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==Aftermath of the war==

The Franco-Prussian war was a resounding victory for the new German Empire. Germany was united under Prussia, after the war and was the largest and most populous state, apart from Russia. Eventually, Germany withdrew from most of France, although they annexed the French provinces of Alsace-Lorraine. France was also expected to pay reparations to the new German state. Germany’s emergence as the most powerful state in Europe was to change the balance of power in Europe in the decades that followed. Germany had replaced France as the leading nation in continental Europe and, under Bismarck, established good diplomatic relations with Russia and Great Britain, to secure its position.<ref>Rich, p. 167.</ref> France and Germany remained enemies, even after the ending of hostilities. French public opinion was very nationalistic and anti-Prussian and was determined to avenge the defeat in 1870-71. The country gradually rebuilt its power by creating a vast Empire in Africa and Asia and this alarmed Berlin. Germany and France began to gather allies in the belief that one day that there would be another Franco-German war. By 1900, Europe was divided into two hostile alliances, one that was led by Germany and the other that was led by France. Europe was divided into two hostile power blocs because of the bitter Franco-German rivalry. The 1870-71 war resulted in two mutually hostile powers in Europe and this was to ultimately lead to two rival alliances on the continent. This was perhaps the greatest factor in the outbreak of the First World War.<ref>MacMillan, Margaret. ''The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914'' (2013)</ref>