Battle of Mars-la-Tour

Battle of Mars-la-Tour
Part of the Franco-Prussian War

Heinrich XVII, Prince Reuß, on the side of the 5th Squadron I Guards Dragoon Regiment at Mars-la-Tour, 16 August 1870. Emil Hünten, 1902.
Date16 August 1870
Location49°06′11″N 5°52′21″E / 49.103095°N 5.872536°E / 49.103095; 5.872536
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents

German Empire North German Confederation

Second French Empire French Empire
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Prussia Friedrich Karl Second French Empire François Bazaine
Units involved
Kingdom of Prussia Second Army Second French Empire Army of the Rhine
Strength
80,000[1]
210+ guns
80,000[1]
Casualties and losses

15,799

4,421 killed
10,411 wounded
967 missing
2,736 horses

17,007

1,367 killed
10,120 wounded
5,472 missing

The Battle of Mars-la-Tour (also known as the Battle of Vionville or Battle of Rezonville) was fought on 16 August 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, near the village of Mars-La-Tour in northeast France. One Prussian corps, reinforced by two more later in the day, encountered the entire French Army of the Rhine in a meeting engagement and, following the course of battle, the Army of the Rhine retreated toward the fortress of Metz.

  1. ^ a b Clodfelter 2017, p. 187.