21 April 1813 – North Germany – Madgeburg Campaign

All Germany

There are three campaign areas in Germany as shown on the map.

Northern Germany - 1^st French army v Prussian army

Central Germany    - 2^nd French army v Russian army

Southern Germany - 3^rd French army v Austrian army

Each square on the map is 21 miles which is one days march.   It is also a wargames table.

Northern Germany

The area outlined in white is the Magdeburg campaign area.   Each square on the map is also 21 miles, one days march or a wargames table.

Madgeburg Campaign Area

This is the campaign map for movement and transferring battles to the wargames table.   Each square is 7 miles or one 2x2 foot scenic square on the wargames table.   There is one scenic square showing the same detail as each square on the map.   Nine of these squares (3x3) are used to create the wargames table.   When a battle is declared the point of impact (the centre square) is the same on the map and on the table.  

Background to the Magdeburg Campaign

The Prussians had supported Napoleon during the 1812 Russian campaign.   At the end of that campaign they agreed to hold the Russian Army east of Berlin at the river Oder whilst Napoleon reorganised the shattered French army.

On 10 February 1813 they declared war on France.   Blucher entered Magdeburg on 20 February.

Napoleon responded by moving his First Army to Hannover.

The Prussians won the Brunswick campaign, and the French retreated to Hannover.

Napoleon also lost the Magdeburg campaign and retreated to Magdeburg.

The French won the Magdeburg campaign and halted the Prussian advance

Both agreed to an armistice from 5-12 April in order to regroup and reorganise

Napoleon won the second Brunswick campaign

Magdeburg Campaign Objective

At the start of the campaign the two armies are deployed as shown on the map above.

Blucher is content to hold the river, and to leave the initiative to the French.

Napoleon is eager to defeat Blucher, take Magdeburg and press on to Berlin.

First French Army

Emperor Napoleon

1^st Guard corps

3^rd French corps

4^th French corps

13^th Polish corps

Reserve corps (not shown)

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

The reserve corps has four infantry brigades and will provide depot garrisons

80000 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 artillery

Prussian Army

Marshal Blucher

1^st Prussian corps

2^nd Prussian corps

3^rd Prussian corps

4^th Prussian corps

Reserve corps (not shown)

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

The reserve corps has four infantry brigades and will provide depot garrisons

80000 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 artillery

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 North Germany

11 - 1^st French Army order of battle

12 - Prussian Army order of battle

13 - Daily diary for the campaign in North Germany

14 - Battle reports of all battles fought in North Germany

15 - Summary of campaign in North Germany