Polichinelle finds himself without any money, and his house has been burnt down by the Prussiens (Prussians). Pierrot’s situation is even worse: the Prussiens burnt down his mill and killed his wife and kids. Polichinelle wants to enroll in the army so as not to starve to death. The two friends go for drinks at Mère Bacanale’s cabaret. The Sergent (Sergeant) lets La Grenade (the Grenade) stand guard. A first Soldat prussien (Prussian Soldier) arrives, and La Grenade kills him with a bayonet. A second Soldat prussien wounds La Grenade before running away. The Cantinière (Dinner Lady) gives La Grenade something to drink, takes his rifle and stands guard in her stead. She kills the Soldat prussien that was coming back, and tells what just happened to the Sergent and Polichinelle. The Sergent tells her that she will be honoured, and he lets Polichinelle stand guard. Polichinelle fights the Prussiens and kills them all, including Bismarck and the king of Prussia, Guillaume Ier (William I). The Diable (Devil) takes the corpses away.

Glove-puppet

Not specified

Guérin André-Paul-Julien

France

Bordeaux

Typewriting

Dead for the homeland

War crime

Female warrior

Conscription

Dramatic

Heroic

André Guérin, Les Prussiens en France

French

Polichinelle

Pierrot

Sergeant

Grenadier

General

Napoléon III

Otto von Bismarck

Guillaume I

Canterbury worker

Soldier

Prussian

Devil

Comical foreign accent

Fight

Death on stage

Song

Hidden character

Apparition of the Devil

Les Prussiens en France

The Prussians in France