Summary of North Germany Campaign – 7 June 1813

 

Regional map of North Germany

There are three regions in North Germany

Osnabruck Region is the rear area for First French army

Their main depot is in Osnabruck

Brunswick Region is the rear area for the Prussian Army

Their main depot is in Berlin                     

Brunswick Region is the disputed area between them

 

Diary of 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

 

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

21 May 1813           Start of Goslar campaign phase

07 June 1813          Prussians win Goslar campaign 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

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

 

7 June 1813 – North Germany – End of Goslar Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

Blucher won four of the six battles fought

At the end of the campaign the French had been forced to retreat into the Hildesheim district

 

To allow his army to regroup and resupply Blucher concentrated them at Goslar

 

The campaign started in September 2022 and ended in December 2022

Brunswick Region

Napoleon ordered his army to retreat into Hildesheim district

 

Blucher deployed his army around Goslar

He also moved his headquarters to Goslar

7 June 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 7

French retreat and abandon Goslar and Liebenburg

In the north French abandon Liebenburg

In the centre French abandon Goslar

In the south Prussians occupy Osterode

Prussians win Goslar campaign 

6 June 1813 – Battle of Osterode

Tactical map of battle area

Blucher is aware that his army are running out of supplies and must soon rest

He orders one last attack which he hopes will force the French to retreat

 

3^rd French Army – 11 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

1^st Prussian Army – 11 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

3^rd French Army is deployed in front of the town of Osterode

Marshal Murat has not created a reserve

Each corps commander has his complete corps under command

 

1^st Prussian Army is off table, but will arrive at the start of move 1

End of move 2

Prussians have arrived on table

1^st corps deploy out of artillery range, but advance their artillery

2^nd corps deploy out of artillery range

Kleist has taken command of the grenadier brigade from each corps

3^rd corps deploy out of artillery range, but advance their artillery

 

French occupy woods on each flank

7^th corps occupy woods on right, artillery in front of woods

8^th corps remain in front of Osterode

9^th corps occupy woods on left, artillery on their left

End of move 4

Prussians advance

1^st corps advance, artillery receive 10% casualties but pass morale test

2^nd corps advance, cavalry charge and rout French gunners

Reserve advance and force French gunners to retire

3^rd corps advance and force French cavalry to retire

 

French withdraw cavalry and artillery

7^th corps cavalry withdraw, gunners routed

Murat takes command of 8^th cuirassiers and advance to save guns (too late)

8^th corps wait for Prussians to advance within artillery range

9^th corps cavalry and artillery withdraw, infantry occupy woods on left

End of move 6

Prussians attack

1^st corps artillery fire on French cavalry

2^nd corps advance, infantry rout disordered French cavalry

Reserve advance, receive 10% casualties but pass morale test

3^rd corps clear nearest half of woods, cavalry win melee

 

French withdraw and regroup

7^th corps artillery routed, cavalry withdraw behind woods

Reserve cavalry rout Prussian cavalry but are  then routed by infantry

8^th corps artillery hit approaching infantry columns

9^th corps cavalry lose melee, infantry withdraw northern half of woods

End of move 8

Prussian attack continues

1^st corps swing left to support attack in centre

2^nd corps rout infantry right of main road

Reserve rout artillery in centre

3^rd corps occupy half of woods on left

 

French withdraw towards Osterode

7^th corps withdraw from woods, artillery in rout

8^th corps cavalry and one brigade in rout

9^th corps withdraw from woods, one infantry brigade in rout

End of move 10

Prussians break French centre

1^st corps continue to move left to support attack in centre

2^nd corps rout French centre

Reserve rout French centre

3^rd corps continue to advance through woods

 

French break and run

7^th corps retreat with three brigades in rout

8^th corps retreat  with five brigades in rout

9^th corps retreat with two brigades in rout

 

Summary

French are broken and routed before they can rally around Osterode

Prussian infantry enter Osterode as darkness falls

The French have lost 4 infantry, 4 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (2200 men)

The Prussians have lost 2 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (1100 men)

 

6 June 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 6

Prussians attack Osterode

In the north both armies rest and reorganise

In the centre French retreat to Goslar

In the south Prussians attack Osterode

 

