The play deals with the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. However, it doesn’t tackle precise events: war is approached through stories on the cruelty of the enemy and through a series of fights to the death.

The typewritten copy of the play, now kept in the Fonds Léopold Dor in the Musée des Arts de la Marionnette-Musée Gadagne in Lyon, came after its composition, which apparently dates back to the end of the 19th century. Badinguet (satirical nickname given to Napoleon III) appears in the list of characters, but not in the text. On the contrary, a Cantinière (Dinner Lady) appears in the play but not in the list of characters. It is thus very likely that the play underwent several rewrittings, and we can suppose that the typewritten copy was made during a performance, which would explain its single-part layout, the use of abbreviations for the characters’ names, and the many spelling mistakes.

There is in the collection of the Guérin family an anterior version of the play, Polichinelle et Pierrot déserteurs (Polichinelle and Pierrot deserters), the events of which happen before the War of 1870-1871.

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.