After being beaten at Münchengrätz, Iser army under Clam-Gallas redeployed at Jičín. Unaware that after the Battle of SkalitzBenedek had halted North Army's advance towards Jičín, where under the Austrian battle plan the conjunction of both armies would have taken place in order to fall upon one of the Prussian main armies to beat them in detail, Clam-Gallas was under the impression that he would be directly supported by Northern army's advance units (III Corps), and decided to give battle. Clam-Gallas' battle line consisted out of Abele's brigade at the Přivyšín heights on the left, supported by Ringelsheim's brigade blocking the road from Mnichovo Hradiště (Münchengrätz) at Lochov, the center at Brada Hill was held by Poschacher's brigade, supported by Leiningen's, and the town of Železnice (Eisenstadtl) on the right was to be held by Piret's brigade and the 1st Light Cavalry Division. The position between Poschacher and Piret was to be held by the Saxon army, which after taken a longer southern route from Münchengrätz had the previous night camped some 10 kilometers south of their designated position in the battle line, leaving a vulnerable gap between the Austrian center and right. The gap was temporarily filled by a 56 gun Austrian grand battery.[2]
Prussian attack on Jičín
On June 29, 1866 after having won at Münchengrätz, the Prussian Elbe army and First Army each sent an infantry division towards Jičín. From the north, the Prussian 5th Division, under Wilhelm von Tümpling, advanced towards Jičín. After using his artillery batteries to soften up the Austrian position Tümpling attacked the center and right. The cannon fire startled the Saxons, whose advance brigade was still four kilometers from their designated position in the battle line. By 6:00 PM Poschacher's brigade was able to hold off attacks on their hill position by the Prussian 9th Brigade, and Abele had been able to stop the Prussian 10th Brigade's attack on the Privysin heights. At 6:00 PM advancing from the west, advance units from the Prussian 3rd Division, part of Elbe army and led by August von Werder, attacked Ringelsheim but were held off.[3]
The next Prussian attack was directed at the center-right position at the hamlet of Zames where they encountered the Veronese 45th regiment of Piret's brigade, which they easily drove off. 9th Brigade was able to occupy the hamlet in the center of the Austrian position with two battalions. Neither Piret's brigade, nor Leiningen's reserve, were sent in to plug the hole in the Austrian center, leaving the Prussians in control of the center of the Austrian line. The feeble counterattacks by hussars from 1st Light Cavalry Division were easily held off by the Prussians. The Austrian artillery, bombarding the hamlet, then set Zames aflame, forcing the Prussians holding the hamlet to attack forward towards Dilec. The advancing Prussians were then able to beat the Saxons to Dilec and occupied the town at 7:30 PM. To plug this hole and to aid the faltering Saxons, Piret decided to attack the Prussians on his left but Piret was easily held off by the Prussians, reinforced by Tümpling's reserve battalion, and their use of the superior Dreyse needle gun to smash the Austrian storm columns, which then collapsed and fled. Simultaneously Werder's attack towards Lochov, in order to outflank Ringelsheim, caused the collapse of the Austrian left as well, and the Prussians were able to push Abele and Ringelsheim back to Jičín, which they eventually occupied at 10:30 PM.[4]
At 8:00 PM the Austrian staff received Benedek's new orders, which had been sent by horseback, announcing North Army's about face and his order for Iser army to join him. Given these orders Prince Albert of Saxony despite pleadings of the Austrians to use his battle fresh troops to counterattack the Prussians, decided to withdraw his five brigades from the field, causing the Austrians to start a disorganized retreat as well.[5]
Result
Although occupying a strong position Iser Army was beaten by two Prussian divisions due to strategic and tactical blunders. Tardy staff work at main headquarters caused Clam-Gallas to believe he would be supported by the Austrian main army, as was originally planned, but which made him fight the battle unsupported. The Saxon army camping some ten kilometers south of their designed position in the Austrian line, made them late and caused a hole in the battle line, which the Prussians exploited to their fullest. Lastly the superior Dreyse needle gun, gave the Prussians a huge tactical advantage over the Austrian storm tactics.
