in 1870, when Germany quickly defeated it in the Franco-Prussian War. Boulanger's antagonism against Germany during the week-long crisis was indeed a danger to the Republic. For this and other reasons, on 7 July 1887 Boulanger was released as Minister of War and dispatched by the government to a provincial post to be hopefully forgotten, but not before admiring throngs tried to stop his train from leaving Paris: loyal to his military orders, he was smuggled out in a
187:) for a meeting with the German police inspector there, at the latter's request. A dispute followed as to whether the arrest had taken place on French or German territory (see "Account of incident" below); but regardless, the French claimed that under the circumstances Schnaebelé was entitled to immunity even if on German territory since he had been invited to a conference by German officials. The reason given by the German authorities for the arrest was that in a previous inquiry into charges of treasonable practices against a number of
253:. Russia would only remain neutral if the responsibility for war was cast on the French, as happened in 1870. When the French government stood its ground and presented an irrefutable case, failing to throw the responsibility on the French, Bismarck knew, from previous experience, that he could not count on Russia's neutrality if conflict came, and he had to back down: Schnaebelé was therefore set free. Related to the Russians, Bismarck may have wanted to create a strained situation with France, to counteract the
198:. In a dispatch of the same date to the French ambassador at Berlin, Bismarck explained that, although the German Government considered, in view of the proofs of guilt, the arrest to be fully justified, it was deemed expedient to release Schnaebelé on the ground that business meetings between frontier officials "must always be regarded as protected by a mutually-assured safe conduct." Thus ended the Schnaebelé incident.
150:
33:
233:, made apprehensive for the peace of Europe, wrote an autographic letter to William I in regard to the matter, and that the Kaiser, going over the head of his chancellor Bismarck, ordered the release of Schnaebelé. Several French politicians at the time suspected the incident of being a calculated experiment by Bismarck to gauge the depth of the anti-German feeling in
191:, evidence had been produced that Schnaebelé had been involved in transmitting to Paris information as to German fortresses, furnished by Alsatians in the pay of the French Government, and that an order had been issued to arrest him if ever he should be found on German soil. In other words, the Germans believed Schnaebelé to be a spy.
201:
The week-long incident, between 21 and 28 April, generated such threatening and provocative language from both sides as to cause serious concern of war. A large section of the German press demanded that
Germany make no concession. In France, the Cabinet voted 6 to 5 against an ultimatum demanding the
213:
After
Schnaebelé's release and Bismarck's letter, many in the French public thought Bismarck backed down because he was afraid of Boulanger, which increased Boulanger's rising star as a national hero and bolstered his image as a "Revenger" for France against Germany. However, he was, in truth, an
285:
who he is supposed to meet, is not in sight. Schnaebelé wonders if
Gautsch has reneged on the meeting. Schnaebelé is waiting impatiently, a few steps from the German side. Suddenly, a man in a gray blouse appears from the German side, hails Schnaebelé, then rushes at him, trying to lead him into
260:
Modern (1989) research suggests a simpler explanation. Schnaebelé was, in fact, engaged in espionage, working under the express request of
Boulanger. However, Schnaebelé had been invited onto German territory by his German counterpart, which was a guarantee of safe-conduct, and thus his arrest,
248:
Bismarck might have been trying to agitate conflict with France before
Germany's treaty of neutrality with Russia expired that year (signed in 1881 and renewed in 1884) – Germany knew from experience that it could not afford a war with France without a neutral or allied
167:
159:
237:, a means of testing, by an incident, which could be closed at any time by a mere apology, without any shock to German national dignity, whether Boulanger had a sufficient following in public opinion to make Boulangism a real danger to peace. In
153:
Illustration: Schnaebelé is dragged by his assailants to the German side of the border. Note the three border stones and two poles, marking where the road crosses the French and German "Frontière" (sign). The railroad embankment to the
339:
281:, German Empire). The road is deserted. To his left are two French brothers working in a vineyard. To his right are a number of German railroad workers out of sight, but within earshot. Gautsch, his German colleague of
245:, and it has occasionally been speculated that it was necessary to inflame the menace of war to justify these new taxes. However, the Army Bill was passed on 11 March, three weeks before Schnaebelé crossed the border.
