Battle of Leipzig
Napoleon invaded Russia on the 24th of June 1812 with around 685,000 troops. He entered Moscow in late 1812 after the bloody Battle of Borodino. Alexander refused to surrender even as the French occupied the city. The campaign ended in complete disaster as Napoleon and his remaining forces retreated during the bitter Russian winter. Sickness, starvation, and constant harrying by Russian Cossacks left the Grande Armée virtually destroyed. In June 1813, combined armies of Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom routed the French at the Battle of Vitoria. These defeats meant French armies were in retreat on all fronts across Europe. Anti-French forces joined Russia as its troops pursued the remnants of the Grande Armée. The allies regrouped as the Sixth Coalition, comprising Prussia, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Monarchs of Russia and Prussia met Crown Prince Charles John of Sweden at Trachenberg Castle in Silesia. Charles John outlined a strategy for defeating Napoleon that became known as the Trachenberg Plan. Three Coalition armies formed under this plan: the Army of Silesia of 95,000 men under Blücher, the Army of North Germany of 120,000 under Charles John, and the Army of Bohemia with 225,000 men under Schwarzenberg. A fourth army was constituted as the Army of Poland, initially 30,000 men but expanding to 70,000 by year's end. The Coalition armies would avoid battle with Napoleon and target his marshals instead. Close adherence to the Trachenberg Plan led to Coalition victories at Großbeeren, Kulm, Katzbach, and Dennewitz. Charles John began a propaganda campaign in Germany to stoke nationalist feeling. His efforts succeeded as Saxon and Westphalian armies exhibited signs of mutiny throughout late August and September.
The French gained slight victories at Lindenau and Wachau on the first day of fighting. They sustained a reverse at Möckern where Prussian hussars caused serious losses to French defenders. The Allies lost approximately 30,000 men including 2,000 prisoners while the French lost about 25,000 in all. Despite the French advantage in casualties, the first day ended in a draw. Austrian II Corps commanded by Merveldt advanced towards Connewitz via Gautzsch. Merveldt himself was wounded and captured after he went straight into the Saxon-Polish lines at the Pleiße River. Austrians then moved to attack nearby Dölitz down a road crossed by two bridges. Two companies of the 24th Regiment ousted the small Polish garrison and took the position. A prompt counterattack by Saxons and Poles ejected the Austrian troops until they brought up artillery. The Poles suffered heavy casualties during their furious defense and set fire to both the manor and mill. Action at Liebertwolkwitz saw General von Klenau's Austrian IV Corps attack with 24,500 men backed up by Pirch's 10th Brigade.
The Allies launched a huge assault from all sides on the 18th of October completely encircling Napoleon's army. In over nine hours of fighting, French troops were slowly forced back towards Leipzig. The bloodiest fighting occurred in Probstheida where about 60,000 soldiers under Barclay marched advancing towards the village. Prussian jägers attempted to enter the village by storm but were quickly driven back. The artillery of both sides opened fire upon the village despite the enormous amount of artillery that the Allies had brought. The more powerful French Imperial Guard artillery gradually gained the upper hand. The third assault was conducted by Russians commanded by General Raevsky who arrived a few days earlier from Russia after a delay due to sickness. Charles John gave the order for his light infantry to participate in the final assault on Leipzig itself. Swedish jägers performed very well losing only 35 men dead while capturing 647 French prisoners. On the western front, French IV Corps under Bertrand finally drove the Austrian III Corps away from Lindenau breaking the encirclement.
Napoleon began to stage the retreat for the Grande Armée westward across the White Elster River during the night. The French army withdrew silently from Connewitz, Probstheida, Stotteritz, Volkmansdorf, and Reudnitz. Those in Lindenau moved to Weissenfels. Weak rear guards occupied villages to conceal the retreat. The Allies learned of the French evacuation at 7:00 on the morning of the 19th of October. Soon thereafter between 8:00, 9:00 am they launched a full-scale assault from north, south, and east against retreating French. Napoleon's disorganized retreat continued until early afternoon when General Dulauloy delegated the task of destroying the bridge to Colonel Montfort. The colonel passed this responsibility to a corporal who was unaware of the carefully planned time schedule. The corporal ignited the fuses at 1:00 in the afternoon while the bridge was still crowded with retreating French troops. The explosion caused panic resulting in deaths of thousands of French troops and capture of 30,000 others. Poniatowski drowned while attempting to cross the river.
