Battle of Lobositz

Prelude

The battle was the opening battle of the Seven Years' War. Always having been a believer in the pre-emptive strike, Frederick invaded Saxony on August 29 against the advice of his British allies. With him was the bulk of the Prussian army. Neither the Saxon nor the Austrian army was ready for war. The Saxon army took up a strong defensive position near Pirna, and Frederick had no option but to isolate and starve them. An Austrian army under field marshall von Browne raced to the aid of Saxony. The two armies met near the village of Lovosice (German Lobositz), along the Elbe river, in present day Czech Republic.

Related Topics:
Saxony - August 29 - Pirna - Lovosice - Elbe - Czech Republic

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Van Browne, the Austrian general, had ordered a small force on the opposite bank of the Elbe to move to the beleaguered Saxon army at Pirna, but recalled it when he heard the news of Frederick's advance.

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