The Battle of Valmy, 1792. Levee en Masse. Nationalism Takes Root. Goethe Comments.

History's Greatest Battles

The Prussian retreat at Valmy marked more than just a military withdrawal—it was the salvation of France itself. Brunswick’s decision to pull back shattered the illusion of an unstoppable invasion, leaving the gates of Paris firmly shut to foreign boots. This retreat solidified the strength of the French revolutionary government, whose grip on power tightened with each passing day. It was a turning point, the first great triumph of levée en masse, the revolutionary call to arms that swept common men into the ranks, transforming France into a nation in arms.
Valmy. September 20, 1792.
Austro-Prussian Forces: ~ 30,000 to 34,000 Soldiers and 54 Cannon.
French Revolutionary Government Forces: ~ 36,000 Soldiers and 36 Cannon.
* Author's Note on Pronunciation: I don't speak French. Apologies.
Additional Reading and Research:

• Fuller, J.F.C. A Military History of the Western World.
• Doyle, William. The Oxford History of the French Revolution.
• Lynn, John. "Valmy," Military History Quarterly. 1992.
• Rothenberg, Gunther. The Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleon.

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