The required amount was more than doubled.

By means of the help of international banks, the first half milliard of the debt was paid off in July 1871, and Normandy was freed from the burden of German occupation.

We need not detail the dates of the successive payments.

They revealed the unsuspected vitality of France and the energy of her Government and financiers.

In March 1873, the arrangements for the payment of the last instalment were made, and in the autumn of that year the last German troops left Verdun and Belfort.