During the Baden Revolution, after the defeat of Friedrich Hecker at Kandern, the Baden government gathered its own and Hessian troops around Freiburg to clear the city of rebels. On 22 April 1848, around 1,500 Freischärler (irregulars) barricaded themselves in Freiburg, waiting anxiously for their relief by the force of 5,000 men who they had heard were advancing under Franz Sigel's command from Horben to Freiburg. In order to monitor the whereabouts of these troops, the insurgents, who were practically surrounded, sent a delegation under Hermann Mors in the direction of Horben. The delegation finally came across Sigel's vanguard of about 300 men under Gustav Struve, who reported: "The band of Freiburgers asked us to advance on Freiburg as quickly as possible, clearing the city itself of enemy troops, except those in the vicinity who are favourably disposed towards the people. The Freiburgers presented the matter to us as if it were only a question of taking possession of the city. In the absence of Sigel, we were unanimously of the opinion that we could not wait any longer, all the less since Sigel, since he was mounted, could easily overtake the column and assume overall command.[1]
Battleedit
Impressed by the request of the Freiburg delegation and spurred on by ambition, Struve rushed forward with his small force against Sigel's express orders. Sigel reports on Struve's going it alone: "Without taking the necessary precautionary measures, they descended into the valley to village of Günthersthal and moved in a column along the valley towards Freiburg. But when they arrived at the mouth of the valley, they suddenly met - as could have been foreseen - the enemy who had positioned themselves there and, after a brief parley, opened fire with artillery and infantry. As was could clearly have been predicted after the battle of Kandern and the behaviour of the royalists, ... the commanding officer did not enter into any negotiations, but replied to the former Baden artillery officer Kunzer, when he asked him whether Struve could speak a few words: "Away, away you dog". Kunzer addressed the artillery team with the words: "You won't shoot, your fathers and brothers are over there," whereupon the commander gave the battalion standing next to him the order to fire. With the exclamation "Murdering your fathers and brothers!" Kunzer rode back. His horse received a slight wound as a result of the shots that pursued him.[2]
The men in the front line, armed only with scythes, panicked after the first salvoes of grapeshot and ran away, some throwing away their scythes. Sigel, alarmed by the rifle and grapeshot fire, rushed down from Horben to Günterstal with a troop just in time and counterattacked the government troops. The battle lasted from half past three in the afternoon to seven in the evening. Much blood flowed on both sides. At least 20 militants and three soldiers lost their lives at the Jägerbrunnen. [3] The 2nd Grand Duchy of Hesse Regiment fought with the Baden Army units.[4]
Memorial at Jägerbrunnen with the inscription: On Easter Sunday, 23 April 1848, revolutionary Freischärler under Struve advanced from Günterstal towards Freiburg to unite with the Freischärler of the city. The government troops standing at the Dreisam, however, forced their withdrawal. Here on the battlefield, the comrades erected a memorial to the two fallen soldiers.
Freischärler memorial with the inscription: In memory of the fighters for freedom and democracy who fell in battle against government troops on Easter Sunday 1848
Referencesedit
^Gustav Struve:Geschichte der drei Volkserhebungen in Baden", Jenni, Bern 1849, pp. 75/76 online at Google digitized
^Franz Sigel: "Erlebnisse während der ersten Schilderhebung der deutschen Republikaner im April 1848". In: Friedrich Hecker: Die Erhebung des Volkes in Baden für die deutsche Republik im Frühjahr 1848, Basel 1849, p. 116. Google digitization
^Heinz Siebold: "1848 – Ein Aufstand für Freiheit und Menschenrechte,", in 1000 Jahre Wiehre; Ein Almanach, p. 140, Promo Verlag, Freiburg, 2008
^See Wilhelm Bigge: Geschichte des Infanterieregiments Kaiser Wilhelm (2. Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr. 116, Berlin 1903, pp. 252-253 / bub_gb_xM0OAAAAYAAJ / page / n283 Internet Archive
Literatureedit
F. Hecker: Die Erhebung des Volkes in Baden für die deutsche Republik im Frühjahr 1848, Druck von J. C. Schadelitz, Basel 1849 online in der Google-Buchsuche
Karin Groll: Eine verpaßte Chance? Das Gefecht bei Günterstal in Augenzeugenberichten und Erinnerungen. In: Badische Heimat, Band 70, 1990, S. 567–576
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gefecht bei Günterstal.