Battle of Osterode

Prussian main attack is in the centre

On the left 3^rd corps take the woods, but are unable to support the centre

On the right 1^st  corps swing towards the centre as the French withdraw

French suffer a crushing defeat and are forced to abandon osterode

5 June 1813 – Battle of Harzburg

Tactical map of battle area

Napoleon ordered a surprise attack on Harzburg

His aim was to disrupt the Prussian preparations to attack Goslar

Both armies started the battle with light casualties

But the French has slightly more than the Prussians 

 

1^st French Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

3^rd Prussian Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

 

Table at start of battle

Prussian army is deployed on the table at the start of the game

CinC has taken command of the defence of Harzburg

He has created a reserve of two grenadier brigades and one cavalry brigade

 

French will enter the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French enter table

1^st corps advance through the woods on the left

2^nd corps advance between the inn and the woods on the left

Napoleon has taken command of two infantry brigades and 2^nd corps artillery

3^rd corps advance through the woods on the right

 

Prussians react to French arrival

4^th corps redeploy

Reserve and 5^th corps are deployed behind Harzburg

6^th corps cavalry advance on the right

End of move 4

French advance

1^st corps pass through woods on left

2^nd corps advance towards town

Reserve swing right to support 3^rd corps

3^rd corps lose cavalry melee

 

Prussians occupy Harzburg

4^th corps wait for French to advance

Reserve enter left half of town

5^th corps enter right half of town

6^th corps win cavalry melee

End of move 6

French advance, but suffer heavy casualties

1^st corps receive artillery casualties but continue to advance

2^nd corps approach Harzburg

Reserve cavalry charge guns, receive casualties and are shaken

3^rd corps cavalry routed, rest of corps advance slowly

 

Prussians withdraw to stronger position

4^th corps withdraw as Imperial guard advance

Reserve infantry garrison left half of town

5^th corps infantry garrison right half of town, artillery withdraw

6^th corps infantry withdraw into woods on the right

End of move 8

French lose centre and left

1^st corps press home their attack

2^nd corps attack fails, one brigade routed

Reserve attack fails, one brigade and artillery routed

3^rd corps attack fails, two brigades in rout

 

Prussians hold centre and left

4^th corps withdraw towards town, two brigades in rout

Reserve hold left half of town

5^th corps hold right half of town

6^th corps hold woods on right

End of move 10

French attack stalls

1^st corps rout 4^th corps and attack town

2^nd corps win musket exchange, but abandon attack on town

Reserve broken and in rout

3^rd corps unable to advance beyond woods

 

Prussians hold town and win centre and right

4^th corps broken and in rout

Reserve take casualties but hold town

5^th corps hold town and move to counter 1^st corps attack

6^th corps content to hold woods

End of move 12

French attack fails

1^st corps rout 4^th corps and capture one infantry brigade

2^nd corps capture one infantry brigade

Reserve halt and regroup

3^rd corps hold woods

 

Prussians hold Harzburg and win battle

4^th corps is routed

Reserve holds left half of town at nightfall

5^th corps holds right half of town at nightfall

6^th corps holds woods at nightfall

 

Summary

French attack fails, apart from 1^st Old Guard corps

However they reach the town too late to launch an attack

Prussians suffer more casualties, and have more brigades in rout

However they have the main attack and held off the Old Guard

They hold the town at nightfall and therefore win the battle

 

The French have lost 7 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3100 men)

The Prussians have lost 8 infantryand 3 cavalry casualties (3500 men)

The French have 5 brigades in rout, the Prussians have 7 brigades.

5 June 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 5

 

French attack Harzburg

In the north surprise French attack on Harzburg

In the centre French prepare Liebenburg for a siege

In the south both armies regroup and resupply

Second battle of Harzburg

The French plan was to pin the Prussian left

The main attack would be in the centre against Harzburg

The Guard would crush the Prussian right and support the centre

The Prussians put up a fierce resistance and held their centre and left

Their right was broken, but delayed the Guard until it was too late to take the town

At nightfall they still held Harzburg and won the battle