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Saturday, October 3, 2015

23 March 1813 – Battle of Hannover


Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle
One Prussian corps has orders to attack three French corps
Two Prussian corps and one French corps march to the sound of the guns
Prussian – 50400 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 guns
French – 33600 infantry, 2900 cavalry, 90 guns

Wargame
Odds and terrain are too uneven to fight a wargame
The battle will be decided by using campaign rule 06
0800
This map shows the location of each corps at first light
1st Prussian have orders to attack D5
2nd Prussian have orders to resupply, but will march to the sound of the guns
3rd Prussian have orders to attack D4
4th Prussian have orders to move to E5
1st French have orders to resupply, but will march to the sound of the guns
4th french have orders to hold and will fight
13th French have orders to resupply, but will march to the sound of the guns
1200
1st Prussian attack 4th  French, who hold the bridge over the river Weser
4th Prussian cross the river but are held by 13th French
2nd and 3rd Prussian advance to join the battle
1st French is marching to the sound of the guns
1600
The French have retreated and concentrated their three corps
The Prussians have crossed the river and concentrated their four corps
2000  
All four Prussian corps now move forward and attack the French
Outnumbered the French fall back
They have lost 1600 infantry and 100 cavalry
The Prussians have lost 1200 infantry

Conclusion
The French have lost the battle, but with less casualties than might be expected
They will retreat  to Minden under cover of darkness
The French have lost 1700 battle casualties
The Prussians have lost 1200 battle casualties

Outcome
The French have lost a major battle
They are also outnumbered four to three
If they can not hold the town of Minden they will have to accept defeat

Battle Summary
The French were not expecting a major attack
They were redeploying following the first battle of Hannover
They had sent one of their corps to strike at the Prussian lines of communication
The French held their own in the early stages of the battle
But once the four Prussian corps had crossed the river they had to retreat
They were fortunate to escape with such light casualties
The French have lost 1700 battle casualties
The Prussians have lost 1200 battle casualties

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