The Liberation
Of Germany
~ Napoleon and the Campaign of 1813 ~
Historical Overview
The Treaty of Reichenbach and Total War
On the 27th June 1813 the Nations of Russia, Prussia and Austria all signed the Treaty of Reichenbach. The Crown Prince of Sweden and former French Marshal Bernadotte also joined the coalition against France. The sole aim of the allied Nations was to destroy the Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, and end French dominance of Europe. War now raged across the entirety of Europe with all the major European powers and numerous satellite states engaged in a struggle to the death.
‘One should not believe it, but they are really attacking me.’
Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Leipzig 1813
Although the odds were heavily stacked against the French and their allies the outcome of the war at the start of July 1813 was far from certain. Napoleon had suffered horrendous losses in the Russian debacle of 1812 and lost his reputation as an unbeatable commander. The speed at which he had raised fresh armies and the twin victories at Lutzen and Bautzen in late 1812 had shown the allies that Napoleon was far from beaten and capable of delivering victory after victory on the battlefield. Memories of Austerlitz and Jena were still fresh in the minds of the Allied High Command and they approached the coming campaign with disproportionate caution given their advantages in numbers and resources.
‘Well Marshal, since you insist,
You will do what you like with the Austrian army.’
Tsar Alexander of Russia argues with Prince Schwarzenberg
about the plan of attack.
The war of 1813 was to be like none that had been fought before. The sheer size of the armies and logistics involved meant that a single man could not be everywhere and could not organise everything. This was a disadvantage for the French who relied heavily on the skills and attributes of Napoleon himself.
‘In spite of the defection of the Saxon army in the middle of the battle, they (the allies) could not carry a single one of the villages the French proposed to hold.’
Sir Robert Wilson the British Commissioner attached to the Russian army commends the French defence of Leipzig.
In Germany in the spring of 1813 three Allied armies took to the field against the French.
1. The army of the North under the command of the Crown Prince of Sweden
2. The army of Silesia under the command of Field Marshal Blucher
3. The army of Bohemia under the nominal command of the Tsar of Russia, the Emperor of Austria and the King of Prussia and the field command of Prince Schwarzenberg of Austria.
The Allied commanders either through design or fear, determined to avoid bringing any of the three armies into a direct engagement with a French force led by Napoleon himself. The allied army facing Napoleon in person was to withdraw whilst the other two armies advanced to defeat the French Marshals individually.
‘I am surprised beyond
measure at the
unanimity among our
Generals.’
Tsar Alexander of Russia notes the irony
of the situation when Schwarzenberg’s
plan of attack at Leipzig is universally
rejected by the Allied High Command.
For his part Napoleon had fortified and garrisoned his important supply base at Dresden. At his command were two French armies:
1. The army of Berlin under the command of Marshal Oudinot.
2. The army of the Bober under the command of Marshal Macdonald.
Napoleon’s strategy was to use one of the armies to tie down two of the allied armies whilst the second French army defeated the third allied army in detail. Knowing that the Crown Prince of Sweden would be extremely reluctant to face his former master in battle alone and that the largest allied army under Schwarzenberg would be slow to react Napoleon decided to send Oudinot North to hold the army of the North in place and strike with the army of the Bober at Blucher seeking to knock the entire Army of Silesia out of the war and spark dissent in the ranks of allies with a decisive victory.
As per the allied strategy Blucher withdrew the army of Silesia as Napoleon marched against him at the head of the army of the Bober. Meanwhile the army of the North offered battle to Oudinot on the road to Berlin and the Army of Bohemia advanced against Napoleon’s supply base at Dresden. The first major engagements of the 1813 campaign were about to commence.
