1813 Campaign in Germany

National map showing campaign areas

There are three campaign areas in Germany

North – 1^st French Army v Prussian Army

Centre – 2^nd French Army v Russian Army

South – 3^rd Bavarian Army v Austrian Army

Regional map showing initial concentration locations

There are nine regions in Germany.

Each region has nine districts

Each district has nine towns (not shown on map)

Each town is a wargames table

Each campaign area consists of three military regions

In each area the French occupy the western region, and the allies the eastern one

The centre region is where the 1813 campaign will be fought

Background

Although Austria, Prussia and Russia have agreed a general operational plan, they have not agreed on a single Commander in Chief to coordinate the three allied armies.

The ultimate aim is to drive the French out of Germany and invade France.  However it is accepted that the invasion of France is unlikely to take place until 1814.

When they met in early January 1813 the five heads of state agreed that they would declare war on France on 1 February.

The main offensive would be in Germany, and the Austrian, Prussian and Russian armies would all march west on the same day.   This grand plan did not take into account the difficulty in preparing the three armies for operations.

Prussia had contributed a relatively small army to the invasion of Russian in 1812.  This was because France had imposed strict controls on the size of the regular Prussian army.   Prussia had tried to overcome this by creating a large reserve army of landwehr who would only serve for one year before returning to civilian life.  This gave them a large reserve of trained, but not experienced, military manpower.   The regular army did take part in the Russian campaign, but avoided being too heavily involved.

Russia had, of course, suffered massive casualties during 1812.  By the end of that year their army was almost as badly damaged as the French Grande Armee.  There were large reserves throughout Russia, but it would take some weeks before they reached Germany.

Austria has also sent a small army to support Napoleon in Russia.   They also managed to avoid being drawn into the heavy fighting, and suffered relatively light casualties.   However Austria had a large empire to control, and their corps and divisions were dispersed over a large area.   They would also require some weeks to concentrate sufficient troops and material at Vienna.

The declaration of war was issued on 1 February.  But it was followed by two weeks of delay in Germany.   Frantic efforts and movements were taking place to train and concentrate the troops of the three nations, but all was quiet on “the western front”

Prussia was the first to take offensive action.   On 20 February Blucher crossed the border from Berlin region into Brunswick region.   The campaign had finally begun.

1813 Campaign Introduction

National map showing campaign areas

About the Campaign

This is a fictional wargame campaign.  It is not an attempt to replicate the historical campaign.   The aim is to provide interesting battles to wargame.

The campaign is designed to use all of our wargame figures and scenery in rotation.   To this end there are five allied and five French armies.

This campaign has been running since April 2009.  

During that time it has been reorganised six times.   There have been a number of reasons, including change from solo to PBEM campaign or simply reached the end of 1813.

There were two reasons for the latest reorganisation.   First to add a new level of command.   Previously it consisted of a series of mini campaigns, each bearing no relation to the previous or next one.    This new campaign will add an overall level of command which will create a narrative to tie all of the mini campaigns together

We have also, once again, neared the end of 1813.   The last campaign phase ended on 10 November 1813.    This one will start on 1 March 1813

Regional map showing initial deployment locations

The maps are designed as wargame maps, not historical maps

Europe is divided into 32 military regions.
Each region has nine military districts.
Each square on this map is one district

Each district has nine towns, and each town is a wargames table.

Background

In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia with an army which included many nationalities, including Prussia, Austria and the Confederation of the Rhine.   The invasion ended in his complete defeat and rout.   By the end of the year the broken survivors of his Grande Armee had reached the relative safety of Germany.

The French had much more success in Spain.   Throughout 1812 they defeated one Spanish army after another.   They even solved their long standing problem with the Anglo/Portuguese army.   In early 1812 Wellington invaded Spain and won a series of victories.   But he was halted at the city of Burgus.   He laid siege to the city, but was unable to take it.   Both French armies combined and drove him back into Portugal.  The retreat was not as bad as Napoleon in Russia, but it did badly damage Wellington’s army.

In January 1813 Napoleon ordered the creation of five new armies, three in Germany and two in Spain.  There were three sources of manpower available to him.   The survivors of the Russian campaign.   The large number of experienced men serving in Spain.  And new conscripts from France, Germany and Italy.  

Large numbers of experienced men were transferred from Spain to Germany to form the cadre of these new armies.   They were replaced with inexperienced conscripts.

