Greatest Battles: BATTLE OF SEDAN.

The article focuses on the Battle of Sedan during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, detailing the military strategies and key events leading to the decisive Prussian victory over French forces. It outlines how Prussian Chief of General Staff Helmuth von Moltke employed encirclement tactics, known as kesselschlacht or "cauldron battle," to trap and defeat the French Army of Châlons under Marshal Patrice MacMahon. The battle resulted in the capture of Emperor Napoleon III and the fall of the Second French Empire, paving the way for the proclamation of the German Empire under King William I. The article also highlights the roles of significant military leaders from both sides and the impact of advanced Prussian artillery on the outcome.