25 May 1813 – Southern Germany – Erlangen Campaign

All Germany

The area outlined in white on the map is the Southern German campaign area.

The Austrian main supply base is at Prague (far right), and the Bavarian base is at

Strasbourg (far left)

Southern Germany with battles fought

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.

Erlangen Strategic Map

This extract from the strategic map is the Erlangen campaign area.   Each square on the map is one square on the wargames table.   The Bavarian main supply base is at Furth and the Austrian at Bamberg.   This map is for information only, it is not used for map movement.

Erlangen Tactical Map

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 Erlangen Campaign

Oudinot and Schwartzenberg have already fought four campaigns.   The Austrians have won all four.   Both armies have rested, regrouped and are fully operational.

Oudinot must reverse the run of Austrian victories if he is to prevent the total loss of Bavaria.

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

24 May 1813 – Summary of Campaign in Central Germany

Battles fought in Central Germany

Campaign History

At the end of 1812 both the French and Russian armies were broken and exhausted by the terrible Russian campaign.   Napoleon believed that the Russians would be prepared to agree to peace in order to rebuild their army.

At the start of February 1813 he did not consider them to be an immediate threat.   He was unaware of the secret allied treaty which agreed that the Prussia, Russia, Austria, England and Spain would all declare war on France.    He was also unaware that the Russians had crossed the river Oder on 20 January 1813.

On 8 February 1813 General Wittgenstein crossed the river Moldau and entered Dresden.   Having secured the city he ordered his army to march west and on 21 February they occupied Gera.

Napoleon ordered Davout to concentrate the Second French army at Kassel.   By the end of February they were fully operational.

5 March 1813 – Kassel campaign.   The Russians advanced and defeated the French at Kassel, Warburg, Freidland and Kassel again.   The French won two battles at Kassel.   Wittgenstein lost the campaign and retreated east.

19 March 1813 – First Gotha campaign.   The Russians won the first battle at Suhl, but were defeated at Gotha and again at Suhl.   The French won the campaign and Wittgenstein was again forced to retreat.

5 April 1813 – Armistice.   After a month of non stop marching and fighting both armies were in a poor shape.   Both needed time to regroup, resupply and reinforce.  Napoleon offered a seven day truce and Wittgenstein eagerly accepted.  The terms of the truce was that the Russian Army would retreat to Gera and the French Army would hold Kassel.

12 April 1813 – Second Gotha Campaign.   Davout won the first battle at Meiningen, but was defeated at Barchfeld and again at Meiningen.   The French lost the campaign and retreated to Kassel

24 May 1813 – Eisenbach Campaign.   Davout lost the first battle at Kassel.   He defeated the Russians at Meiningen, but lost again at Friedland.   He won at Gotha and again at Dolstadt.   The final battle of Meiningen was a draw.   The battered Russian Army retreated to Erfurt and the French won the campaign.

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 the 1813 campaign

02 - the five campaign areas

20 - introduction to the campaign in Central Germany

23 - daily diary for the campaign in Central Germany

24 - battle reports of all battles fought in Central Germany