31 May 1813 – North Germany – Goslar Campaign

 

Map of Germany

On 1^st January 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France

 

Three allied armies would concentrate in Germany

Prussian army at Berlin

Russian army at Dresden

Austrian army at Vienna

Together they would engage and defeat Napoleon

 

Marshal Blucher would command the Prussian army

They would concentrate in the Berlin region

They would then march into the Brunswick region and engage the French

 

Emperor Napoleon would command the First French army

They would concentrate in the Osnabruck region

They would then march into the Brunswick region and engage the Prussians

 

This map shows the rear headquarters for each army, and the colour of the stars indicates which army has won the previous campaign phases.    The location of the current campaign is shown by a white star.

Map of North Germany

There are three regions in North Germany

Osnabruck Region (on the left) is the concentration area for First French army

Berlin Region (on the right) is the concentration area for the Prussian Army        

Brunswick Region is the disputed area in the middle

 

This map shows the rear headquarters for each army, and the colour of the stars indicates which army has won the previous campaign phases.    The location of the current campaign is shown by a white star.

Brunswick Region

This map is used for strategic (planning) movement.

It shows the location of the regional headquarters for each army

It also shows the location of previous battles fought in the region.

 

Campaign Diary

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

01 February 1813    Formation of First French army in Osnabruck region

19 February 1813    First French army declared operational.

20 February 1813    Prussians invade Brunswick region

25 February 1813    Prussians occupied the city of Brunswick

26 February 1813    Napoleon advanced into the Brunswick region

28 February 1813    French occupy the city of Hannover

01 March 1813        Start of Brunswick campaign phase

08 March 1813        French win Brunswick campaign phase

12 April 1813           Start of Lubeck campaign phase

19 April 1813           French win Lubeck campaign phase

31 May 1813           Start of Goslar campaign phase

Goslar District

This map is used for tactical (daily) movement

 

The third campaign phase in northern Germany is in Goslar district

This map shows the location of both armies at the start of the campaign

The Prussian objective is to take the city of Goslar

The French objective is to hold Goslar and defeat the Prussian army

 

The Prussian army are deployed close to the border

 

The French army are deployed further back, for ease of resupply.

 

French Army of North Germany

CinC   Emperor Napoleon

First French Army

1^st Old Guard corps

2^nd French corps

3^rd French corps

Second French Army

4^th French corps

5^th French corps

6^th Westphalian corps

Third French Army

7^th French corps

8^th French corps

9^th Polish corps

 

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

144000 infantry,9000 cavalry, 270 guns

 

Prussian Army

CinC General Blucher

First Prussian Army

1^st Prussian corps

2^nd Prussian corps

3^rd Prussian corps

Second Prussian Army

4^th Prussian corps

5^th Prussian corps

6^th Prussian corps

Third Prussian Army

7^th Prussian corps

8^th Prussian corps

9^th Prussian corps

 

 

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

144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 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

10 - Introduction to the campaign in Northern Germany

11 – French Army of Northern Germany 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

Prussian Army of Northern Germany

 

Prussian Army

 

Blucher commands three armies

Each army has three corps

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

Each infantry brigade has 8 figures

Each cavalry brigade has 4 figures

Each corps artillery has 1 gun and 4 figures

 

These figures come from a collection of

96 infantry figures

12 cavalry figures

12 artillery figures and 3 guns

 