After Münchengratz the Prussian commanders however neglected to concentrate their hungry and tired Elbe Army and 1st Army rapidly enough to encircle and destroy Iser Army, in effect fighting with only two divisions from two separate armies, thus enabling Clam-Gallas to retreat towards Benedek. The victory, thereafter, made possible the junction of the first and second Prussian army corps, and had as an ultimate result the Austrian defeat at the Battle of Königgrätz.[6]
^Geoffrey Wawro, The Austro-Prussian War. Austria's war with Prussia and Italy in 1866 (New York 2007), p 183-185
^Geoffrey Wawro, The Austro-Prussian War. Austria's war with Prussia and Italy in 1866 (New York 2007), p 186-187
^Geoffrey Wawro, The Austro-Prussian War. Austria's war with Prussia and Italy in 1866 (New York 2007), p 187-189
^Geoffrey Wawro, The Austro-Prussian War. Austria's war with Prussia and Italy in 1866 (New York 2007), p 190
^Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Gitschin" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 52.
Literature
Barry, Q. (2009). The Road to Königgrätz: Helmuth von Moltke and the Austro-Prussian War 1866. Solihull: Helion. ISBN978-1-906033-37-8.
Gordon Craig: The Battle of Königgrätz: Prussia’s Victory over Austria, 1866, University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, PA, 2003
Theodor Fontane: Der Feldzug in Böhmen und Mähren 1866, Königl. Geheime Ober-Hofbuchdruckerei R.v.Decker Berlin, 1871
Heinz Helmert; Hans-Jürgen Usczeck: Preußischdeutsche Kriege von 1864 bis 1871 - Militärischer Verlauf, 6. überarbeitete Auflage, Militärverlag der deutschen demokratischen Republik, Berlin 1988, ISBN3-327-00222-3
Wilhelm Rüstow: Der Krieg von 1866 in Deutschland und Italien. Zürich 1866 bei Schultheß
Alan Sapherson: The Seven Weeks War 1866, Raider Books, Leeds, UK, 1989, ISBN1-870445-49-X
Geoffrey Wawro: The Austro-Prussian War: Austria’s War with Prussia and Italy in 1866, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 1997
battle, gitschin, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, september, 2014, learn, when, remove, this, template, messag. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Battle of Gitschin or Jicin German Schlacht bei Gitschin was a battle of the Austro Prussian War on 29 June 1866 ending with a Prussian victory over the Austrian forces There is a memorial there today at Jicin in the Czech Republic Battle of JicinPart of Austro Prussian WarBattle of Gitschin Illustration by Hugo Schullinger 1896 Date29 June 1866LocationJicin BohemiaResultPrussian victoryBelligerentsPrussiaAustria SaxonyCommanders and leadersAugust von Werder Wilhelm von TumplingEduard Clam Gallas Albert of SaxonyStrength26 00066 000 present42 000 engagedCasualties and losses1 553 1 329 killed1 212 wounded4 704 591 Contents 1 Battle 1 1 Austrian Deployment 1 2 Prussian attack on Jicin 2 Result 3 References 4 LiteratureBattle EditAustrian Deployment Edit After being beaten at Munchengratz Iser army under Clam Gallas redeployed at Jicin Unaware that after the Battle of Skalitz Benedek had halted North Army s advance towards Jicin where under the Austrian battle plan the conjunction of both armies would have taken place in order to fall upon one of the Prussian main armies to beat them in detail Clam Gallas was under the impression that he would be directly supported by Northern army s advance units III Corps and decided to give battle Clam Gallas battle line consisted out of Abele s brigade at the Privysin heights on the left supported by Ringelsheim s brigade blocking the road from Mnichovo Hradiste Munchengratz at Lochov the center at Brada Hill was held by Poschacher s brigade supported by Leiningen s and the town of Zeleznice Eisenstadtl on the right was to be held by Piret s brigade and the 1st Light Cavalry Division The position between Poschacher and Piret was to be held by the Saxon army which after taken a longer southern route from Munchengratz had the previous night camped some 10 kilometers south of their designated position in the battle line leaving a vulnerable gap between the Austrian center and right The gap was temporarily filled by a 56 gun Austrian grand battery 2 Prussian attack on Jicin Edit On June 29 1866 after having won at Munchengratz the Prussian Elbe army and First Army each sent an infantry division towards Jicin From the north the Prussian 5th Division under Wilhelm von Tumpling advanced towards Jicin After using his artillery batteries to soften up the Austrian position Tumpling attacked the center and right The cannon fire startled the Saxons whose advance brigade was still four kilometers from their designated position in the battle line By 6 00 PM Poschacher s brigade was able to hold off attacks on their hill position by the Prussian 9th Brigade and Abele had been able to stop