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{{Short description|1866 battle in the Austro-Prussian war}}
{{Other uses|Battle of Langensalza (disambiguation){{!}}Battle of Langensalza}} {{Other uses|Battle of Langensalza (disambiguation){{!}}Battle of Langensalza}}


{{Infobox military conflict {{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Battle of Langensalza | conflict = Battle of Langensalza
|partof=] | partof = the ]
|image=Battle_of_Langensalza.jpg | image = Battle_of_Langensalza.jpg
|image_size=250px | image_size = 300px
|caption=Prussian Artillery attacked at the Battle of Langensalza 1866 | caption = Prussian artillery being attacked, painting by Georg von Boddien
|date=27 June 1866 | date = 27 June 1866
|place=], ], ] | place = ], ], ]
| result = See {{section link||Aftermath}}
|result=Tactical Hanoverian victory<br>Strategic Prussian victory
⚫ | combatant1 = {{flag|Prussia|1803}}<br/>{{flag|Saxe-Coburg and Gotha}}
* The Kingdom of Hanover surrendered two days later.
⚫ | combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Hanover}}<br/>{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Bavaria}}
⚫ |combatant1={{flag|Prussia|1803}}<br>{{flag|Saxe-Coburg and Gotha}}
⚫ | commander1 = {{flagicon|Prussia|1803}} ]<br/><small>(Theater commander)</small><br/>{{flagicon|Prussia|1803}} ]<br/>{{flagicon|Prussia|1803}} ]<br/>{{flagicon|Prussia|1803}} ]
⚫ |combatant2={{flagcountry|Kingdom of Hanover}}<br>{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Bavaria}}
⚫ | commander2 = {{flagicon|Kingdom of Hanover}} ]<br/>{{flagicon|Kingdom of Hanover}} Alexander von Arentschildt
⚫ |commander1={{flagicon|Prussia}} ]<br><small>(Theater commander)</small><br>{{flagicon|Prussia}}]<br>{{flagicon|Prussia}} Gustav Beyer<br>{{flagicon|Prussia}} Eduard von Flies
| strength1 = 9,000
⚫ |commander2={{flagicon|Kingdom of Hanover}} ]<br>{{flagicon|Kingdom of Hanover}} Alexander von Arentschildt
|strength1=9,000 | strength2 = 19,000
⚫ | casualties1 = 170 killed<br/><small>''(11 officers)''</small><br/>643 wounded<br/><small>''(30 officers)''</small><br/> 33 missing<br/>907 captured<br/><small>''(10 officers)''</small>
|strength2=19,000
⚫ | casualties2 = 378 killed<br/>1,051 wounded
⚫ |casualties1=170 killed<br><small>''(11 officers)''</small><br>643 wounded<br><small>''(30 officers)''</small><br> 33 missing<br>907 captured<br><small>''(10 officers)''</small>
⚫ |casualties2=378 killed<br>1,051 wounded
}} }}
{{Campaignbox Austro-Prussian War}} {{Campaignbox Austro-Prussian War}}


] ]
The '''Battle of Langensalza''' was fought on 27 June 1866 near ] in what is now modern ], between the ] (Hanoverians) and the Prussians. The Hanoverians won the battle but were then surrounded by a larger and reinforced Prussian army, and, unable to link up with their Bavarian allies to the south, they surrendered. This marked the demise of the Hanoverian Army and the annexation of ] into the burgeoning kingdom of Prussia as it systematically unified Germany into the modern ]. The '''Battle of Langensalza''' was fought on 27 June 1866, during the ], near ] in what is now modern ], between the ] and the ]. The Hanoverians won the battle but were then surrounded by a larger and reinforced Prussian army. Unable to link up with their ] allies to the south, the Hanoverians surrendered.
That marked the demise of the ] and the annexation of Hanover into the burgeoning Prussia, which systematically unified Germany into the modern ].


==Background== ==Background==
⚫ After declaring that he felt "trapped, like a fox indoors... no choice but to bite my way out,"<ref>Wawro, p. 74</ref> the ]'s ] initiated the ] to conquer and unite a majority of the German principalities. Many small German states existed prior to 1866; in anticipation of war, they allied themselves with either ] or Prussia depending on their desires and goals. Most kingdoms surrounding Prussia allied with Austria for fear of losing their autonomy to Prussia. As a result, Prussia was geographically isolated. Prussia was boxed against the ], which prompted Wilhelm to make that statement. King ] believed he could negotiate independently with the Austrians and Prussians, which wasted time that could have been used to strengthen his forces by joining other German states. When he finally attempted to do so, it was too late. In a show of Hanover's naïveté, George's Foreign Minister declared that ] would never break the law that insisted on maintaining a six-week interval before invading another land.<ref>Friedjung, p. 206-207</ref> On 15 June 1866, Wilhelm ordered Hanover, ] and ] to disarm at once, effectively beginning the war with Austria’s allies.<ref>Malleson, p. 119</ref> On 16 June, Prussian forces began moving against all three German states, with those of General ] approaching Hanover.