178:
news agency published a dispatch to the effect that
Schnaebelé, a mid-level and obscure French police inspector, had been arrested by two agents of the German secret police on the Franco-German frontier near
261:
whilst on German territory, was legally irregular, which is why
Bismarck agreed to his release. Bismarck had backed down, exclusively, because of the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
121:
and
Germany's subsequent annexation of Alsace in 1871, he emigrated to France, probably altering the spelling of his name accordingly. He had served in the war and was appointed
269:
According to one account, the incident occurred as follows: It was a cool day and Schnaebelé was wearing a coat and top hat. He walked briskly on the road leading from
389:
229:
Contemporary theorists include Elie de Cyon, who asserted that Bismarck brought about the incident intentionally (for reasons explained below); that
786:
226:
The reasons for the arrest and release of Schnaebelé have never been entirely explained, but there are theories, both contemporary and modern.
142:
66:
was its instigator, for a number of possible reasons: inciting France into starting a war, gauging the extent of French support for
487:
796:
257:
party in Russia, which, at the time, was lobbying the cabinet of the Russian Emperor not to renew the Russian-German alliance.
655:
452:
399:
791:
650:
241:, the incident occurred during a time when Bismarck was trying to force a new and very expensive military law through the
751:
745:
698:
572:
547:
801:
526:
429:
724:
361:
625:
491:
242:
195:
207:
82:
202:
release of Schnaebelé with an apology, which would almost certainly have meant war, as had happened with the
776:
78:
170:
Illustration: After the incident, French customs officials looking at German officials across the border.
90:
85:. This and a number of other incidents involving General Boulanger are elements of what is known as the
740:
The full letter from Bismarck is translated and published in Ellery Cory Stowell, Henry Fraser Munro.
62:
Who caused the incident and why remains speculative, but it has been suggested that German Chancellor
781:
771:
734:
730:
357:
353:
543:
118:
194:
Within a week of his arrest, on 28 April, Schnaebelé was released by order of the German Emperor,
672:
230:
71:
145:
Illustration: Schnaebelé being grabbed at the border by two German secret policemen in disguise.
522:
180:
63:
664:
206:
in 1870. The proposed ultimatum had been put forward by French war hawk and Minister of War
86:
282:
278:
184:
122:
390:"M. SCHNAEBELE IS DEAD.; His Arrest in 1887 Nearly Led to War Between France and Germany"
394:
312:
162:
Photograph taken soon after, standing on the road with backs to the railway embankment.
765:
270:
130:
32:
317:
307:
203:
17:
166:
158:
149:
460:
141:
110:
254:
114:
67:
726:
Handbook for the Diplomatic History of Europe, Asia, and Africa, 1870–1914
363:
Handbook for the Diplomatic History of Europe, Asia, and Africa, 1870–1914
215:
376:
Edits for modernization, clarity and content corrections have been made.
676:
238:
351:
Unless otherwise noted, the content of this article is verbatim from:
614:
The Septennate army law, or seven years credit for military expenses.
250:
234:
188:
106:
48:
668:
335:
89:, a series of embarrassments for the newly formed government of the
175:
165:
157:
148:
140:
31:
274:
126:
541:
The full letter from Bismarck is translated and published in:
295:
70:, or creating tensions with France to force the renewal of a
51:, best known for being arrested by Germans in the April 1887
552:. Vol. 1. Houghton Mifflin Company. pp. 226–228
298:
to Pagny-sur-Moselle, a bridge was named for Schnaebelé.
210:, who also brought in a bill to mobilise an army corps.
93:
that some consider to have nearly led to a coup d'état.
125:. After the incident of 1887 he was moved to a post at
59:) which nearly led to war between France and Germany.
384:
382:
577:. Vol. 1. Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 225
493:
Thirty Years, Anglo-French Reminiscences (1876–1906)
47:(1831 – 5 December 1900) was a French official from
571:Stowell, Ellery Cory; Munro, Henry Fraser (1916).