The threat was from the large, but exhausted, Russian army which had halted at the river Elbe.

In Germany he could rely on Prussia to hold his northern flank, and Austria the southern flank.   What was left of the Grande Armee would hold central Germany.   The new brigades, divisions and corps would be formed in France, and deployed in Germany when completed.

Allied Plans

In early January Britain held secret talks with Austria, Prussia and Russia to form a new alliance against Napoleon.   They agreed a coordinated plan of attack in Germany and Spain.

The Prussian army would concentrate at Berlin and take Brunswick

The Russian army would concentrate at Dresden and take Erfurt

The Austrian army would concentrate at Vienna and take Munich

The British/Portuguese army would concentrate at Lisbon and take Madrid

The Spanish army would concentrate at Santiago and take Burgos

French Plans

On 1 February 1813 the allies declared war on France.   

This was not a complete surprise to Napoleon, who had received intelligence throughout January which caused him to prepare for an Austrian/Prussian/Russian attack in Germany.

On 2 February 1813 he issued orders to his five armies

1^st French army would concentrate at Osnabruck and invade northern Germany

2^nd French army would concentrate at Dusseldorf and invade central Germany

3^rd Bavarian army would concentrate at Munich and hold Bavaria

4^th French army would concentrate at Madrid and invade Portugal

5^th French army would concentrate at Burgos and invade western Spain

1 March 1813 – Battle of Gifhorn

Tactical map of battle area

Napoleon opens the campaign with an attack on Gifhorn

1^st Prussian corps have orders to hold the town

3^rd French corps have orders to attack

French – 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Prussian – 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Gifhorn is the town on the right

1^st Prussian corps is deployed in the centre square

3^rd French corps will arrive as shown at the start of move 1

End of Move 4

The French cavalry have advanced right of the woods

The rest of the corps to the left of the woods

The infantry have halted out of artillery range

The gunners have pushed forward into range

With their opening fire they hit the Prussian infantry

The Prussians lose 10% casualties, but pass their morale test.

End of Move 8

Prussian hussars charge French dragoons

They win the first round of melee, but lose the second round

Both brigades receive 20% casualties

French are disordered, Prussians shaken

Prussian artillery hit leading French brigade

However they pass their morale test

They then charge the gunners

Who need total of 6 with 2D6, but only get 4

Infantry charge home and gunners rout with 20% casualties

Remaining three French brigades charge infantry on left of woods

Prussians in line, and win one melee

However lose the second and rout with 20% casualties

Summary

Mostly due to good dice at the critical time the French win

Prussians lose three infantry brigades and their artillery in rout

Convincing French victory

French have lost 1 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (600 men)

Prussians have lost 6 infantry, 2 cavalry and 2 gunners (2800 men)

1 March 1813 – North Germany - Day 1

Napoleon’s campaign strategy is to attack the city of Brunswick.

To this end he has placed 1^st and 4^th corps at Salzgitter

However he opens the campaign with an attack at Gifhorn

This is to tempt Blucher to reinforce his right flank

The French win a convincing victory at the battle of Gifhorn

Three Prussian brigades are routed, plus the gunners

French lost 600 casualties

Prussians lost 2400 casualties

1 March 1813 – North Germany – Brunswick Campaign

Europe 1813 Campaign Areas

This is the first campaign phase of the sixth version of the 1813 campaign.

This is a fictional campaign, not an attempt to recreate the historical 1813 campaign

It is also a fictional Europe, with liberties taken to create suitable wargaming maps

The map has been divided into fictional military regions

Each region is a possible wargame campaign

You will see on this map that there are five campaign areas

Three in Germany and two in Spain

Each area has its own French and allied army

Regions of Germany

Germany has been divided into 81 squares

Each square is a military district

Nine districts made a military region

Germany has been divided into nine military regions

They in turn have been divided into three campaign areas, each of three regions

Northern area is 1^st French army v Prussian army

Central area is 2^nd French army v Russian army

Southern area is 3^rd French army v Austrian army

This campaign area is indicated by the white star

North Germany

There are three regions in north Germany

Osnabruck region (left) is the French reserve area

It includes their main depot at Osnabruck

Berlin region (right) is the Prussian reserve area

It includes their main depot at Berlin

Brunswick region (centre) is the disputed campaign area

There are nine districts (towns) in the region

This includes one called Brunswick, which is the location of this campaign phase

But note that both the military region and the military district are called Brunswick

