4 May 1813 – Central Germany – Day 4

The Russian victory at Naumburg has given them the initiative

5^th French army retreat to Sommerda

2^nd Russian army advance to border

 

4^th French army hold at Weimar

1^st Russian army advance to border

 

3^rd Russian army attack 6^th French army at Saalfeld

The French win the battle of Saalfeld

The French lose 7 infantry, 2 cavalry and 2 gunner casualties (3200 men)

The Russians lose 9 infantry and 2 casualties (3800 men)

3 May 1813 – Battle of Naumburg

Tactical map of battle area

The campaign opens with a surprise French attack the border town of Naumburg.

5^th French army have deployed out of sight of 2^nd Russian army

Both French corps will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

Both Russian corps start the game on the table

 

French – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Russian – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

2^nd Russian Army is deployed on the right

General Jermolow has taken command of the town and one infantry brigade

3^rd corps are south of the town

4^th corps are east of the town

 

5^th French Army will arrive at the left edge of table at the start of move one

End of Move 2

3^rd Russian corps has deployed between the town and the woods

4^th Russian corps are moving to deploy north of the town

 

5^th French army is advancing from the left

Marshal Lefebvre has taken command of 7^th corps artillery and two infantry brigades

7^th French corps is moving through the woods in the north

14^th Westphalian corps is advancing over the hills to the south

End of Move 4

4^th Russian corps is now in position north of the town

Russian reserve hold eastern half of town, with one brigade in reserve

3^rd Russian corps is now in position south of the town

Their artillery hit French infantry with first round fired

 

7^th French corps are deploying east of the woods

French reserve infantry receive 10% casualties, but pass morale test

One brigade is approaching the unoccupied western half of town

 

14^th Westphalian corps is moving through hills south of town

End of Move 6

7^th French corps have cleared the woods and deployed to attack

Their artillery have caused 20% casualties to one Russian brigade

 

The French reserve artillery have caused one Russian brigade to retreat shaken

This has prompted Lefebvre to advance both infantry brigades, rather than enter the town.

 

The Russian reserve has moved to support 3^rd corps

 

14^th Westphalian corps have cleared the hill

Their cavalry have charged the Russian Cossacks

The first round of melee is a draw, with both sides suffering 10% casualties

 

End of Move 8

7^th French corps advance

Cavalry charged and routed by Russian dragoons

Dragoons then charge and rout nearest infantry brigade

 

French reserve advance.

Infantry charge gunners, receive 20% casualties but rout gunners

Infantry charge and rout supporting Russian infantry brigade

Russian reserve advance to fill the gap between 3^rd corps and the town

 

14^th Westphalian corps advance

Cavalry melee won against Russian Cossacks

Both sides suffer 30% casualties, but Cossacks retreat shaken

End of Move 10

7^th French corps retreat in square

4^th Russian corps advance in column of attack supported by cavalry

 

French reserve infantry both in rout

Russian reserve infantry move to support 3^rd corps

 

14^th Westphalian and 3^rd Russian corps involved in widespread infantry melee

 

French have four corps in rout

Russians have two corps in rout

End of Move 12

7^th French corps break and rout, one brigade and artillery cover the retreat

4^th Russian corps call off attack at nightfall

 

French reserve infantry in rout, artillery retreat at nightfall

Russian reserve hold town at  nightfall

 

14^th Westphalian corps hold their position until nightfall

3^rd Russian corps break and rout

 

Summary

The French have lost 13 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (5600 men)

The Russians have lost 9 infantry, 5 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (4200 men)

The Russians have held the town and win the battle

3 May 1813 – Central Germany – Day 3

5^th French army attack 2^nd Russian army at Naumburg

The remainder of both armies take up battle positions either side of the border

4^th French army halt at Weimar, awaiting the outcome of the battle of Naumburg

6^th French army halt at Saalfeld for the same reason

1^st  Russian army halt at Jena, also awaiting the outcome of the battle of Naumburg

However 3^rd Russian army moves right up to the border.

Both sides are also moving supplies forward from their rear depots.

 

The Russians win the battle of Naumburg

The French lose 13 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (5600 men)

The Russians lose 9 infantry, 5 cavalry and 1 gunner casualties (3600 men)

2 May 1813 – Central Germany – Day 2

5^th French army advance and deploy on the border.

The rest of the French continue to resupply

The Russian army are unaware of the French advance

1 May 1813 – Central Germany - Day 1

Both armies are deployed close to the border, but still remain within resupply range of their rear depots.

1 May 1813 – Central Germany – Gera Campaign

Map of Europe

This map shows the location of the five campaign areas. 

Each square is a military region.  

The current location of each army group is shown.  

The stars show the location of previous phases.  

The colour indicates which side won.  

 

This is the 81^st phase since the campaign started in April 2009.  

It is the 8^th in the sixth revision which started in June 2020 

 

The white star shows the location of Gera

Map of Germany

This map shows the location of the six army groups in Germany.  

Each square is a military district.  

Nine squares is a military region.  

The stars show the location of previous campaigns fought in Germany. 

The colour of the star indicates which side won.  

 

The white star shows the location of Gera

 

There are three allied armies would concentrate in Germany

Prussian army at Berlin

Russian army at Dresden

Austrian army at Vienna

Their objective is to defeat Napoleon

 

General Wittgenstein commands the Russian army

They are concentrated in the Dresden region

Their objective is to march into the Erfurt region and engage the French

 

Marshal Davout commands the Second French army

They are concentrated in the Osnabruck region

Their objective is to march into the Erfurt region and engage the Prussians

Map of Central Germany

This map shows the location of the French and Russian army.  

Each square is a military district.  

Nine squares is a military region.  

The stars show the location of previous campaigns fought in Central Germany. 

The colour of the star indicates which side won

 

There are three regions in Central Germany

Dusseldorf Region (on the left) is held by the French army

Dresden Region (on the right) is the held by the Russian      

Erfurt Region is the disputed area in the middle

 

This map shows the current location of the French and Russian armies.

Gera is indicated by a white star

Erfurt Region

This map shows the location of the French and Russian army. 

Each square is a military district.  

Nine squares is a military region.  

This map is used for strategic (planning) movement.

Gera  District

This map shows the campaign area

It covers the area between Erfurt and Gera

The district border is in the middle of the map

 

Each square is a 2x2 foot scenic square.  

Nine squares is a wargames table.  

Nine squares is also a military district.   

 

This map is used for tactical (daily) movement

 

The French objective is to take and hold the city of Gera

The Russian objective is to defeat the French and hold Gera

 

Campaign Diary

01 February 1813    Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France

01 February 1813    Formation of Second French army in Dusseldorf region

26 February 1813    Second French army declared operational.

27 February 1813    The Russians moved into the Erfurt region

28 February 1813    Davout entered Erfurt region and occupied Fulda district

14 March 1813        Start of Erfurt campaign phase

21 March 1813        French win Erfurt campaign phase

01 April 1813           Start of Gera campaign phase

 

Second French Army

Marshal Davout

2^nd Young Guard corps

6^th French corps

7^th French corps

8^th French corps

14^th Westphalian corps

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

80000 infantry, 5000 cavalry, 150 guns

Russian Army

General Wittgenstein

1^st Russian corps

2^nd Russian corps

3^rd Russian corps

4^th Russian corps

5^th Russian corps

6^th Russian corps

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

80000 infantry, 5000 cavalry, 150 guns

         

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

20 - Introduction to the campaign in Central Germany

21 - Second French Army order of battle

22 - Russian Army order of battle

23 - Daily diary for the campaign in Central Germany

24 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Central Germany

25 - Summary of campaign in Central Germany