18 June 1813 – North Germany – Wolfsburg Campaign

All Germany

There are three campaign areas in Germany as shown on the map.

Northern Germany - 1^st French army v Prussian army

Central Germany    - 2^nd French army v Russian army

Southern Germany - 3^rd French army v Austrian army

Each square on the map is 21 miles which is one days march.   It is also a wargames table

Northern Germany

The area outlined in white is the Wolfsburg campaign area.   Each square on the map is also 21 miles, one days march or a wargames table.

Wolfsburg Campaign Area

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 Wolfsburg Campaign

The Prussians had supported Napoleon during the 1812 Russian campaign.   At the end of that campaign they agreed to hold the Russian Army east of Berlin at the river Oder whilst Napoleon reorganised the shattered French army.

On 10 February 1813 they declared war on France.  

Blucher entered Magdeburg on 20 February 1813

Napoleon responded by moving his First Army to Hannover.

Blucher won the Brunswick phase 1-16 March 1813

Napoleon won the Hannover phase 17-26 March 1813

Napoleon also won the Magdeburg phase 27-31 March 1813

Both agreed to an armistice from 5-12 April in order to regroup and reorganise

Napoleon again won the Brunswick phase 12-20 April 1813

Blucher won the Magdeburg phase 21-27 April 1813

Wolfsburg Campaign Objective

At the start of the campaign the two armies are deployed as shown on the map above.

Blucher is determined to consolidate his victory in the previous campaign

Napoleon has lost three of the five previous campaigns and needs a victory to restore his image with the French people.

First French Army

Emperor Napoleon

1^st Guard corps

3^rd French corps

4^th French corps

13^th Polish corps

Reserve corps (not shown)

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

The reserve corps has three infantry brigades and will provide depot garrisons

76000 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 artillery

Prussian Army

Marshal Blucher

1^st Prussian corps

2^nd Prussian corps

3^rd Prussian corps

4^th Prussian corps

Reserve corps (not shown)

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

The reserve corps has three infantry brigades and will provide depot garrisons

76000 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 artillery

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 North Germany

11 - 1^st French Army order of battle

12 - Prussian Army order of battle

13 - Daily diary for the campaign in North Germany

14 - Battle reports of all battles fought in North Germany

15 - Summary of campaign in North Germany

17 June 1813 – Summary of Campaign in Southern Spain

Battles fought in Southern Spain

Campaign History

By the end of January most of the experienced French troops had been withdrawn from Spain to form the new Grand Army in Germany.   On 1 February 1813 Marshal Suchet was given command of all the remaining troops in Southern Spain.  He was ordered to abandon Seville and withdraw all the scattered garrisons to Madrid.

General Giron commanded all Spanish troops south of Madrid.   As the French withdrew he ordered his army to concentrate at Badajoz.  It took two weeks for them to do so.   He ordered an immediate advance on Madrid

On 28 February 1813 the Spanish Army reached Merida.   Their slow march allowed the Suchet to reorganize his Army and to march them west to meet the Spanish.   As the Spanish entered Merida, his army arrived at Almarez. 

5 March 1813 – Almarez Campaign.  Marshal Suchet opened the campaign by defeating the Spanish at Almarez and followed that by a second victory at Naval Moral.   The Spanish regrouped and countered by winning at Serrejon and Almarez.  Suchet retreated towards Madrid, allowing Giron to claim a Spanish campaign victory.

18 March 1813 – Talavera Campaign.   The Spanish dominated this campaign, winning both battles at Talavera and a draw at Las Vantas.    The campaign ended in a draw with the Armistice.

5 April 1813 – Armistice.   Despite their run of victories the Spanish Army had  dispersed due to battle casualties and lack of supplies.   They accepted the cease fire in order to reorganise their field army.   It was agreed that the Spanish would concentrate at Aranjuez and the French retreat to Toledo.

12 April 1813 – Toledo Campaign.   The French advance was relentless and the Spanish could do little to delay it.   The guerrilla bands caused some problems for the lines of communication and supply, and even captured two garrisons.   But Suchet ignored his lack of supplies and attacked Moncejon.   The Spanish army was broken and retreated.

4 June 1813 – Cuidad Real Campaign.   The Spanish were deployed north of the river Guadiana, with their main supply base in Cuidad Real just south of that river.   The French advanced over a wide area to prevent the Spanish from retreating and concentrating all of their army south of the river.   The French won the first two battles, but lost the third.  The Spanish retreated south of the river.   Despite long supply lines under attack from guerrilla bands, Suchet ordered his army to attack the defended river line.  He won the fourth battle and the campaign.   Once more the Spanish army was forced to retreat.

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

50 - introduction to the campaign in Southern Spain

53 - daily diary for the campaign in Southern Spain

54 - battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Spain