The Battle of Leipzig was the bloodiest of the Napoleonic Wars with over 400,000 rounds of artillery ammunition expended. Estimates range from 80,000 to 110,000 total killed, wounded, or missing. Napoleon lost about 38,000 killed and wounded and likely thousands of horses. In his disastrous disorganized retreat, Allies captured 15,000 able-bodied Frenchmen and 21,000 wounded or sick. Six French generals were killed, 12 wounded, and 36 captured including Lauriston and Reynier. Out of a total force of 360,000, the Allies suffered approximately 54,000 casualties. Schwarzenberg's Army of Bohemia lost 34,000 men while Blücher's Army of Silesia lost 12,000. Charles John's Army of the North and Bennigsen's Army of Poland lost about 4,000 each. Locals had difficulty disposing of corpses with some still visible the following year.
Three weeks after Leipzig, having won the Battle of Hanau, Napoleon arrived at Saint-Cloud to organize defense of France. When he went back to Paris at the year's end, his first words on entering Senate were sad and low in mood. He stated that a year ago all Europe marched with them but today all Europe marched against them. Half a million troops had been lost in the German Campaign of 1813. With Confederation of Rhine dissolved and Prussia once again becoming one of continent's great powers, Coalition armies pressed advantage and invaded France in early 1814. After Paris fell to Coalition on the 31st of March, Napoleon abdicated on the 6th of April. Forced into exile on island of Elba, Napoleon arrived there on the 30th of May. The battle ended French Empire presence east of Rhine and brought secondary German states over to Coalition with largest German states of Austria and Prussia.
The Monument to the Battle of Nations was completed in 1913 according to design by Bruno Schmitz at cost of six million German gold marks. Russian Memorial Church dedicated to coincide with hundredth anniversary honored Russian troops who fought in battle. Course of battle in city of Leipzig marked by numerous monuments and 50 Apel-stones marking important lines of French and Allied troops. The 1913 Centennial Exhibition held in Breslau for which built extensive venue centered around Centennial Hall. It listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. The battle remains known as the Battle of the Nations and is considered easily ranking among largest battles in history.
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Common questions
When did the Battle of Leipzig take place?
The Battle of Leipzig took place on the 18th and the 19th of October 1813. The main assault began on the 18th of October while the French retreat and bridge explosion occurred during the night of the 18th into the morning of the 19th.
Who commanded the Coalition armies at the Battle of Leipzig?
The Coalition forces were led by Schwarzenberg commanding the Army of Bohemia, Blücher leading the Army of Silesia, Charles John heading the Army of North Germany, and Bennigsen directing the Army of Poland. These four commanders coordinated their troops under the Trachenberg Plan to defeat Napoleon.
How many casualties occurred during the Battle of Leipzig?
Estimates for total killed, wounded, or missing range from 80,000 to 110,000 men across both sides. The Allies suffered approximately 54,000 casualties while the French lost about 38,000 killed and wounded plus thousands captured during the retreat.
Why is the Battle of Leipzig called the Battle of the Nations?
The battle involved a massive coalition including Prussia, Russia, Sweden, Austria, Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom fighting against France. This diverse alliance of European powers created the largest battle in history up to that point and ended French Empire presence east of the Rhine.
What happened when the bridge over the White Elster River exploded?
A corporal ignited fuses at 1:00 in the afternoon on the 19th of October while retreating French troops were still crossing the bridge. The explosion caused panic resulting in deaths of thousands of French troops and the capture of 30,000 others including the drowning of General Poniatowski.