Freiburger Zeitung dated 25 April 1848; retrieved 8 August 2013
battle, günterstal, took, place, april, 1848, during, baden, revolution, jägerbrunnen, from, village, günterstal, here, government, troops, stopped, vanguard, militants, were, advancing, towards, city, freiburg, breisgau, under, franz, sigel, date23, april, 18. The Battle of Gunterstal took place on 23 April 1848 during the Baden Revolution at Jagerbrunnen not far from the village of Gunterstal Here government troops stopped a vanguard of the militants who were advancing towards the city of Freiburg im Breisgau under Franz Sigel Battle of GunterstalDate23 April 1848LocationJagerbrunnen near GunterstalBelligerentsrepublican Freischarler irregulars Grand Duchy of Baden Grand Duchy of HesseCommanders and leadersGustav StruveFranz SigelGeneral Friedrich HoffmannCasualties and lossesat least 20 deathsat least 3 deaths Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 References 4 Literature 5 External linksBackground editDuring the Baden Revolution after the defeat of Friedrich Hecker at Kandern the Baden government gathered its own and Hessian troops around Freiburg to clear the city of rebels On 22 April 1848 around 1 500 Freischarler irregulars barricaded themselves in Freiburg waiting anxiously for their relief by the force of 5 000 men who they had heard were advancing under Franz Sigel s command from Horben to Freiburg In order to monitor the whereabouts of these troops the insurgents who were practically surrounded sent a delegation under Hermann Mors in the direction of Horben The delegation finally came across Sigel s vanguard of about 300 men under Gustav Struve who reported The band of Freiburgers asked us to advance on Freiburg as quickly as possible clearing the city itself of enemy troops except those in the vicinity who are favourably disposed towards the people The Freiburgers presented the matter to us as if it were only a question of taking possession of the city In the absence of Sigel we were unanimously of the opinion that we could not wait any longer all the less since Sigel since he was mounted could easily overtake the column and assume overall command 1 Battle editImpressed by the request of the Freiburg delegation and spurred on by ambition Struve rushed forward with his small force against Sigel s express orders Sigel reports on Struve s going it alone Without taking the necessary precautionary measures they descended into the valley to village of Gunthersthal and moved in a column along the valley towards Freiburg But when they arrived at the mouth of the valley they suddenly met as could have been foreseen the enemy who had positioned themselves there and after a brief parley opened fire with artillery and infantry As was could clearly have been predicted after the battle of Kandern and the behaviour of the royalists the commanding officer did not enter into any negotiations but replied to the former Baden artillery officer Kunzer when he asked him whether Struve could speak a few words Away away you dog Kunzer addressed the artillery team with the words You won t shoot your fathers and brothers are over there whereupon the commander gave the battalion standing next to him the order to fire With the exclamation Murdering your fathers and brothers Kunzer rode back His horse received a slight wound as a result of the shots that pursued him 2 The men in the front line armed only with scythes panicked after the first salvoes of grapeshot and ran away some throwing away their scythes Sigel alarmed by the rifle and grapeshot fire rushed down from Horben to Gunterstal with a troop just in time and counterattacked the government troops The battle lasted from half past three in the afternoon to seven in the evening Much blood flowed on both sides At least 20 militants and three soldiers lost their lives at the Jagerbrunnen 3 The 2nd Grand Duchy of Hesse Regiment fought with the Baden Army units 4 nbsp Memorial at Jagerbrunnen with the inscription On Easter Sunday 23 April 1848 revolutionary Freischarler under Struve advanced from Gunterstal towards Freiburg to unite with the Freischarler of the city The government troops standing at the Dreisam however forced their withdrawal Here on the battlefield the comrades erected a memorial to the two fallen soldiers nbsp Freischarler memorial with the inscription In memory of the fighters for freedom and democracy who fell in battle against government troops on Easter Sunday 1848References edit Gustav Struve Geschichte der drei Volkserhebungen in Baden Jenni Bern 1849 pp 75 76 online at Google digitized Franz Sigel Erlebnisse wahrend der ersten Schilderhebung der deutschen Republikaner im April 1848 In Friedrich Hecker Die Erhebung des Volkes in Baden fur die deutsche Republik im Fruhjahr 1848 Basel 1849 p 116 Google digitization Heinz Siebold 1848 Ein Aufstand fur Freiheit und Menschenrechte in 1000 Jahre Wiehre Ein Almanach p 140 Promo Verlag Freiburg 2008 See Wilhelm Bigge Geschichte des Infanterieregiments Kaiser Wilhelm 2 Grossherzoglich Hessisches Nr 116 Berlin 1903 pp 252 253 bub gb xM0OAAAAYAAJ page n283 Internet ArchiveLiterature editF Hecker Die Erhebung des Volkes in Baden fur die deutsche Republik im Fruhjahr 1848 Druck von J C Schadelitz Basel 1849 online in der Google Buchsuche Karin Groll Eine verpasste Chance Das Gefecht bei Gunterstal in Augenzeugenberichten und Erinnerungen In Badische Heimat Band 70 1990 S 567 576External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gefecht bei Gunterstal Freiburger Zeitung dated 25 April 1848 retrieved 8 August 2013 47 58 15 35 N 7 51 7 3 E 47 9709306 N 7 852028 E 47 9709306 7 852028 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Gunterstal amp oldid 1216874157, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
