Battle of Heilsberg
| date | June 10, 1807 |
|---|---|
| place | Heilsberg ( Lidzbark Warmiński ) |
| output | Draw, strategic win for France |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
|
|
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| Troop strength | |
| 56,000 soldiers | 90,500 soldiers |
| losses | |
|
1,398 dead, |
2–3,000 dead, |
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Schleiz - Saalfeld - Jena and Auerstedt - Lübeck - Greater Poland - Czarnowo - Golymin - Pułtusk - Dirschau - Prussian Eylau - Ostrolenka - Stolp - Danzig - Kolberg - Guttstadt - Heilsberg - Friedland
In the Battle of Heilsberg (in East Prussia ) during the Fourth Coalition War on June 10, 1807 (four days before the decisive battle of Friedland ), the French and, on the other hand, the Russian army and Prussian ruler met each other.
prehistory
On February 7th and 8th, 1807, in the Battle of Preussisch Eylau, Russian-Prussian troops under General Bennigsen brought Napoleon's advance into East Prussia to a standstill. Without taking advantage of this success, the Russian troops holed up near Heilsberg for the winter . On April 26, Russia and Prussia signed the Bartenstein Treaty , in which it was agreed not to sign a separate peace treaty with France.
The French under Marshal Lefebvre were able to begin the siege of the Prussian fortress of Danzig , which capitulated on May 25th. With united troops and a secured rear, Napoleon stood in western East Prussia. Only then did General Bennigsen become active again, but could not force Napoleon into battle and withdrew his troops back to his entrenchments in Heilsberg.
Course of the battle
The western approaches to Heilsberg had been strongly fortified by the Russians, the city was strategically located on the left bank of the Alley . Bennigsen had armed his redoubts on the northern bank of the Allee in front of the city with over 100 guns. The French cavalry under Marshal Murat began the attack on June 10th against the Russian vanguard under General Bagration . The foremost brigade under General Borosdin could not stop the onslaught of the French and began to withdraw to the entrenchments. Bennigsen recognized the plight of his avant-garde and sent General Uwarow to help with 25 squadrons. The French cavalry stormed the cannons of the Russian avant-garde several times, but each time the Russian cavalry was able to secure the lost gun in a counterattack. Little by little, the Bagrations divisions had to retreat along the northern bank of the Alley to the fortified position in front of Heilsberg. The bitter struggle was so lossy that Bennigsen had to withdraw his entire vanguard to the reserve.
Murat threw his corps on the strong Russian positions at 17:00 and was thrown back with heavy losses in the fire of the Russian artillery. When Napoleon appeared on the battlefield with the Corps Lannes and his guards in the late afternoon , the French launched a new attack after a short fire. During this time Bennigsen had to hand over command to Prince Gorchakov because of severe stomach cramps . Units of the French Guard were able to break into a redoubt. The divisions of the Russian center under Lieutenant General von Knorring (6th Division) and Essen (8th Division) were able to successfully repel the remaining French attacks. On the left wing up to Alle the 3rd Division (General Titow ) and the 7th Division (General Dochturow ) were brought forward. The counterattack of the Russian reserve division under General Kamenski was able to take back the lost redoubt and continue the retreating French until fresh regiments under Soult forced the Russian retreat into the redoubt. A second attack against the Russian center was carried out by the French Legrand division, which was at Lawden . It was possible to penetrate the redoubt, but not to maintain it. The counterattack of the Rembow division threw the French out of the redoubt again, all further attempts to recapture failed, and the Russian General Warneck fell . General Otto von Zieten threw himself against a French cavalry attack with 15 Prussian squadrons and forced them to retreat to the wood of Lawden.
At 10 p.m. the French corps Ney approached the site of the battle, whereupon Napoleon ordered a night attack. The fresh troops of the French advanced unsuccessfully against the center of the opposing position, but were only stopped by Russian artillery fire. Bennigsen was able to repel all attacks by the French troops and hold his positions.
Results
Bennigsen could not use the one-day holding of the position. The main French power threatened to bypass him and he had to withdraw despite the positions held. The Russians had to retreat towards Friedland the following day to avoid being bypassed by Napoleon and cutting off the supply routes in the north. The decisive French victory in the Battle of Friedland followed on June 14 , whereby Bennigsen and his troops had taken up a new defensive position on the Alley, but were defeated in the deployment.
literature
- Both, Gustav: Relation der Schlacht bey Heilsberg the 10th June 1807: In addition to a plan = Relation de la Bataille de Heilsberg le 10th June 1807: Avec un plan / published by von Both, Königl. Preuss. Major, Knight of Merit, St. Anne's and St. Vladimir's Order. ( complete digitization)
