Hello Rachelle, Sharon, and listers, I am not aware of any medal given to Franco-Prussian war soldiers. These fought for France indeed, but France was defeated. It was the end of the Second Empire and Alsace and Moselle became German. As to your ancestor, Rachelle, the first thing to know is his place of origin, especially for a quite common surname like Spielmann Sharon: the Ste Helene medal was given to soldiers still alive in 1857. However I doubt that they were able to traceall those who emigrated to America or elsewhere. Etienen > Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:02:19 -0400 > From: "shell" <bohinski@bright.net> > > I am curious about the medals given to the soldiers. What about in > the Franco-Prussian War? > Did those soldiers receive any medals and is there any website to > check for them? This would > have been fighting for Napoleon the 3rd. Thanks for any help. > Trying to find any records of my > great-grandfather, Frank Spielman from Alsace-Lorraine France. Is > there anywhere to write > for info? Was Catholic. And when he would drink to much he would > put on his uniform and > remember the war. > Rachelle Wildermuth-Bohinski > Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:06:07 -0400 > From: Sharon Centanne <centans@tampabay.rr.com> > Subject: Re: [A-L] Re. Napoleon > > Thank you for this informatin Etienne. I went to the site, but my > ancestor's surname gave no results. > I do know from family history that Jacob Schirck of Muttersholtz, > Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France fought > for Napoleon I as a cook in his army. However, Jacob and his family > emigrated to America in 1834. > Did only those who were still in France receive the medal? > > Thank you! > Sharon Centanne > Third great granddaughter of Jacob Schirck of Muttersholtz > http://home.tampabay.rr.com/centans/schirck.html > > Etienne Herrbach wrote: >> all soldiers of Napoleonic wars who were still alive in 1857 were >> given the "Medaille de Ste Helene" by Napoleon the IIIrd. See: <http://www.stehelene.org >> >, >> then "recherche" or "recherche avancee". >> Etienne