81:, notable for the role played by France's General
183:as he was on his way to Ars an der Mosel (now
758:. Published by Harvard University Press, 1922
748:. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company, 1916
8:
703:. Harvard University Press. pp. 171–184
74:that was under debate at the Russian court.
496:. Houghton Mifflin Company. pp. 90–91
423:
421:
419:
417:
692:
690:
688:
686:
482:
480:
478:
447:
445:
443:
441:
517:
515:
513:
511:
630:. The Macmillan Company. pp. 21–22
459:(in French). April 1999. Archived from
328:
294:In 2005, as part of the arrival of the
531:. Oxford University Press. p. 37.
72:Russian-German alliance of neutrality
7:
77:Others see it as simply a series of
752:"Chapter VIII: Schnaebele Incident"
756:Bismarck's Diplomacy at Its Zenith
700:Bismarck's Diplomacy at Its Zenith
457:Edouard Boeglin – L’Alsace/Le Pays
25:
528:The Boulanger Affair Reconsidered
398:. 6 December 1900. Archived from
29:French police officer (1831–1900)
129:. He died on 5 December 1900 in
787:Knights of the Legion of Honour
697:Fuller, Joseph Vincent (1922).
649:Fay, Sidney B. (October 1919).
656:The American Historical Review
627:The Diplomacy of the Great War
546:; Munro, Henry Fraser (1916).
1:
123:Knight of the Legion of Honor
174:On 21 April 1887 the French
434:. Palgrave. pp. 60–62.
818:
596:"La France et la Russie".
428:Sowerine, Charles (2001).
754:, Joseph Vincent Fuller.
624:Bullard, Arthur (1917).
208:Georges Ernest Boulanger
101:Guillaume Schnaebelé or
83:Georges Ernest Boulanger
366:. GPO. pp. 128–129
79:unintended consequences
797:French police officers
651:"Book Review: Bismark"
171:
163:
155:
146:
37:
358:Hershey, Amos Shartle
354:Anderson, Frank Maloy
169:
161:
152:
144:
91:French Third Republic
35:
792:Diplomatic incidents
735:Amos Shartle Hershey
731:Frank Maloy Anderson
604:: 69. 15 April 1890.
544:Stowell, Ellery Cory
41:Guillaume Schnaebelé
36:Guillaume Schnaebelé
742:International Cases
574:International Cases
549:International Cases
453:"Schnaebelé Affair"
340:English translation
119:Franco-Prussian War
53:Schnaebele incident
18:Schnaebele incident
802:People from Alsace
523:Irvine, William D.
402:on 30 January 2013
231:Czar Alexander III
172:
164:
156:
147:
38:
598:La Nouvelle Revue
431:France Since 1870
181:Pagny-sur-Moselle
137:Schnaebele Affair
103:Wilhelm Schnäbele
64:Otto von Bismarck
45:Wilhelm Schnäbele
16:(Redirected from
809:
713:
712:
710:
708:
694:
681:
680:
646:
640:
639:
637:
635:
621:
615:
612:
606:
605:
593:
587:
586:
584:
582:
568:
562:
561:
559:
557:
539:
533:
532:
519:
506:
505:
503:
501:
484:
473:
472:
470:
468:
449:
436:
435:
425:
412:
411:
409:
407:
386:
377:
375:
373:
371:
349:
343:
333:
283:Ars an der Mosel
109:born in 1831 in
87:Boulanger Affair
21:
817:
816:
812:
811:
810:
808:
807:
806:
762:
761:
721:
716:
706:
704:
696:
695:
684:
669:10.2307/1836385
648:
647:
643:
633:
631:
623:
622:
618:
613:
609:
595:
594:
590:
580:
578:
570:
569:
565:
555:
553:
542:
540:
536:
521:
520:
509:
499:
497:
488:Barclay, Thomas
486:
