The great spy game: the Franco-German cold war (1871–1890)
Abstract
Between 1871 and 1890, France and Germany found themselves locked in a fierce espionage competition that strained diplomatic relations and fostered xenophobia in both nations. It was no coincidence that it was a spy scandal in April 1887 that brought the two countries closer to war than any other event in these two decades. It was a period in their bilateral relationship that had many similarities to the Soviet-American Cold War characterized by war scares, a spiraling arms race and spy paranoia. This study analyzes new material from German archives to reconstruct the intelligence operations of both countries during these years.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Intelligence
Security
War Strategy
History and International Relations
Historical Influence and Diplomacy
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Intelligence & National Security
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 383–411
- Publication date
- 10 February 2026
- Language
- EN