Battle of Rossbach

Battle of Rossbach
Part of the Third Silesian War
Battle of Rossbach, unknown artist
Date 5 November 1757 Location Rossbach, Saxony 51°16′10″N 11°53′40″E / 51.26944°N 11.89444°E / 51.26944; 11.89444 Result Prussian victory
Belligerents
Prussia	France  Holy Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Frederick II	Prince de Soubise Prince Joseph
Strength
22,000[1] 79 guns	41,110[2] 114 guns
Casualties and losses
169 killed[1] 379 wounded[1]	8,000[3]–10,000[1] killed, wounded and captured

Frederick the Great

200km
125miles

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Dresden

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Prague

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  current battle

  First Silesian War

  Second Silesian War

  Third Silesian War

The Battle of Rossbach took place on 5 November 1757 during the Third Silesian War (1756–1763, part of the Seven Years' War) near the village of Rossbach (Roßbach), in the Electorate of Saxony. It is sometimes called the Battle of, or at, Reichardtswerben, after a different nearby town. In this 90-minute battle, Frederick the Great, king of Prussia, defeated an Allied army composed of French forces augmented by a contingent of the Reichsarmee (Imperial Army) of the Holy Roman Empire. The French and Imperial army included 41,110 men, opposing a considerably smaller Prussian force of 22,000. Despite overwhelming odds, Frederick managed to defeat the Imperials and the French.

The Battle of Rossbach marked a turning point in the Seven Years' War, not only for its stunning Prussian victory, but because France refused to send troops against Prussia again and Britain, noting Prussia's military success, increased its financial support for Frederick. Following the battle, Frederick immediately left Rossbach and marched for 13 days to the outskirts of Breslau. There he met the Austrian army at the Battle of Leuthen; he employed similar tactics to again defeat an army considerably larger than his own.

Rossbach is considered one of Frederick's greatest strategic masterpieces. He crippled an enemy army twice the size of the Prussian force while suffering negligible casualties. His artillery also played a critical role in the victory, based on its ability to reposition itself rapidly responding to changing circumstances on the battlefield. Finally, his cavalry contributed decisively to the outcome of the battle, justifying his investment of resources into its training during the eight-year interim between the conclusion of the War of Austrian Succession and the outbreak of the Seven Years' War.