ABSTRACT
The French and Prussian military establishments had their own interests and agendas. Prussian commanders, in particular, contemplated using the army as an instrument in domestic politics, while French military leaders were keen on maintaining the public image of a strictly apolitical army. The French Republican regime also faced major problems of ideological justification when using the army against the civilian population. Two questions arise concerning the dissimilar engagement of the French and Prussian armies in the policing of protest. In historical debates on the nature of the German Empire there is general consensus in describing it as a militarised state system. It is important to note that the military commanders' right to declare a state of siege was never used in practice without the consent of the civilian administration. Military officers enjoyed immense prestige within civilian society, with the lowest ranking officer holding higher official rank than even the most senior civil servant.
