On 9 October 1806, Prussia declared war on France and joined a renewed coalition, fearing the rise in French power after the defeat of Austria and establishment of the French-sponsored Confederation of the Rhine in addition to having learned of French plans to cede Prussian-desired Hanover to Britain in exchange for peace. Prussia and Russia mobilized for a fresh campaign with France, massing troops in Saxony.
Napoleon could scarcely believe Prussia would be so foolish to take him on in a straight fight with hardly any allies at hand on its side, especially since most of his Grande Armée was still in the heart of Germany close to the Prussian border.
Napoleon decisively defeated the Prussians in an expeditious campaign that culminated at the Battle of Jena–Auerstedt on 14 October 1806. French forces under Napoleon occupied Prussia, pursued the remnants of the shattered Prussian Army, and captured Berlin.
In the span of 19 days after declaring war, the Prussian army effectively ceased to exist, except for a small corps under L’Estocq, which later joined the Russians.
Some 160,000 French soldiers fought against Prussia, French numbers increasing as the campaign went on, with reinforcements arriving across the Wesel bridgehead from the peripheral theatre surrounding the recently formed Kingdom of Holland. Collectively, the French advanced with such speed that Napoleon was able to destroy as an effective military force almost the entire quarter of a million-strong Prussian army. The Prussians sustained 65,000 casualties, including the deaths of two members of the royal family. They lost a further 150,000 prisoners, over 4,000 artillery pieces, and over 100,000 muskets stockpiled in Berlin. The French suffered around 15,000 casualties for the whole campaign. Napoleon entered Berlin on 27 October 1806 and visited the tomb of Frederick the Great, telling his marshals to show their respect, saying, “If he were alive we wouldn’t be here today”.
The Prussian collapse was so severe that entire fortresses capitulated to French cavalry, sometimes persuaded by nothing more than a bold bluff.
Lovablemiranda03 on
This is a very polite way of saying Napoleon turned the Prussian army into a continental breakfast.
Efficient-Orchid-594 on
Prussia: there’s nothing we can do
LessSaussure on
Not surprising, germans are only capable of defeating each other. Their only win against a major power is the franco-prussian conflict which is the textbook definition of a Limited War and was not even the biggest war of the period between napoleon and WWI.
Maslenain on
Not the most glorious campaign for Napoleon, but definitely the most humiliating for his enemies.
Flavius_16 on
Et ce fut à ce moment que la Prusse compris… elle avait merdé
It was at this moment Prussia knew… she fucked up.
Boromir1821 on
“Behind the fine facade….it was mildwed” Carl von Clausewitz on the state of the Prussian army at the time
Neil118781 on
The elite Prussian Garde du Corps used to sharpen their bayonets outside the French embassy as a threat a few days before the imminent declaration of war. Since the time of Frederick the Great, it was said that no battle would be lost until the Garde du Corps attacked, so it was not an empty threat.
After Davout’s victory at Auerstedt, during the victory march in Berlin—with Davout’s corps in the first line entering the city—they took captured Garde du Corps officers with them in the parade and made them show the French around the city.
GCN_09 on
Not to mention Prussia only entered the war against Napoleon because of the whims of a woman.
Queen Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the one who pushed king Frederick William III to war, being the leader of War Party in the Prussian court. The king himself was content on staying out.
9 Comments
Context from Wikipedia:
War of the fourth coalition:
On 9 October 1806, Prussia declared war on France and joined a renewed coalition, fearing the rise in French power after the defeat of Austria and establishment of the French-sponsored Confederation of the Rhine in addition to having learned of French plans to cede Prussian-desired Hanover to Britain in exchange for peace. Prussia and Russia mobilized for a fresh campaign with France, massing troops in Saxony.
Napoleon could scarcely believe Prussia would be so foolish to take him on in a straight fight with hardly any allies at hand on its side, especially since most of his Grande Armée was still in the heart of Germany close to the Prussian border.
Napoleon decisively defeated the Prussians in an expeditious campaign that culminated at the Battle of Jena–Auerstedt on 14 October 1806. French forces under Napoleon occupied Prussia, pursued the remnants of the shattered Prussian Army, and captured Berlin.
In the span of 19 days after declaring war, the Prussian army effectively ceased to exist, except for a small corps under L’Estocq, which later joined the Russians.
Some 160,000 French soldiers fought against Prussia, French numbers increasing as the campaign went on, with reinforcements arriving across the Wesel bridgehead from the peripheral theatre surrounding the recently formed Kingdom of Holland. Collectively, the French advanced with such speed that Napoleon was able to destroy as an effective military force almost the entire quarter of a million-strong Prussian army. The Prussians sustained 65,000 casualties, including the deaths of two members of the royal family. They lost a further 150,000 prisoners, over 4,000 artillery pieces, and over 100,000 muskets stockpiled in Berlin. The French suffered around 15,000 casualties for the whole campaign. Napoleon entered Berlin on 27 October 1806 and visited the tomb of Frederick the Great, telling his marshals to show their respect, saying, “If he were alive we wouldn’t be here today”.
The Prussian collapse was so severe that entire fortresses capitulated to French cavalry, sometimes persuaded by nothing more than a bold bluff.
This is a very polite way of saying Napoleon turned the Prussian army into a continental breakfast.
Prussia: there’s nothing we can do
Not surprising, germans are only capable of defeating each other. Their only win against a major power is the franco-prussian conflict which is the textbook definition of a Limited War and was not even the biggest war of the period between napoleon and WWI.
Not the most glorious campaign for Napoleon, but definitely the most humiliating for his enemies.
Et ce fut à ce moment que la Prusse compris… elle avait merdé
It was at this moment Prussia knew… she fucked up.
“Behind the fine facade….it was mildwed” Carl von Clausewitz on the state of the Prussian army at the time
The elite Prussian Garde du Corps used to sharpen their bayonets outside the French embassy as a threat a few days before the imminent declaration of war. Since the time of Frederick the Great, it was said that no battle would be lost until the Garde du Corps attacked, so it was not an empty threat.
After Davout’s victory at Auerstedt, during the victory march in Berlin—with Davout’s corps in the first line entering the city—they took captured Garde du Corps officers with them in the parade and made them show the French around the city.
Not to mention Prussia only entered the war against Napoleon because of the whims of a woman.
Queen Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the one who pushed king Frederick William III to war, being the leader of War Party in the Prussian court. The king himself was content on staying out.