Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Leuthen 260th Anniversary Today

The Battle of Leuthen - December 5, 1757


December 5th marks the 260th anniversary of Frederick the Great's masterpiece victory over the Austrians at the batle of Leuthen -- December 5, 1757.

Aficionados of the era will recall that after an early success at the battle of Prague in May 1757, Prussian fortunes reached a nadir after a string of defeats at Kolin, Moys and Breslau. The Austrians had even captured the Silesian capital of Breslau and victory in the SYW seemed to be within their grasp.

Then in a span of thirty days, Frederick pulled his chestnuts from the fire beginning with a stomping of the French and Reichs Armee at Rossbach on November 5, 1757 followed up by Frederick's forced march back to Silesia where he defeated the Austrians at Leuthen on December 5, 1757. By the end of the 1757 year, Frederick was once again the master of his realms in Silesia and Saxony and his enemies were in a severe state of disarry.

I try to play a Leuthen game every year, but did not have the time to stage the game on its anniversary date due to many life events and a busy season filling miniatures orders for Fife & Drum and Minden Miniatures. So I will post a few pictures of my Leuthen game from last year for your viewing pleasure.

Zieten leads the advanced guard into battle on the Austrian left.

Opening attack formation on the Austrian left wing.

The Prussian Brummers move forward to the Juden-Berg

The Prussian Guards finish off the Wurttembers holding out in Sagschutz


Austrian infantry redeploys from a south facing to an east facing to meet the Prussian attack.

However, the Austrian battle line begins to bend as the Prussian attack en echelon hits the Austrian right flank with continuous attacks.

Austrian reserves defend the town of Leuthen

The stalwart Rot Wurzburg regiment defends the Leuthen churchyard





9 comments:

  1. Ahhhhhh. . . A fitting end to a busy day. Never tire of gazing at your set-up, Jim.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a lovely rendition of Leuthen. Great church, superb snow effects, wonderful model soldiers - fantastic. Thank you for showing us. Chris

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh gosh, we should play this again Jim.
    Thanks,
    Bill P.

    ReplyDelete
  4. A fitting tribute to an Iconic battle!

    'Nun danket alle Gott
    Mit Herzen, Mund und Händen,
    Der große Dinge tut
    An uns und allen Enden,
    Der uns von Mutterleib
    Und Kindesbeinen an
    Unzählig viel zu gut
    Bis hier her hat getan. .
    2 Der ewig reiche Gott
    Woll uns bei unsrem Leben
    Ein immer fröhlich Herz
    Und edlen Frieden geben,
    Und uns in seiner Gnad,
    Erhalten fort und fort
    Und uns aus aller Not
    Erlösen hier und dort.
    3 Lob, Ehr und Preis sei Gott,
    Dem Vater und dem Sohne
    Und dem, der beiden gleich
    Im höchsten Himmelsthrone,
    Dem einig höchsten Gott,
    Als er anfänglich war
    Und ist und bleiben wird
    Jetzt und immerdar.'

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful, and I love that church - very iconic.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Stokes has said it admirably! Happy Anniversary, Jim! ;-) I enjoyed your write-up last year, and this is a fine reminder. My favourites are Zieten, The Brummers and of course the church. Cheers, Rohan

    ReplyDelete