Battle of Leipzig

battle_name=Battle of Leipzig

Prelude

Following the disastrous campaign in Russia and defeats in the Peninsular War, the anti-French forces had cautiously regrouped as the Sixth Coalition, comprising Britain, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Prussia, Austria, Sweden and certain smaller German states. All up the Coalition could put into the field well over a million troops - indeed by the time of Leipzig, total Allied armies east of the Rhine probably exceeded a million. By contrast Napoleon's forces had dwindled to just a few hundred thousand.

Related Topics:
Peninsular War - Sixth Coalition - Britain - Russia - Spain - Portugal - Prussia - Austria - Sweden - German

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Napoleon sought to re-establish his hold in Germany, winning two hard-fought victories at Lützen, on 2 May and Bautzen, on 20-21 May over Russo-Prussian forces. The victories led to a brief armistice but this one lasted even less time than usual. The Coalition forces, under the command of Gebhard von Blücher, Crown Prince Charles of Sweden and Karl Schwarzenberg, followed the strategy outlined in the Trachenburg Plan to avoid clashes with Napoleon but to seek meetings with his marshals, which led to victories at Grossbeeren, Kulm, Katzbach and at Dennewitz.

Related Topics:
Lützen - 2 May - Bautzen - 20 - 21 May - Gebhard von Blücher - Crown Prince Charles of Sweden - Karl Schwarzenberg - Trachenburg Plan - Grossbeeren - Kulm - Katzbach - Dennewitz

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Marshal Nicolas Oudinot failed to capture Berlin with his army of 120,000 and Napoleon was forced to withdraw westwards due to the threat to the north, crossing the Elbe in late September and organizing his forces around Leipzig to protect his supply lines and meet the Allies. Napoleon arranged his army around Leipzig, but concentrating his force from Taucha through Stötteritz (where Napoleon placed his command) and then curving south-west to Lindenau. The Prussians advanced from Wartenburg, the Austrians and Russians from Dresden and the Swedish force from the north. In total, the French had around 190,000 soldiers and the Allies almost 330,000 with both sides having significant artillery - in total there were over two and a half thousand pieces of ordinance on the field.

Related Topics:
Nicolas Oudinot - Berlin - Elbe - Leipzig - Dresden

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