Battle of Kesselsdorf

Battle of Kesselsdorf
Part of the Second Silesian War (War of the Austrian Succession)
Date15 December 1745
Location
Kesselsdorf, near Dresden, present-day Germany
Result Prussian victory
Belligerents
 Prussia  Saxony
Habsburg monarchy Austria[1]
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Prussia Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau Electorate of Saxony Field Marshal Rutowsky
Strength
32,000[2]
33 field guns
additional battalion guns

35,000:

  • 28,000 Saxons
  • 7,000 Austrians
  • 80 field and battalion guns[3]
Casualties and losses

5,100:

  • 1,600 killed
  • 3,500 wounded and missing

10,500:

  • 3,800 dead and wounded
  • 6,700 captured
  • 48 cannon

The Battle of Kesselsdorf was fought on 15 December 1745, between the Kingdom of Prussia and the combined forces of the Archduchy of Austria and the Electorate of Saxony during the part of the War of the Austrian Succession known as the Second Silesian War. The Prussians were led by Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, while the Austrians and Saxons were led by Field Marshal Rutowsky. The Prussians were victorious over the Royal Saxon Army and the Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Emperor.

  1. ^
    • "The Austrian imperial standard has, on a yellow ground, the black double-headed eagle, on the breast and wings of which are imposed shields bearing the arms of the provinces of the empire. The flag is bordered all round, the border being composed of equal-sided triangles with their apices alternately inwards and outwards, those with their apices pointing inwards being alternately yellow and white, the others alternately scarlet and black." (Chisholm 1911, p. 461)
    • "The imperial banner was a golden yellow cloth...bearing a black eagle...The double-headed eagle was finally established by Sigismund as regent..." (Smith 1975, pp. 114–119)
  2. ^ Tuttle 1888, p.42
  3. ^ Cust 1862, p.74.