the Prussian 10th Brigade s attack on the Privysin heights At 6 00 PM advancing from the west advance units from the Prussian 3rd Division part of Elbe army and led by August von Werder attacked Ringelsheim but were held off 3 The next Prussian attack was directed at the center right position at the hamlet of Zames where they encountered the Veronese 45th regiment of Piret s brigade which they easily drove off 9th Brigade was able to occupy the hamlet in the center of the Austrian position with two battalions Neither Piret s brigade nor Leiningen s reserve were sent in to plug the hole in the Austrian center leaving the Prussians in control of the center of the Austrian line The feeble counterattacks by hussars from 1st Light Cavalry Division were easily held off by the Prussians The Austrian artillery bombarding the hamlet then set Zames aflame forcing the Prussians holding the hamlet to attack forward towards Dilec The advancing Prussians were then able to beat the Saxons to Dilec and occupied the town at 7 30 PM To plug this hole and to aid the faltering Saxons Piret decided to attack the Prussians on his left but Piret was easily held off by the Prussians reinforced by Tumpling s reserve battalion and their use of the superior Dreyse needle gun to smash the Austrian storm columns which then collapsed and fled Simultaneously Werder s attack towards Lochov in order to outflank Ringelsheim caused the collapse of the Austrian left as well and the Prussians were able to push Abele and Ringelsheim back to Jicin which they eventually occupied at 10 30 PM 4 At 8 00 PM the Austrian staff received Benedek s new orders which had been sent by horseback announcing North Army s about face and his order for Iser army to join him Given these orders Prince Albert of Saxony despite pleadings of the Austrians to use his battle fresh troops to counterattack the Prussians decided to withdraw his five brigades from the field causing the Austrians to start a disorganized retreat as well 5 Result EditAlthough occupying a strong position Iser Army was beaten by two Prussian divisions due to strategic and tactical blunders Tardy staff work at main headquarters caused Clam Gallas to believe he would be supported by the Austrian main army as was originally planned but which made him fight the battle unsupported The Saxon army camping some ten kilometers south of their designed position in the Austrian line made them late and caused a hole in the battle line which the Prussians exploited to their fullest Lastly the superior Dreyse needle gun gave the Prussians a huge tactical advantage over the Austrian storm tactics After Munchengratz the Prussian commanders however neglected to concentrate their hungry and tired Elbe Army and 1st Army rapidly enough to encircle and destroy Iser Army in effect fighting with only two divisions from two separate armies thus enabling Clam Gallas to retreat towards Benedek The victory thereafter made possible the junction of the first and second Prussian army corps and had as an ultimate result the Austrian defeat at the Battle of Koniggratz 6 References Edit Barry 2009 p 261 Geoffrey Wawro The Austro Prussian War Austria s war with Prussia and Italy in 1866 New York 2007 p 183 185 Geoffrey Wawro The Austro Prussian War Austria s war with Prussia and Italy in 1866 New York 2007 p 186 187 Geoffrey Wawro The Austro Prussian War Austria s war with Prussia and Italy in 1866 New York 2007 p 187 189 Geoffrey Wawro The Austro Prussian War Austria s war with Prussia and Italy in 1866 New York 2007 p 190 Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Gitschin Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 12 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 52 Literature EditBarry Q 2009 The Road to Koniggratz Helmuth von Moltke and the Austro Prussian War 1866 Solihull Helion ISBN 978 1 906033 37 8 Gordon Craig The Battle of Koniggratz Prussia s Victory over Austria 1866 University of Pennsylvania Press Philadelphia PA 2003 Theodor Fontane Der Feldzug in Bohmen und Mahren 1866 Konigl Geheime Ober Hofbuchdruckerei R v Decker Berlin 1871 Heinz Helmert Hans Jurgen Usczeck Preussischdeutsche Kriege von 1864 bis 1871 Militarischer Verlauf 6 uberarbeitete Auflage Militarverlag der deutschen demokratischen Republik Berlin 1988 ISBN 3 327 00222 3 Wilhelm Rustow Der Krieg von 1866 in Deutschland und Italien Zurich 1866 bei Schulthess Alan Sapherson The Seven Weeks War 1866 Raider Books Leeds UK 1989 ISBN 1 870445 49 X Geoffrey Wawro The Austro Prussian War Austria s War with Prussia and Italy in 1866 Cambridge University Press Cambridge UK 1997Coordinates 50 26 14 N 15 21 06 E 50 4373 N 15 3517 E 50 4373 15 3517 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Gitschin amp oldid 1138848456, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