These are then organised in three armies of three corps each

The corps are then renumbered as necessary to provide the order of battle

1^st Prussian Army            Blucher                  Poor

1 Prussian corps             Kleist                     Average

1 infantry brigade              CA      FB      SB

2 infantry brigade              CB      FC      SB

3 infantry brigade              CB      FB      SC

4 landwehr bde                 CC     FC      SC

1 cavalry brigade               CB      light

1 corps artillery                 CB      12 pounders

2 Prussian corps             Borstell                  Poor

5 infantry brigade              CA      FB      SB

6 infantry brigade              CB      FC      SB

7 infantry brigade              CB      FB      SC

8 landwehr bde                 CC     FC      SC

2 cavalry brigade               CB      heavy

2 corps artillery                 CB      9 pounders

3  Prussian corps             Krafft           Average

9 infantry brigade                       CA      FB      SB

10 infantry brigade           CB      FC      SB

11 infantry brigade           CB      FB      SC

12 landwehr bde               CC     FC      SC

3 cavalry brigade              CB      heavy

3 corps artillery                CB      6 pounders

2^nd Prussian Army            Bulow          Average

4 Prussian corps             Pirch            Poor

5 infantry brigade              CA      FB      SB

6 infantry brigade              CB      FC      SB

7 infantry brigade              CB      FB      SC

8 landwehr bde                 CC     FC      SC

2 cavalry brigade               CB      heavy

2 corps artillery                 CB      12 pounders

5 Prussian corps              Steinmetz     Average

9 infantry brigade              CA     FB      SB

10 infantry brigade            CB     FC      SB

11 infantry brigade            CB     FB      SC

12 landwehr bde                CC    FC      SC

3 cavalry brigade               CB     heavy

3 corps artillery                 CB     9 pounders

6 Prussian corps              Scheither     Poor

13 infantry brigade            CA     FB      SB

14 infantry brigade            CB     FC      SB

15 infantry brigade            CB     FB      SC

16 landwehr bde                CC    FC      SC

4 cavalry brigade               CB     light

4 corps artillery                 CB     6 pounders

 

3^rd Prussian Army            Yorck           Average

7 Prussian corps             Katzler         Average

1 infantry brigade              CA      FB      SB

2 infantry brigade              CB      FC      SB

3 infantry brigade              CB      FB      SC

4 landwehr bde                 CC     FC      SC

1 cavalry brigade               CB      light

1 corps artillery                 CB      12 pounders

8 Prussian corps             Hunerbein    Poor

9 infantry brigade             CA      FB      SB

10 infantry brigade           CB      FC      SB

11 infantry brigade           CB      FB      SC

12 landwehr bde               CC     FC      SC

3 cavalry brigade              CB      heavy

3 corps artillery                CB      9 pounders

9 Prussian corps              Ziethen         Poor

13 infantry brigade           CA      FB      SB

14 infantry brigade           CB      FC      SB

15 infantry brigade           CB      FB      SC

16 landwehr bde               CC     FC      SC

4 cavalry brigade              CB      light

4 corps artillery                CB      6 pounders

Abbreviations

C – Class                          A Elite, B average, C poor

F – Firing                          A Good, B average, C poor

S – Skirmish                     A Good, B average, C poor

French Army of Northern German

 

French Army (example of four corps)

Napoleon commands three armies

Each army has three corps

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

Each infantry brigade has 8 figures

Each cavalry brigade has 4 figures

Each corps artillery has 1 gun and 4 figures

 

These figures come from a collection  8 French and 8 allied corps

The French include 1 Old Guard, 1 Young Guard and 6 line corps

The allies include 3 Bavarian,  2 Polish, 1 Baden, 1 Westphalian, and 1 Italian corps

