battle battle fought june north bank danube near resulted french victory general austrians baron austrians subsequently forced fortress town instead attacking heavily fortified walled city result massive losses personnel time supporting forces defending danube passage east line retreat eastward disappeared quickly abandoned withdrew bavaria opened danube vienna danube passage connecting strategic importance ongoing competition european france army commanded danube especially passage bavaria command access important cities munich seat authority vienna end result battle opposite occurred fields years earlier armies faced armies france war spanish succession second battle called english overwhelming allied victory ensured safety vienna franco army preventing collapse france loss engagement opened france allied english austrian forces background coalition forces achieved initial victories efforts northern italy pushed austrian forces resulted negotiation peace april subsequent treaty october treaty proved difficult administer austria slow venetian territories congress convened purposes deciding southwestern german states compensate houses territorial losses unable progress supported french republican forces swiss insurgents staged uprisings ultimately causing overthrow months civil war early tactics employed austria uprising naples raised recent gains switzerland suggested timing french venture campaign northern italy southwestern germany beginning armies france austria faced rhine led approximately troops addition austrian regulars force included men troops soldiers low quality men deployed east lake protect posted main body soldiers shaped angle rhine changes direction westward flow northern border switzerland northward flow eastern border france set main magazine near northwestern end lake day march french held switzerland general division commanded equipped army french troops troops available field operations watched swiss border held rhine fortresses offered plan operations based austrians push switzerland declined follow planned cross rhine near river swung north french column distract true intentions crossing rhine west wanted corps detached italy initial battles plans series complicated maneuvers flanked double flanked army forces lay eastern slope portions army guarding passes battles fought armies fighting near resulted stalemate heavy losses sides main armies engaged captured austrian defenders joseph prince loss main supply base compelled retreat north army enjoyed favorable defensive position meant retreat austria switzerland cut french launched repeated fruitless assaults nearby austrians superiority position force 1st took village heights gave commanding aspect subsequently withdrew forces followed closely french fighting nearby der ensued action principally consisted man strong french center commanded force similar size austrians withdrew heavy losses time order battle french sources unclear forces present certainly approximately troops possibly total austrian numbers contemporary accounts place brigade center action village miles suggests presence general corps including forces generals confirmed extract dispatch french minister war published london chronicle june 6th 13th cavalry 4th 11th distinguished affair rest division passed rapidly danube general equally prepared art war baron refers general having key role french success austrian allied force included approximately regulars contingent troops raised war count commanding von ferdinand august including battalion companies squadron squadrons regiments commanded von battalion guns austrian number squadrons number squadrons squadron squadron total austrian force men assumed follow fortress danube austrian regulars contingent supplies position gave ready access shores river effectively assumed blocked path bavaria points east danube posted modest forces protect river crossings necessary stone bridges river bridges crossed river lay downstream east presented strategic point potential line march bavaria according narrative intended force come battle outside abandon city french access bavaria blocked main force army rhine forces secure accepted military wisdom required secure half crossings river troops follow line march perpendicular river prevent having fight battle skirmish backs river bridges force secure approach general engagement appeared march lay miles east der army engaged days earlier instead striking directly fortified supplied city force suddenly east struck smaller forces posted secured posts left sufficient rearguard troops protect remained guarding mountain access vienna approached posted right flank left flank general protected shores covering road south secured communication switzerland considerable austrians divisions reserve remained support attack general case succeed attack case succeed bridge reconnaissance suggested instead focus bridges day small group men managed spectacular crossing river stripping clothing weapons loading small naked men swam river pulling weapons reaching took possession guns ammunition wood materials held position artillery men managed scramble wreck bridge support pioneers bridge builders reconstructed bridges austrian fire allowing remainder crossed river accomplishment mark turning point action mentioned length dispatch maintained stand repeated attacks took austrians prisoners cannons standards aftermath french secured downstream shores danube choice evacuate corps leaving small garrison french invested fortress immediately 20th 6th captured convoy wagons loaded grain days later general armistice halted fighting emperor dismissed appointed brother year old command austrian army bolster inexperienced emperor named deputy commander colonel chief staff campaign culminating evacuation given specific instructions conduct campaign ignored regardless combined efforts damaged military operations spring wrecked austrian defenses germany ran stiff austrian napoleon brought reserve corps defeated austrians battle near days austrian disaster allowed french munich combined efforts forced accept armistice ended hostilities rest summer french extracted massive despite significant losses decisive austrians reluctant accept peace terms mid november french ended truce inflicted significant decisive defeat december subsequent peace stripped austria italian territories obliged recognize french satellites low countries switzerland northern italy laid small independent ecclesiastical secular imperial books encyclopedia arnold isbn barnes isbn french revolutionary wars new_york isbn david isbn age napoleon isbn history wars french revolution including sketches france restoration general peace france baron art war originally published english isbn art warfare age napoleon isbn france reprint smith napoleonic wars data book london isbn extract letter minister war june day
Battle of Höchstädt (1800)