The play deals with topical events: the town of Kehl, on the right shore of the Rhine, facing Strasbourg, was fortified by Vauban in 1683, when the town was under French rule, and then given to the margrave of Baden in 1698. It was besieged by the French army at the beginning of the War of the Polish Succession (1733-1738) and captured in October 1733.

La Prise du fort de Kehl (the Capture of the fortress of Kehl) was supposed to be performed at the Foire Saint-Germain (Saint-Germain Fair). However, it was not approved by the police because of its criticism of the war. Historians of the Théâtre de la Foire have credited the play to Carolet, although his name does not appear on the manuscript (Soleinne collection, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ms fr. 9294). They based this assumption on the similarities between this play and Carolet’s La Prise de Philisbourg (The Capture of Philisbourg), performed at the Foire Saint-Laurent in July 1734. One hypothesis is that this second play allowed Carolet to reuse the topic laid out here, while dealing with more recent events (Philippsbourg was captured on July 8th); this time, he renounced his criticism of the war, so that the play could be approved for performance.

Polichinelle has enlisted as a soldier for six years. After arriving at the camp of the French army, outside Kehl, he is frightened and wants to go back to Paris. Sentenced to be hanged for deserting, he is pardoned because the garrison of the fortress has just surrendered.