Airborne Hope: The Balloon Post of the 1870-71 Siege of Paris — History is Now Magazine, Podcasts, Blog and Books | Modern International and American history
During the Franco-Prussian War, Paris was under siege, cut off from communication, and facing dwindling supplies. In a daring move, Parisians took to the skies with gas-filled balloons to carry mail, people, and news across enemy lines. These flights, though dangerous and often unpredictable, became