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