The Battle of Königgrätz, 23rd of April 1757

Battle fought at Frankfurt, Germany, 27.01.96
Prussian Player: Jörg Geyer
Austrian Player: Werner Elb

Königgrätz is situated on open ground, 600 yards west of the Elbe. Approximately 3 kilometers west of the town is a long ridgeline, the western half of which is off the map edge. Austrian entrenchments were constructed in an upside down U-shape, with a front face of 1200 yards and flank protection of 500 yards on either side. The bastion extended from the eastern edge of the ridge halfway toward the town of Königgrätz. The Austrian army deployed on the road leading east, to Kratenau. The road from Jaromer to Königgrätz and then south to Pardubitz runs along the western bank of the Elbe. The river is not pictured here, it is just off the right map edge, and units were not permitted to move off the table in that direction.

Scale

1 Turn = 1 Hour
1 inch on table = 100 yards/meters in real life
200m x 200m figure base = army/corps commander
150m x 150m figure base = division commander
300m x 150m figure base = 1 infantry regiment
300m x 300m figure base = 1 cavalry brigade
150m x 300m gun base = 1 artillery battalion
150m x 300m figure base = 1 skirmish cavalry

It is 10:00 in the morning and the Prussians are coming ...

10:00 hours: The Austrian 1. Infanterie Division is deployed in defense of Königgrätz, with two regiments in the town, another two regiments and a field battery in line west of Königgrätz. The Austrian 2. Infanterie Division in the bastion, with two line regiments east of the earthworks, plugging the gap between Königgrätz and the strongpoint. Austrian Dragoon Division on the ridgeline west of the bastion. Cuirassier Division behind Königgrätz, in reserve. The Prussian army is seen advancing in three wings, with the Dragoon division to the right of the center.
13:00 hours: Prussian Hussars attack an Austrian Hussar unit on the ridgeline, destroying it. Prussian artillery fire takes its toll on a regiment in Königgrätz and one unit just outside of town.
14:00 hours: One regiment of the Königgrätz garrison is eliminated by intense Prussian infantry and artillery fire. The regiment outside of town is hit again, and a unit inside the redoubt is blooded for the first time.
15:00 hours: Austrian Cuirassier regiment Buccow attacks No. 13 Itzenplitz infantry regiment, disordering it, but loses the melee and is repulsed in disorder. Trautmannsdorf Cuirassiers are destroyed in melee with No. 12 von Finck infantry regiment west of Königgrätz. Austrian 1. Infanterie Division takes severe casualties from infantry and artillery fire and panics.
16:00 hours: Austrian Dragoon division is thrown into the gap west of Königgrätz, routing one grenadier regiment and repulsing another in the process. Regiment No. 1 von Winterfeldt is swept up in the rout and disintegrates. Prussian infantry division of von Braunschweig is exhausted. Prussian countercharges by Dragoon Regiments von Normann and von Stechow destroy the Austrian Dragoon division.
17:00 hours: Prussian infantry division of von Itzenplitz stormes the redoubt, getting two regiments over the parapet. Massive casualties are taken in front of the redoubt and the division is subsequently exhausted.
18:00 hours: Austrian survivors pull out of the redoubt, attempting to form a hasty brigade square six hundred yards to the rear. Prussian Dragoons, Cuirassiers and Infantry charge into a gap in the square, routing and destroying all units in it.
19:00 hours: General Serbelloni, Cuirassier Regiment Kolloredo, Haddick Hussars and scattered survivors from the other regiments escape to Kratenau, south-west of Königgrätz. Prussian forces remain in possession of Königgrätz after nightfall. Prussian cavalry pursues, taking 1000 prisoners.
Prussian Casualties: 7,000
Austrian Casualties: 10,500 (including 1000 prisoners)

Generals Serbelloni and Winterfeldt are commended for their exemplary courage, personally leading cavalry charges and exposing themselves to murderous fire at the head of their troops. Austria and Prussia may consider themselves very fortunate to have commanders of such calibre serving their armed forces.

Return to eastern Bohemia.