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john_miller | 5 years ago

How much reparations had the french to pay in 1870?

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keldaris|5 years ago

5 billion franks, the equivalent of hundreds of billions in today's currency (the exact amount is difficult to calculate for obvious reasons). It was significant enough to promptly cause an asset bubble in Germany when the French paid it with surprising alacrity, which then contributed to the spectacular crash of 1873 and ushered in an economic depression that lasted two decades (though many other causes contributed to the latter, of course - it was a worldwide crisis).

masklinn|5 years ago

> 5 billion franks, the equivalent of hundreds of billions in today's currency

Due within 5 years too (france managed to pay it in advance as it included military occupation until the war indemnity was paid), as well as ceding a major industrial region.

Rgvh|5 years ago

1870: 1450 tons of gold

Versaille: ~46000 tons of gold