Montmartre cannon seizure and the origin of the Paris Commune, 18 March 1871

Background. Following the defeat of the French Army by German forces in the Franco-Prussian War, tensions rose in Paris. Adolphe Thiers, as chief-executive, ordered the seizure of cannons stored on Montmartre. The National Guard had defended Paris during the war, fostering radicalism among its soldiers. The attempt to remove these cannons triggered a revolutionary uprising, marking the beginning of the Paris Commune.

The Seizure and Fraternization. On 18 March 1871, soldiers from the French Army tried to remove cannons from the hilltop of Montmartre. Instead of enforcing the order, the troops fraternized with civilians and the National Guard. This failure led to the killing of two army generals, Lecomte and Thomas, near the cannon park. Regular troops were subsequently evacuated to Versailles, leaving the city under the control of the Commune.

Establishment and Suppression. The Paris Commune seized power in Paris on 18 March 1871. Thiers gave orders for its suppression, leading to the 'Bloody Week' from 21 to 28 May 1871. During this week, the French Army recaptured the city, including the heights of Montmartre. The suppression involved significant violence, including executions at Père Lachaise Cemetery, ending the revolutionary government's control.