Troop Dispositions at the Start of August 1813
Orders of Battle
France
Commander in Chief: His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte
The Imperial Guard: (under the direct command of Napoleon)
Infantry Artillery
4 Old Guard Grenadier Regiments 6 12pdr Foot Batteries
6 Young Guard Regiments 1 8pdr Howitzer
2 French Infantry Chasseur Regiments 1 4pdr Horse Battery
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of Polish Guard Lancers
2 Squadrons of Grenadiers a Cheval
THE ARMY OF BERLIN
XII Corps: Field Marshal Oudinot
Infantry Artillery
7 French Line Infantry Regiments 3 8pdr Foot Batteries
1 French Light Infantry Regiment
1 French Infantry Chasseur Regiment
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of French Chasseurs
IV Corps: General Bertrand
Infantry Artillery
2 French Line Infantry Regiments 1 8pdr Howitzer
4 Italian Line Infantry Regiments 3 12pdr Foot Batteries
1Rheinbud Light Infantry Regiment
Cavalry
1 Squadron of French Hussars
1 Squadron of French Dragoons
VII Corps: General Reynier
Infantry Artillery
6 Rhinebud Line Infantry Regiments 3 8pdr Foot Batteries
2 Rhinebud Light Infantry Regiment
1 Rhinebud Infantry Chasseur Regiment
Cavalry
1 Squadron of Rhinebud Hussars
1 Squadron of Rhinebud Uhlans
Girard’s Corps: General Girard
Infantry Artillery
4 Polish Line Infantry Regiments 4 8pdr Foot Batteries
4 Rhinebud Line Infantry Regiments
2 Rhinebud Light Infantry Regiments
Cavalry
2 Polish Lancer Regiments
III Cavalry Corps: General Arrighi
Cavalry Artillery
2 Squadrons of French Chasseurs 1 4pdr Horse Battery
8 Squadrons of French Dragoons
2 Squadrons of French Cuirassiers
THE ARMY OF THE BOBER
XI Corps: Field Marshal Macdonald
Infantry Artillery
3 French Line Infantry Regiments 4 12pdr Foot Batteries
4 Italian Line Infantry Regiments 2 6pdr Foot Batteries
2 Rhinebud Line Infantry Regiments 1 8pdr Howitzer
1 French Light Infantry Regiment
1 Rhinebud Infantry Chasseur Regiment
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of French Chasseurs
III Corps: Field Marshal Ney
Infantry Artillery
7 French Line Infantry Regiments 3 8pdr Foot Batteries
1 French Light Infantry Regiment 2 12pdr Foot Batteries
1 French Infantry Chasseur Regiment
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of French Hussars
2 Squadrons of Rhinebud Dragoons
V Corps: General Lauriston
Infantry Artillery
7 French Line Infantry Regiments 1 8pdr Foot Batteries
1 French Light Infantry Regiment 2 12pdr Foot Batteries
1 French Infantry Chasseur Regiments
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of French Chasseurs
II Corps: Field Marshal Victor
Infantry Artillery
7 French Line Infantry Regiments 1 8pdr Foot Batteries
1 French Light Infantry Regiment 2 12pdr Foot Batteries
1 French Infantry Chasseur Regiment
Cavalry
1 Squadron of French Hussars
1 Squadron of French Dragoons
VI Corps: Field Marshal Marmont
Infantry Artillery
8 French Naval (Light Infantry) Regiments 6 8pdr Foot Batteries
5 French Line Infantry Regiments 6 12pdr Foot Batteries
1 Spanish Line Infantry Regiment 2 8pdr Howitzers
1 French Infantry Chasseur Regiment
Cavalry
4 Squadrons of French Chasseurs
2 Squadrons of Rhinebud Jaegers
II Cavalry Corps: General Sebastiani
Cavalry Artillery
2 Squadrons of French Hussars 1 4pdr Horse Battery
4 Squadrons of French Chasseurs
