December 5 1757 Strategic Context The Seven Years War begins in Europe with a Prussian seizure of Saxony in 1756 Backed only by Britain Frederick the Greats Prussia finds itself surrounded and operating on interior lines against virtually all other European powers for survival a coal ID: 575894
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Slide1
Leuthen December 5, 1757
Strategic Context
The Seven Years’ War begins in Europe with a Prussian seizure of Saxony in 1756. Backed only by Britain, Frederick the Great’s Prussia finds itself surrounded and operating on interior lines against virtually all other European powers for survival, a coalition of France, Austria, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and Bavaria.
Frederick returns from his decisive victory at Rossbach to discover Breslau’s surrender, which means Charles of Lorraine’s Austrian army occupies all of Prussian Silesia. Frederick unexpectedly marches his army against the Austrians rather than settle into winter quarters, while Charles wins a heated debate in the Austrian camp and therefore marches out to meet the Prussians.
Stakes+ A Prussian victory would reestablish control over Silesia and allow Frederick to concentrate his forces against another threat to Prussia’s borders.+ An Austrian victory would tighten the noose around Prussia and begin to deplete its pool of manpower and resources.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
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Leuthen, 1757Strength
Prussian Army
Well
Austrian Army
Well
Frederick the Great
24,000 infantry
167 guns
12,000 cavalry
Charles of Lorraine
210 guns
15,000 cavalry
50,000 infantry
By Jonathan Webb, 2009Slide3
Europe c. 1756Slide4
The battlefield consists of a snowy plain enclosed to the east by the Schweidnitz River (off-map) and the north by marshland. The western part of the battlefield is more open but features many low hills while the central and eastern parts of the battlefield feature many small villages, making line of sight complicated. The ground gradually declines to the east.
Prussian Army
(Frederick)
Austrian Army
(Charles)
Striegwitz
Frobelwitz
Lobelnitz
Radaxdorff
Leuthen
Nypern
Heyde
Borne
Gohlau
SagschutzSlide5
Charles deploys his army in two long lines, centered on the town of Leuthen with his right wing protected by marshland. Cavalry units are placed on his flanks just behind the line and artillery in front of the line. Frederick deploys his army in a standard formation with infantry in the center and cavalry on its flanks, his artillery absent as it is still being drawn up.
Frederick makes a feint attack with some cavalry on the Austrian right and by chance intercepts a scouting patrol, sending it back to the line in a frenzy. Lucchessi believes himself to be the target of the main Prussian assault and requests aid. Charles, lacking effective reconnaissance, shifts his cavalry reserves to meet this apparent threat.
Frederick withdraws his cavalry and marches the rest of his army in perfect parade formation parallel to the Austrian line behind a hill, hidden from Austrian view. Charles sends no scouts because he still anticipates an attack on his right. When no attack comes he assumes that the Prussians had intended to attack but realized the magnitude of the Austrian force and hastily withdrew.
The Prussians suddenly reappear on the Austrian left and begin to roll up the Austrian line. A determined attack by an Austrian cavalry unit halts the Prussians for a moment before being swept away by Wedel’s infantry and cavalry. Nadasdy desperately requests reinforcements but by this time the Austrian reserves are all on the right.
Nadasdy
Lucchessi
Charles
Retzow
Wedel
Driesen
Austrian Army
(Charles)
Landmarks
Striegwitz
Frobelwitz
Lobelnitz
Radaxdorff
Leuthen
Nypern
Heyde
Borne
Gohlau
Sagschutz
Symbol guide
Prussian Army Austrian Army
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry Cavalry
Artillery Artillery
Prussian Army
(Frederick)
Prussian Army
(Frederick the Great)
24,000 infantry
12,000 cavalry
167 guns
Austrian Army
(Charles of Lorraine)
50,000 infantry
15,000 cavalry
210 gunsSlide6
Charles turns his army to face the Prussians but by this time Frederick has drawn up the artillery and, with a fierce attack by Wedel, forced another portion of the Austrian line to retreat. Charles’ army is in complete disarray so he packs as much infantry as he can into Leuthen to gain time to recall his cavalry and form a new line north of the town.