485:
476:
466:
464:
463:on 4 March 2016
451:
450:
439:
427:
426:
415:
405:
403:
388:
387:
380:
369:
367:
352:
350:
346:
336:1887 Chronology
334:
330:
326:
304:
292:
267:
224:
185:Ars-sur-Moselle
139:
99:
30:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
815:
813:
805:
804:
799:
794:
789:
784:
779:
777:1887 in France
774:
764:
763:
760:
759:
749:
738:
720:
719:External links
717:
715:
714:
682:
641:
616:
607:
588:
563:
534:
507:
474:
437:
413:
395:New York Times
378:
344:
327:
325:
322:
321:
320:
315:
313:Venlo Incident
310:
303:
300:
291:
288:
266:
263:
223:
220:
138:
135:
98:
95:
28:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
814:
803:
800:
798:
795:
793:
790:
788:
785:
783:
780:
778:
775:
773:
770:
769:
767:
757:
753:
750:
747:
743:
739:
736:
732:
728:
727:
723:
722:
718:
702:
701:
693:
691:
689:
687:
683:
678:
674:
670:
666:
662:
658:
657:
652:
645:
642:
629:
628:
620:
617:
611:
608:
603:
599:
592:
589:
576:
575:
567:
564:
551:
550:
545:
538:
535:
530:
529:
524:
518:
516:
514:
512:
508:
495:
494:
489:
483:
481:
479:
475:
462:
458:
454:
448:
446:
444:
442:
438:
433:
432:
424:
422:
420:
418:
414:
401:
397:
396:
391:
385:
383:
379:
365:
364:
359:
355:
348:
345:
341:
337:
332:
329:
323:
319:
316:
314:
311:
309:
306:
305:
301:
299:
297:
289:
287:
284:
280:
276:
272:
264:
262:
258:
256:
252:
246:
244:
240:
236:
232:
227:
221:
219:
217:
216:switch engine
211:
209:
205:
199:
197:
192:
190:
186:
182:
177:
168:
160:
151:
143:
136:
134:
132:
131:Nancy, France
128:
124:
120:
116:
112:
108:
104:
96:
94:
92:
88:
84:
80:
75:
73:
69:
65:
60:
58:
54:
50:
46:
42:
34:
27:
19:
755:
741:
725:
705:. Retrieved
699:
660:
654:
644:
632:. Retrieved
626:
619:
610:
601:
597:
591:
579:. Retrieved
573:
566:
554:. Retrieved
548:
537:
527:
498:. Retrieved
492:
465:. Retrieved
461:the original
456:
430:
404:. Retrieved
400:the original
393:
368:. Retrieved
362:
347:
331:
318:Eston Kohver
308:Ems Dispatch
293:
273:(France) to
268:
259:
247:
228:
225:
212:
204:Ems Dispatch
200:
193:
173:
117:. After the
102:
100:
76:
61:
56:
52:
44:
40:
39:
26:
782:1900 deaths
772:1831 births
746:pp. 226–228
111:Eckbolsheim
766:Categories
663:(1): 102.
338:(German).
324:References
279:Lothringen
255:Panslavist
115:Strasbourg
68:Boulangism
277:(then in
243:Reichstag
196:William I
189:Alsatians
97:Biography
707:28 April
634:28 April
581:28 April
556:28 April
525:(1989).
500:28 April
490:(1914).
467:28 April
406:28 April
370:28 April
360:(1918).
342:(Google)
302:See also
107:Alsatian
677:1836385
265:Account
239:Germany
113:, near
105:was an
675:
290:Legacy
251:Russia
235:France
57:Affair
49:Alsace
729:, by
673:JSTOR
271:Nancy
222:Cause
176:Havas
154:left.
733:and
709:2017
636:2017
583:2017
558:2017
502:2017
469:2017
408:2017
372:2017
275:Metz
127:Laon
55:(or
665:doi
661:XXV
296:TGV
43:or
768::
744:.
685:^
671:.
659:.
653:.
602:63
600:.
510:^
477:^
455:.
440:^
416:^
392:.
381:^
356:;
218:.
133:.
737:.
711:.
679:.
667::
638:.
585:.
560:.
504:.
471:.
410:.
374:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