This is because the city of Brunswick is the main city in the region

Introduction to the North German Campaign

The French Grand Army was destroyed during the 1812 Russian campaign

Napoleon had to create a new army to fight the 1813 campaign

In January 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France

The Prussian army concentrated in Berlin region

On 19 February 1813 Napoleon completed the formation of First French army

He ordered them to concentrate in the Osnabruck region

On 20 February 1813 the Prussians moved into the Brunswick region

They occupied Brunswick city on 25 February 1813

On 26 February 1815 Napoleon advanced into the Brunswick region

On 29 February 1815 he ordered his army to advance and engage the Prussians

Brunswick Region

There are nine districts in the region (outlined in red)

Each district has nine towns or villages

Each square on this map is a town or village, and also a wargames table

Major roads are shown in red, they connect all regions throughout Europe

Minor roads are shown in yellow, they connect each district within the region

Brunswick district (city) is the centre of the map

Brunswick District

There are nine towns or villages in the district

Each one is a 6x6 foot wargames table (outlined in red on the map)

Each square on this map is a 2x2 foot scenic square on the wargames table

This map is used for campaign movement and to record daily events on the campaign diary blog.

It shows the initial deployment of the five corps in each army

It also shows the location of army HQ, depots and garrisons

Introduction to the Brunswick Campaign

The Prussian army occupy the right side of the map

They have established depots in Weyhausen, Cremlington, Schoningen and Brunswick.

The French army have occupied the left side of the map

They have established depots in Meinersen, Salzgitter and Lengede

Napoleon is determined to defeat the Prussian army and drive then back over the river Elbe.

First French Army

Emperor Napoleon

1^st Old Guard corps

13^th Polish corps      

4^th French corps

Reserve corps

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

64000 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 guns

There is also a reserve corps of four conscript brigades for garrison duty

Prussian Army

General Blucher

1^st Prussian corps

2^nd Prussian corps

3^rd Prussian corps

4^th Prussian corps

Reserve corps

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

64000 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 guns

There is also a reserve corps of four landwehr brigades for garrison duty

                                                

Reference

The campaign diary contains comprehensive details of the whole campaign.   The labels on the right are an index to various parts of the campaign.

01 - Introduction to the1813 campaign

02 - Five campaign areas

10 - Introduction to the campaign in Northern Germany

11 – 1^st French Army order of battle

12 - Prussian Army order of battle

13 - Daily diary for the campaign in Northern Germany

14 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Northern Germany

15 - Summary of campaign in Northern Germany

North Germany - Introduction

Brunswick Military Region

Background

Napoleon considered the Prussians to be allies, and they had agreed to hold the Russian Army east of Berlin at the river Oder, whilst he reorganized the French Army behind the river Rhine.   He was unaware of the secret allied treaty.    He was also unaware that the Russians had crossed the river Oder on 20 January 1813.

On 10 February 1813 Generalfeldmarschall Blucher took command of the Prussian Army, which was concentrated to the west of Berlin.   He issued orders for them to move west, cross the river Elbe and secure the city of Brunswick.   They crossed the border into Brunswick Region on 20 February 1813.

Napoleon had ordered the First French Army to be formed at Osnabruck.   On 26 February 1813 he arrived there and took command.   He was determined to teach the Prussians a lesson for their betrayal.

The map shows the deployment of both armies at first light on 1 March 1813

First French Army

Napoleon commanded four corps.   

1^st Old Guard corps

3^rd French corps

4^th French corps

13^th Polish corps

Each corps consisted of four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery. 

He also had a reserve corps of four conscript infantry brigades for garrison duties

Prussian Army

Blucher commanded four corps

1^st Prussian corps

2^nd Prussian corps

3^rd Prussian corps

4^th Prussian corps

Each corps consisted of four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery.  

He also had a reserve corps of four conscript infantry brigades for garrison duties

Campaign Areas

Germany

Germany is divided into nine military regions.

Each region has nine military districts

There are nine towns in each district
Each town is one 6x6 foot wargames table

There are three campaign areas

Northern Germany is Osnabruck, Brunswick and Berlin regions

Central Germany is Dusseldorf, Erfurt and Dresden regions

South Germany is Freiburg, Munich and Vienna region

Spain

Spain is divided into six military regions.

