1 August 1813 – Southern Germany – Nuremberg Campaign

1813 Campaign Areas

There are five campaign areas in the 1813 Campaign, three in Germany and two in Spain.   The campaign is divided into campaign phases, each lasting about ten campaign days.  This is the twenty fifth campaign phase of the 1813 Campaign and the sixth phase in Southern Germany.

All Germany

All previous campaign phases are shown.   A blue star indicates a French victory and a grey, green or yellow an Allied victory.  The Austrian main supply base is at Vienna (far right), and the Bavarian base is at Strasbourg (far left)

Southern Germany

All previous battles fought are shown.    A blue star indicates a French victory and a yellow star an Austrian victory.   Each square on this map covers the same area as our 6x6 foot wargames table.

Nuremberg Campaign Map

This map shows the area covered by the Nuremberg campaign.  It shows all cities, towns and villages.   It also shows the location of the Austrian and Bavarian armies at the start of the campaign.

This map is used for all campaign movement and on the campaign diary blog

Nuremberg Wargames Map

This map covers the same area as the campaign map, but each square is the same as one 2x2 foot square used on the wargames table.   When a battle if declared this map is used to prepare the wargames table.

Summary of the campaign in Southern Germany

At the start of February 1813 Napoleon believed that the Austrians were his loyal allies. He was unaware of the secret treaty signed by the allies on 1 January 1813 which agreed that Prussia, Russia, Austria, England and Spain would all declare war on France.

On 15 February 1813 Marshal Schwartzenberg crossed the Bavarian border and dispersed the small covering force and took the city of Passau

The majority of the Bavarian Army was in northern Germany as part of Napoleon’s new Grande Armee.   He considered the Austrian’s to be allies, and only a small reserve Army was left in Bavaria to contain the ongoing rebellion in the Tyrol.

Schwartzenberg defeated the Bavarian Army and entered Munich on 20 February 1813.

On receiving news of the Austrian betrayal and invasion of Bavaria, Napoleon ordered Marshal Oudinot to form the Third French Army from the Bavarian and Baden troops forming part of the Grande Armee and march south to drive Schwartzenberg out of Bavaria.

By the end of February 1813 Oudinot had concentrated the newly formed Third French Army at Ulm and was ready to cross into Bavaria and engage the Austrians.

Schwartzenberg had secured Munich and deployed his Army just west of the city.

1 March 1813 – Augsburg Campaign.   The Bavarians advance and win the battles of Augsburg and Donauworth.   However the Austrians recover, counter attack and win the second battle of Donauworth.   The Bavarians retreat and are defeated again at second Augsburg.   The Bavarians retake Donauworth but are decisively beaten at Augsburg.   The Bavarians retreat west.

16 March 1813 – Ulm Campaign.   The Austrians pursue and win the battles of Ulm and Goppingen.   Once more the Bavarians are forced to retreat west.

27 March 1813 – Stuttgart Campaign.   The Bavarians win the opening battle at Stuttgart.   But they are defeated at Ludwigsburg and second Stuttgart.   The Austrians have won a third campaign

5 April 1813 – Armistice.  Schwartzenberg accepts Napoleon’s seven day truce.   He does so in order to shift his army from Bavaria north to Bamberg to join forces with the Prussian and Russian armies.   Oudinot reacts by moving his army north to Darmstadt.

12 April 1813 – Bamberg Campaign.   The Bavarians win the first battle at Konigsfeld.   But they are defeated when the Austrians counter attack and win the second battle of Konigsfeld.   The Austrians win the Bamberg Phase.

25 May 1813 – Erlangen Campaign.   Oudinot is determined to reverse the run of Austrian victories.   Both armies advance to take and hold the city of Erlangen.  The Bavarians lost the first battle at Weiden, but win the next one at Gremsdorf.  However the Austrians also win all three battles at Erlangen.   Once more the Austrians win the campaign.        

Introduction to the Nuremberg Campaign

Schwartzenberg has won all five previous campaign phases.   His army has been brought up to full strength and is now fully operational.

Oudinot has regrouped his army around Nuremberg.   His army is also at full strength and fully operational.  He is under great pressure to reverse his run of defeats.

Third French Army

Marshal Oudinot

9^th Bavarian corps

10^th Bavarian corps

11^th Bavarian corps

12^th Baden corps

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

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

                                                               Austrian Army

General Schwartzenberg

1^st Austrian corps

2^nd Austrian corps

3^rd Austrian corps

4^th Austrian corps

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

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

30 July 1813 – Summary of Campaign in Southern Spain

Battles fought in Southern Spain

Campaign History

By the end of January most of the experienced French troops had been withdrawn from Spain to form the new Grand Army in Germany.   On 1 February 1813 Marshal Suchet was given command of all the remaining troops in Southern Spain.  He was ordered to abandon Seville and withdraw all the scattered garrisons to Madrid.

General Giron commanded all Spanish troops south of Madrid.   As the French withdrew he ordered his army to concentrate at Badajoz.  It took two weeks for them to do so.   He ordered an immediate advance on Madrid

On 28 February 1813 the Spanish Army reached Merida.   Their slow march allowed the Suchet to reorganize his Army and to march them west to meet the Spanish.   As the Spanish entered Merida, his army arrived at Almarez. 

5 March 1813 – Almarez Campaign.  Marshal Suchet opened the campaign by defeating the Spanish at Almarez and followed that by a second victory at Naval Moral.   The Spanish regrouped and countered by winning at Serrejon and Almarez.  Suchet retreated towards Madrid, allowing Giron to claim a Spanish campaign victory.

18 March 1813 – Talavera Campaign.   The Spanish dominated this campaign, winning both battles at Talavera and a draw at Las Vantas.    The campaign ended in a draw with the Armistice.

5 April 1813 – Armistice.   Despite their run of victories the Spanish Army had  dispersed due to battle casualties and lack of supplies.   They accepted the cease fire in order to reorganise their field army.   It was agreed that the Spanish would concentrate at Aranjuez and the French retreat to Toledo.

12 April 1813 – Toledo Campaign.   The French advance was relentless and the Spanish could do little to delay it.   The guerrilla bands caused some problems for the lines of communication and supply, and even captured two garrisons.   But Suchet ignored his lack of supplies and attacked Moncejon.   The Spanish army was broken and retreated.

4 June 1813 – Cuidad Real Campaign.   The Spanish were deployed north of the river Guadiana, with their main supply base in Cuidad Real just south of that river.   The French advanced over a wide area to prevent the Spanish from retreating and concentrating all of their army south of the river.   The French won the first two battles, but lost the third.  The Spanish retreated south of the river.   Despite long supply lines under attack from guerrilla bands, Suchet ordered his army to attack the defended river line.  He won the fourth battle and the campaign.   Once more the Spanish army was forced to retreat.

17 July 1813 – Linares Campaign.   The French concentrated at Probete and advanced south along three roads.  They won the first three battles and occupied the town of Baylen.   As they occupied towns the Spanish militia garrison fled to the mountains and became guerrilla bands.  As the French lines of supply grew longer, they came under attack from the guerrilla.   Suchet was forced to send one of his four corps back to defeat the guerrilla and reopen his lines of supply.   Giron immediately attacked and took El Hoyo and then Baylen.   Suchet was forced to retreat to Probate and abandon his advance.   The Spanish had won the campaign.

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 the 1813 campaign

02 - the five campaign areas

50 - introduction to the campaign in Southern Spain

53 - daily diary for the campaign in Southern Spain

54 - battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Spain