North Germany - Introduction

Northern Germany Strategic Map

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 Magdeburg.   They entered Magdeburg on 20 February 1813.

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

First French Army

Napoleon commanded four corps.   The Old Guard, two French corps and one Polish corps.
Each corps consisted of four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery.   

Prussian Army

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

South Germany – Introduction

 Southern Germany Strategic Map

Background

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.

 Third French Army

Marshal Oudinot commanded four corps, three Bavarian and one Baden

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

Austrian Army

Generalfeldmarschall Schwartzenberg commanded four Austrian corps.   Each corps consisted of four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

Campaign Areas

Germany

Northern Germany – First French Army v Prussian Army

Central Germany - Second French Army v Russian Army

Southern Germany – Third French Army v Austrian Army

Portugal and Spain

Northern Spain – Fourth French Army v Anglo-Portuguese Army

Southern Spain – Fifth French Army v Spanish Army