⚫ After declaring that he felt “trapped, like a fox indoors… no choice but to bite my way out,”<ref>Wawro, p. 74</ref> ]’s King ] initiated the ] to conquer and unite a majority of the Germanic principalities. Many small German states existed prior to 1866, and, in anticipation of war, they allied themselves with either ] or Prussia depending on their desires and goals. Most kingdoms surrounding Prussia allied with Austria in fear of losing their autonomy to the Prussian state. As a result, this geographically isolated Prussia, boxing it against the ], and prompted the King to make the above '''“trapped fox”''' statement. King ] believed he could negotiate independently with the Austrians and Prussians, wasting time when he could have strengthened his forces by joining other German states. When he finally attempted to do so, it was too late. In a show of the Hanoverian naïveté, George's Foreign Minister declared that ] would never break federal law, which insisted on maintaining a six-week interval before invading another land.<ref>Friedjung, p. 206-207</ref> On 15 June 1866, King Wilhelm ordered Hanover, ], and ] to disarm at once, effectively beginning the war with Austria’s allies.<ref>Malleson, p. 119</ref> On 16 June, Prussian forces began moving against all three German states, with those of General ] approaching Hanover.


==Battle== ==Battle==
], awarded by King George V to his troops fighting in that battle. Obverse.]] ], awarded by King George V to his troops fighting in that battle. Obverse.]]
] ]
Hanover began in an excellent position as the Prussian attack happened to occur during Hanoverian summer exercises and their army was already mobilized. Realizing the vast size of the total Prussian force, King George directed his 19,000 man army under General Alexander von Arentschildt to quickly withdraw and march south to link up with Bavarian allies.<ref>Dupuy, p. 80</ref> Prussia pressed 40,000 total troops into Hanover, which then split into four detachments under Generals ], ], ], and ]. General von Falckenstein, recognizing the absence of an army to fight, marched unopposed into the Hanoverian capital, north of the marching Hanoverians. General ], the Prussian theater commander, also ordered Goeben to the north, and in turn deployed Beyer to the Hanoverians’ south and Flies, with 9,000 troops, quickly marched around to the west. This formed a box around the Hanoverian army with Prussia itself forming the Eastern side.<ref>Malleson, p. 125</ref> Hanover began in an excellent position, as the Prussian attack happened to occur during Hanoverian summer exercises, and its army was already mobilised. Realising the vast size of the total Prussian force, George directed his 19,000 man army under General Alexander von Arentschildt to withdraw quickly and to march south to link up with Bavarian allies.<ref>Dupuy, p. 80</ref> Prussia pressed 40,000 total troops into Hanover, which then split into four detachments under Generals ], Goeben, ], and ]. Falckenstein, recognizing the absence of an army to fight, marched unopposed into the Hanoverian capital, north of the marching Hanoverians. General ], the Prussian commander, also ordered Goeben to the north and, in turn, deployed Beyer to the Hanoverians' south, and Flies, with 9,000 troops, quickly marched around to the west. That formed a box around the Hanoverian army, with Prussia itself forming the Eastern side.<ref>Malleson, p. 125</ref>


Moltke ordered Flies to hold fast and intercept Hanoverians trying to break through westward as Falckenstein’s force performed the main Prussian assault from the north. In direct defiance of his orders, General Flies gathered his detachment and directly attacked the Hanoverian army.<ref>Wawro, p. 80</ref><ref>Bucholz p. 122</ref> Following a feint toward Thamsbruck to the North, the Prussian forces under Flies made a concentrated assault toward Merxleben. The much larger Hanoverian force and artillery fire drove them back toward the actual city of Langensalza. Having a force more than twice the Prussian detachment’s size, Arentschildt severely routed Flies’ troops, capturing more than 900 men. Moltke ordered Flies to hold fast and to intercept Hanoverians trying to break through westward as Falckenstein's force performed the main Prussian assault from the north. In direct defiance of his orders, Flies gathered his detachment and directly attacked the Hanoverian army.<ref>Wawro, p. 80</ref><ref>Bucholz p. 122</ref> Following a feint toward Thamsbruck to the North, the Prussian forces under Flies made a concentrated assault toward Merxleben. The much larger Hanoverian force and artillery fire drove them back toward the actual city of Langensalza. Having a force more than twice the Prussian detachment's size, Arentschildt severely routed Flies's troops, capturing more than 900 men.


Although the Hanoverians attained a decisive victory in the actual battle, the fighting halted their movement and allowed the other Prussian forces from the north and south to converge on the battle site. Out of options, King George and the Hanoverians pulled back to the East, further from their Bavarian allies. Pinned down against the ] and out of options, King George surrendered in ] two days after the battle.<ref>Friedjung, p. 207</ref> Although the Hanoverians attained a decisive victory in the actual battle, the fighting halted their movement and allowed the other Prussian forces from the north and the south to converge on the battle site. Out of options, George and the Hanoverians pulled back to the east, which was farther from their Bavarian allies. Pinned down against the ] and out of options, George surrendered in ] two days after the battle.<ref>Friedjung, p. 207</ref>


==Aftermath== ==Aftermath==
⚫ The battle was nearly a disaster for the Prussians in the Hanoverian campaign. It wiped out Flies's detachment of troops and could have allowed an avenue of escape for the Hanoverian army. At the same time, the battle provided just enough time for the northern and southern Prussian contingents to link up at the battle site, which ultimately forced the Hanoverian surrender.