2 Squadrons of French Cuirassiers
4 Squadrons of French Carabineers
THE GARRISON OF DRESDEN
I Corps: General Vandamme
Infantry Artillery
12 French Line Infantry Regiments 3 8pdr Foot Batteries
2 French Light Infantry Regiment 5 12pdr Foot Batteries
1 French Infantry Chasseur Regiment
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of French Hussars
2 Squadrons of French Chasseurs
4 Squadrons of French Dragoons
XIV Corps: Field Marshal St. Cyr
Infantry Artillery
10 French Line Infantry Regiments 6 8pdr Foot Batteries
2 French Light Infantry Regiment 4 12pdr Foot Batteries
2 French Infantry Chasseur Regiment
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of French Chasseurs
2 Squadrons of French Dragoons
I Cavalry Corps: General Latour – Mauborg
Cavalry Artillery
2 Squadrons of French Hussars 1 4pdr Horse Battery
2 Squadrons of French Chasseurs
2 Squadrons of Saxon Cuirassiers
4 Squadrons of French Cuirassiers
4 Squadrons of French Dragoons
Other French Forces in Germany in 1813
VIII Corps: Prince Poniatowski
Infantry Artillery
6 Polish Line Infantry Regiments 3 8pdr Foot Batteries
1 Polish Light Infantry Regiment 1 6pdr Howitzer
1 Polish Grenadier Infantry Regiment
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of Polish Cuirassiers
1 Squadron of Polish Lancers
IX Corps: Field Marshal Augereau
Infantry Artillery
8 French Line Infantry Regiments 4 8pdr Foot Batteries
XIII Corps: Field Marshal Davout
Infantry Artillery
7 French Line Infantry Regiments 3 8pdr Foot Batteries
1 French Light Infantry Regiment
1 French Infantry Chasseur Regiment
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of French Chasseurs
IV Cavalry Corps: General Pajol
Cavalry Artillery
2 Squadrons of French Hussars 1 4pdr Horse Battery
8 Squadrons of French Dragoons
The Reserve Artillery
Artillery
12 12pdr Foot Batteries
Orders of Battle
The Allies
Commanders His Majesty the Emperor Francis of Austria,
In Chief: His Majesty the Tsar Alexander of Russia,
His Royal Highness King Frederick William III of Prussia.
THE ARMY OF THE NORTH
Commanded by Crown Prince Charles John of Sweden
Corps: General Wintzingerode
Infantry Artillery
10 Russian Line Infantry Regiments 4 12pdr Foot Batteries
4 Russian Grenadier Infantry Regiments 1 8pdr Howitzer
2 Russian Infantry Jaeger Regiments 1 4pdr Horse Battery
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of Russian Hussars
4 Squadrons of Russian Cossacks
4 Squadrons of Russian Dragoons
2 Squadrons of Russian Uhlans
III Corps: General Bulow
Infantry Artillery
10 Prussian Line Infantry Regiments 4 12pdr Foot Batteries
2 Prussian Fusilier Infantry Regiment 3 8pdr Foot Batteries
2 Prussian Grenadier Infantry Regiments 1 8pdr Howitzer
1 Prussian Infantry Jaeger Regiment 1 4pdr Horse Battery
Cavalry
4 Squadrons of Russian Cossacks
6 Squadrons of Prussian Dragoons
2 Squadrons of Prussian Landwher Cavalry
Corps: General Stedingk
Infantry Artillery
8 Swedish Line Infantry Regiments 4 8pdr Foot Batteries
2 Swedish Light Infantry Regiment
1 Swedish Grenadier Infantry Regiments
2 Swedish Infantry Jaeger Regiment
Cavalry
4 Squadrons of Russian Cossacks
4 Squadrons of Swedish Dragoons
THE ARMY OF SILESIA
Commanded by Field Marshal Blucher
I Corps: General Yorck
Infantry Artillery
2 Prussian Grenadier Infantry Regiments 4 8pdr Foot Batteries
6 Prussian Line Infantry Regiments 4 12pdr Foot Batteries
