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