The Prussians suddenly reappear on the Austrian left and begin to roll up the Austrian line. A determined attack by an Austrian cavalry unit halts the Prussians for a moment before being swept away by Wedel’s infantry and cavalry. Nadasdy desperately requests reinforcements but by this time the Austrian reserves are all on the right.
The Prussians advance, neutralizing the remaining Austrian artillery in the area and bringing up their own. Unfortunately for the Austrians, the volume of infantry compacted into Leuthen make easy targets for the Prussian artillery. After vicious house-to-house fighting, the Prussians expel the Austrians from the town but Charles gains the time he needs to recreate his line.
Retzow
Wedel
Driesen
Nadasdy
Lucchessi
Charles
Nadasdy
Lucchessi
Charles
Wedel
Retzow
Charles
Austrian Army
(Charles)
Landmarks
Striegwitz
Frobelwitz
Lobelnitz
Radaxdorff
Leuthen
Nypern
Heyde
Borne
Gohlau
Sagschutz
Symbol guide
Prussian Army Austrian Army
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry Cavalry
Artillery Artillery
Prussian Army
(Frederick)
Prussian Army
(Frederick the Great)
24,000 infantry
12,000 cavalry
167 guns
Austrian Army
(Charles of Lorraine)
50,000 infantry
15,000 cavalry
210 gunsSlide7
The Prussians advance, neutralizing the remaining Austrian artillery in the area and bringing up their own. Unfortunately for the Austrians, the volume of infantry compacted into Leuthen make easy targets for the Prussian artillery. After vicious house-to-house fighting, the Prussians expel the Austrians from the town but Charles gains the time he needs to recreate his line.
Charles attempts to pin down and then surround the Prussian units in Leuthen but Frederick orders his artillery to set up on a small ridge. This artillery lays down a murderous barrage and forces another Austrian withdrawal while Charles has at last readied his right wing cavalry for an attack.
Charles orders Lucchessi to launch a counterstroke against Retzow’s seemingly exposed left flank with a large cavalry force. Frederick commits his final reserve: cavalry under Driesen, which so far have refused battle. Driesen attacks the rear of the unsuspecting Austrian cavalry, killing Lucchessi and scattering the entire force.
Frederick pins the Austrian front with Retzow’s infantry and attacks its right flank and rear with Driesen’s cavalry. Charles sees his right flank is hopeless and orders a general retreat, giving the field to Frederick.
Driesen
Lucchessi
Charles
Wedel
Retzow
Retzow
Austrian Army
(Charles)
Landmarks
Striegwitz
Frobelwitz
Lobelnitz
Radaxdorff
Leuthen
Nypern
Heyde
Borne
Gohlau
Sagschutz
Symbol guide
Prussian Army Austrian Army
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry Cavalry
Artillery Artillery
Prussian Army
(Frederick)
Prussian Army
(Frederick the Great)
24,000 infantry
12,000 cavalry
167 guns
Austrian Army
(Charles of Lorraine)
50,000 infantry
15,000 cavalry
210 gunsSlide8
Leuthen, 1757Casualties & Aftermath
Prussian Army:
Austrian Army:
6,500or18%
22,000or34%
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
The Austrians never seriously threatened Prussian Silesia again; their disastrous defeat at Leuthen opened Austria up to Prussian invasion although it did not succeed. Nonetheless, Frederick’s triumph at Leuthen helped him survive the first few years of the war against many superior foes. By 1761, virtually all armies were exhausted as Frederick’s enemies slowly wore Prussia down. In 1762, a miracle occurs: the Russian Empress dies and is succeeded by the more sympathetic Peter II, who makes peace with Prussia and recalls Russian armies. In 1763, the Seven Years’ War ended in Europe with no significant changes in borders.Slide9
The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com
By Jonathan Webb, 2009