These are then organised in three armies of three corps each

The corps are then renumbered as necessary to provide the order of battle

1^st French Army               Napoleon     Gifted

1 Old Guard corps           Friant           Average

1 infantry brigade              CA      FB      SB

2 infantry brigade              CB      FC      SB

3 infantry brigade              CB      FC      SB

4 infantry brigade              CB      FC      SB

1 cavalry brigade               CA      light

1 corps artillery                 CB      12 pounders

 2 French corps               Dubreton     Poor

25 infantry brigade            CA      FB      SB

26 infantry brigade            CB      FC      SB

27 infantry brigade            CC     FC      SB

28 infantry brigade            CC     FC      SC

7 cavalry brigade               CB      dragoons

7 corps artillery                 CB      9 pounders

3 French corps                Vial              Average

29 infantry brigade            CA      FB      SB

30 infantry brigade            CB      FC      SB

31 infantry brigade            CC     FC      SB

32 infantry brigade            CC     FC      SC

8 cavalry brigade               CB      lancers

8 corps artillery                 CB      9 pounders

2^nd French Army              Victor           Average

4 French corps               Defour         Average

13 infantry brigade            CA      FB      SB

14 infantry brigade            CC     FC      SC

15 infantry brigade            CC     FC      SC

16 infantry brigade            CB      FC      SA

4 cavalry brigade               CB      cuirassiers

4 corps artillery                 CB      12 pounders

5 French corps               Boyer           Poor

21 infantry brigade            CA      FB      SB

22 infantry brigade            CB      FC      SC

23 infantry brigade            CB      FC      SA

24 infantry brigade            CC     FC      SC

6 cavalry brigade               CB      light

6 corps artillery                 CB      9 pounders

6 Westphalian corps        Ricard          Average

 5 infantry brigade             CA      FB      SB

6 infantry brigade              CB      FB      SB

7 infantry brigade              CC     FC      SC

8 infantry brigade              CC     FC      SC

14 cavalry brigade             CB      lancers

3 corps artillery                 CB      9 pounders

3^rd French Army               Murat           Poor

7 French corps                Brayer          Average

17 infantry brigade            CA      FB      SB

18 infantry brigade            CB      FC      SA

19 infantry brigade            CC     FC      SC

20 infantry brigade            CC     FC      SC

5 cavalry brigade               CB      cuirassier

5 corps artillery                 CB      12 pounders

8 French corps                Delmas         Poor

9 infantry brigade              CA      FB      SB

10 infantry brigade            CB      FC      SA

11 infantry brigade            CC     FC      SB

12 infantry brigade            CC     FC      SC

3 cavalry brigade               CB      dragoons

3 corps artillery                 CB      9 pounders

9 Polish  corps                 Morand        Average

1 infantry brigade              CA      FB      SB

2 infantry brigade              CB      FB      SB

3 infantry brigade              CC     FC      SC

4 infantry brigade              CC     FC      SC

13 cavalry brigade             CB      lancers

2 corps artillery                 CB      9 pounders

Abbreviations

C – Class                          A elite, B average, C poor

F – Firing                          A good, B average, C poor

S – Skirmish                     A good, B average, C poor

Summary of Southern Germany Campaign – 30 May 1813

Regional areas of Southern Germany

There are three regions in Southern Germany

Strasbourg Region is the rear area for Third French army

Their main depot is in Strasbourg

Vienna Region is the rear area for the Austrian Army

Their main depot is in Vienna                   

Munich Region is the disputed area between them

Diary of Southern 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

 

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

01 February 1813    Formation of Third French army in Munich region

25 February 1813    Third French army declared operational

28 February 1813    Austrians moved into the Munich region

30 March 1813        Start of Branau campaign phase

11 April 1813           Austrians win Branau phase

20 May 1813           Start of Kufstein phase

30 May 1813           French win Kufstein phase

         

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

30 - Introduction to the campaign in Southern Germany

31 -  3^rd French Army order of battle

32 - Austrian Army order of battle

33 - Daily diary for the campaign in Southern Germany

34 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Germany

35 - Summary of campaign in Southern Germany

30 May 1813 – Southern Germany – End of Kufstein Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

Massena won four of the seven battles fought

Schwarzenberg won the remaining three

 

Massena held the city of Kufstein and therefore won the campaign

 

However Schwarzenberg defeated the French in five of the seven battles.

But he was unable to take the town in two battles and the French claimed victory

This was mostly due to Austrian supply problems

 

The Austrians won the first three battles, whilst they were close to their supply depots.   As they advanced it became increasingly difficult to move supplies to the forward depots.  

Munich Region

At the end of the campaign the two armies faced each other on the Salzburg/Kufstein border.   They held the same positions as at the start.

 

The Austrian army retreated towards Salzburg for ease of resupply

But halted close up to the border

 

The Bavarian army moved close to the border, but were careful not to provoke the Austrians.

 

Massena ordered his army to hold the border

He established his headquarters at Kufstein

 

Schwarzenberg ordered his army to resupply and regroup

He established his headquarters at Salzburg.

30 May 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 10

 

Schwarzenberg orders his army to retreat back into Salzburg District

1^st army abandon Walchsee and take all supplies with them to Nussdorf

2^nd army abandon Sankt Johann and take all supplies with them to Inzell

3^rd army abandon Kitzbuhel and take all supplies with them to Schonau

 

Massena orders a cautious pursuit to occupy the three abandoned towns

7^th army occupy, but do not advance beyond, Walchsee

8^th army occupy, but do not advance beyond, Sankt Johann

9^th army occupy, but do not advance beyond, Kitzbuhel