Each region has nine military districts

There are nine towns in each district

Each town is one 6x6 foot wargames table

There are two campaign areas in Spain

Northern Spain is Oporto, Madrid and Barcelona regions

Southern Spain is Lisbon, Seville and Valencia regions

1813 Campaign – Test Campaign

Germany Strategic Map

It has taken a long time, but we are finally ready to give the new campaign system a test play.   It is about six weeks since we completed the last campaign phase.  This has been by far the longest break in the campaign since it started in 2009.

When I started I thought that it would take a week or two.  I already knew what I wanted to do, and expected that I would just have to alter the existing maps.  But a bit like decorating the house, the more I did the more I realised I still had to do.   In the end I have had to redesign all of the campaign maps and rewrite the campaign rules.

It soon became obvious that the well tried campaign phase system would not work with the new concept.  This was disappointing because this has worked so well, and is a vital part of the previous concept.   Each of the five campaign areas have a stand alone campaign in sequence.   At the start of the mini campaign both armies are full strength and fully supplied.   A complete fresh page for each campaign.

The new concept will be an ongoing campaign in each of the five campaign areas.  The length of the campaign phase will be restricted to seven days.   Each army will start the phase with seven days supplies.  They will not receive any supplies during the campaign phase.  When they run out of supplies each corps will start to receive attrition casualties (10% of one brigade each day).  

The test campaign will be set in the Brunswick region of North Germany. At the start of the campaign both armies are deployed along the border of the region.   In future campaigns they will be in the same positon that they finished the last campaign.   Or at least the positions they were in after compulsory morale moves at the end of the campaign.

Brunswick Campaign Map 

The campaign map looks very similar to the previous campaign.   However it covers a much bigger area.   In the previous campaign each of the nine towns on this map would have been a campaign phase.   In this campaign they are one wargames table.

I expect the campaign to follow the same course as the previous one.   Both armies will have to establish depots (corps must be stationary for one day) and bring forward supplies from depots off map.

The main difference will be the seven day limit on each campaign.   The objective is to defeat the other army, simple as that.   Each corps will start with four days supplies, and new depots will have to be established within supply distance (three squares) by then or the corps will have to retreat to resupply.

There will be a constant balance between trying to hurt the enemy, whilst protecting your supply chain.   The side that gets this balance right should win, providing that they can also win the critical battles.

I am really looking forward to seeing how this test campaign works out.

1813 Campaign Supply Rules

Until now the supply rules have been designed to force both armies to take steps to provide and protect their lines of supply.

Each corps starts the campaign with four days supplies, which is also the maximum that they can carry.   To resupply they have to halt, avoid the enemy and be within one day’s march of a depot.   As they advance they have to establish depots so that they do not have to retreat to resupply.

All of this was designed for a series of one off, stand alone, mini campaigns.  At the start both armies had sufficient supplies for four days, plus one days supply in their depot.

The new Regional Military Command system requires a change in this stand alone, mini campaign system.   However I still need a system which will bring a natural end to each mini campaign.

I am testing a new supply system which should bring about this result.

At the start of each campaign phase each army will have sufficient supplies for 7 days.   This translates as 28 days supplies (7 for each of the four corps).   As now, each corps will start the campaign with four days supplies.   The remaining 3 days per corps will be held in their depot.   This depot will be the nearest town to their location at the start of the campaign.

It will no longer be necessary for a corps to detach an infantry brigade to form a garrison.  I have found that these detachments add nothing to the wargame, and just reduce the number of figures available to wargame.

However as they advance, or retreat, they will have to establish depots to resupply. Each corps can establish as many as they want.  To do so they must halt in the town and avoid contact with the enemy for one day.

This means that each campaign will last a maximum of ten moves.   There will be a clear campaign objective, usually to take and hold a specified town.  

I have found with the wargame that having a maximum number of game moves (in this case 12) really applies the pressure to the attacker.   In my games it tends to take four moves to move within artillery range, four moves for artillery fire and the final four moves to move into contact and decide the outcome by musket fire and melee.   If the attacker allows too many moves for artillery fire he will run out of time to reach the enemy and fire and melee.

I am hoping that this principle will also apply to the campaign phase.

I will be testing how well this works in the first campaign phase, and if it works will rewrite the campaign rules.