4 Prussian Landwher Infantry Regiments 1 4pdr Horse Battery
1 Prussian Jaeger Infantry Regiment
Cavalry
4 Squadrons of Prussian Hussars
4 Squadrons of Prussian Dragoons
4 Squadrons of Prussian Landwher Cavalry
Corps: General Sacken
Infantry Artillery
8 Russian Line Infantry Regiments 3 6pdr Foot Batteries
1 Russian Jaeger Infantry Regiment
Cavalry
4 Squadrons of Russian Cossacks
4 Squadrons of Russian Dragoons
2 Squadrons of Russian Uhlans
Corps: General Langeron
Infantry Artillery
8 Russian Line Infantry Regiments 2 6pdr Foot Batteries
Cavalry
4 Squadrons of Russian Cossacks
4 Squadrons of Russian Dragoons
2 Squadrons of Russian Jaegers
IX Corps: General Olsufjew
Infantry Artillery
4 Prussian Line Infantry Regiments 2 8pdr Foot Batteries
4 Prussian Landwher Infantry Regiments
X Corps: General Kapzewitsch
Infantry Artillery
4 Prussian Line Infantry Regiments 8 12pdr Foot Batteries
1 Prussian Jaeger Infantry Regiment
Corps: General St. Priest
Cavalry
6 Squadrons of Russian Dragoons
VIII Corps: Prince Gurjalow
Infantry Artillery
4 Prussian Line Infantry Regiments 2 8pdr Foot Batteries
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of Russian Cossacks
THE ARMY OF BOHEMIA
Commanded by Prince Schwarzenberg
The Austrian Army: (under the direct command of Prince Schwarzenberg)
Light Division: Prince of Liechtenstein
Infantry Artillery
6 Austrian Jaeger Infantry Regiments 2 6pdr Foot Batteries
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of Austrian Chevauxlegers
2 Squadrons of Austrian Dragoons
IV Corps: General Klenau
Infantry Artillery
10 Austrian Line Infantry Regiments 4 12pdr Foot Batteries
2 8pdr Howitzers
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of Austrian Hussars
III Corps: General Gyulai
Infantry Artillery
10 Austrian Line Infantry Regiments 4 8pdr Foot Batteries
2 12pdr Foot Batteries
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of Austrian Chevauxlegers
II Corps: Field Marshal Lieutenant Merveldt
Infantry Artillery
8 Austrian Line Infantry Regiments 4 8pdr Foot Batteries
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of Austrian Dragoons
2 Squadrons of Austrian Hussars
I Cavalry Corps: General Colloredo
Infantry Artillery
4 Austrian Line Infantry Regiments 2 8pdr Foot Batteries
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of Austrian Hussars
2 Squadrons of Austrian Dragoons
Austrian Army Reserve: Prince Hessen-Homburg
Infantry Artillery
6 Austrian Grenadier Infantry Regiments 4 8pdr Foot Batteries
Cavalry
4 Squadrons of Austrian Cuirassiers
2 Squadrons of Austrian Uhlans
The Combined Prussian and Russian Army: Commander Barclay de Tolly
Combined Cavalry Corps: General Phalen III
Cavalry Artillery
4 Squadrons of Prussian Hussars 2 4pdr Horse Batteries
6 Squadrons of Prussian Dragoons
4 Squadrons of Russian Uhlans
2 Squadrons of Russian Cossacks
2 Squadrons of Russian Hussars
The Russian Army: Field Marshal Wittgenstein
I Infantry Corps: General Gortschakow
Infantry Artillery
8 Russian Line Infantry Regiments 3 8pdr Foot Batteries
1 Russian Jaeger Infantry Regiment 2 6pdr Foot Batteries
Cavalry
2 Squadrons of Russian Jaegers
II Infantry Corps: Prince Eugene of Wurttemberg
Infantry Artillery
8 Russian Line Infantry Regiments 3 8pdr Foot Batteries
1 Russian Jaeger Infantry Regiment 2 6pdr Foot Batteries