⚫ Langensalza was an important aspect of the Austro-Prussian War by leading to a quick Prussian occupation of Hanover, both taking the Austrians by surprise and greatly weakening the Austrians' position in the war. The Prussians also quickly overran Kassel and Saxony while they were attacking Hanover. Altogether, the small states could have contributed more than 100,000 good troops to Austria’s cause, but they were destroyed before they could unite and fight together.<ref>Bucholz, p. 123</ref> If the Hanoverians had successfully reached other allies on the Austrian's side, the Austro-Prussian War may have gone very differently.
⚫ The Battle of Langensalza was a near disaster in the Hanoverian campaign for the Prussians. It wiped out Flies’ detachment of troops and could have allowed an avenue of escape for the Hanoverian army. At the same time, this battle provided just enough time for the northern and southern Prussian contingents to link up at the battle site, which ultimately forced Hanoverian surrender.

⚫ Langensalza was an important aspect of the Austro-Prussian War as it led to a quick Prussian occupation of Hanover, both taking the Austrians by surprise and greatly weakening their position in the war. The Prussians also quickly overran Kassel and Saxony at the same time they were attacking Hanover. All together these small states could have contributed more than 100,000 good troops to Austria’s cause, but they were destroyed before they could unite and fight jointly.<ref>Bucholz, p. 123</ref> If the Hanoverians had successfully reached other allies on the Austrian's side, the Austro-Prussian War may have gone very differently.


Another long lasting result of the Battle of Langensalza is the use of the "Red Cross" by medical personnel. Created by the ] in 1864, the Red Cross began an international humanitarian aid group. This organization, which would later greatly expand in size, was originally very small. Involving just thirty trained volunteer nurses from ], the first actual combat mission of the Red Cross occurred on the Prussian side at Langensalza. Although Austria and Hanover were not involved at the time, in 1866 Prussia was a member of the Red Cross Convention. Prussian medical personnel worked on the battlefield wearing the sign of the Red Cross on their arms and providing critical aid to wounded soldiers.<ref>Bad-Langensalza Site (Internet)</ref> Their legacy continues today in the form of the ]. Another lasting result of the battle is the use of the ] by medical personnel. Created by the ] in 1864, the Red Cross began an international humanitarian aid group. The organisation, which would later greatly expand in size, was originally very small. Involving just 30 trained volunteer nurses from ], the first actual combat mission of the Red Cross occurred on the Prussian side at Langensalza. Although Austria and Hanover were not involved in 1866, Prussia was already a member of the Red Cross Convention. Prussian medical personnel worked on the battlefield, wore the sign of the Red Cross on their arms and provided critical aid to wounded soldiers.<ref>Bad-Langensalza Site (Internet)</ref> Its legacy continues today in the form of the ].


==See also== ==See also==
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] ]
] ]
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Latest revision as of 08:13, 2 December 2024

1866 battle in the Austro-Prussian war For other uses, see Battle of Langensalza.
Battle of Langensalza
Part of the Austro-Prussian War

Prussian artillery being attacked, painting by Georg von Boddien
Date27 June 1866
LocationLangensalza, Province of Saxony, Prussia
Result See § Aftermath
Belligerents
 Prussia
 Saxe-Coburg and Gotha		  Hanover
 Bavaria
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Prussia Helmuth von Moltke
(Theater commander)
Kingdom of Prussia Eduard Vogel von Falckenstein
Kingdom of Prussia Gustav Beyer
Kingdom of Prussia Eduard von Flies		 Kingdom of Hanover George V
Kingdom of Hanover Alexander von Arentschildt
Strength
9,000 19,000
Casualties and losses
170 killed
(11 officers)
643 wounded
(30 officers)
33 missing
907 captured
(10 officers)		 378 killed
1,051 wounded
Austro-Prussian War
Bohemia
Northern Germany
Main River
Italy and the Adriatic Sea
Regimental movement at Langensalza, 1866.

The Battle of Langensalza was fought on 27 June 1866, during the Austro-Prussian War, near Bad Langensalza in what is now modern Germany, between the Kingdom of Hanover and the Kingdom of Prussia. The Hanoverians won the battle but were then surrounded by a larger and reinforced Prussian army. Unable to link up with their Bavarian allies to the south, the Hanoverians surrendered.

That marked the demise of the Hanoverian Army and the annexation of Hanover into the burgeoning Prussia, which systematically unified Germany into the modern nation state.

Background

After declaring that he felt "trapped, like a fox indoors... no choice but to bite my way out," the Kingdom of Prussia's Wilhelm I initiated the Austro-Prussian War to conquer and unite a majority of the German principalities. Many small German states existed prior to 1866; in anticipation of war, they allied themselves with either Austria or Prussia depending on their desires and goals. Most kingdoms surrounding Prussia allied with Austria for fear of losing their autonomy to Prussia. As a result, Prussia was geographically isolated. Prussia was boxed against the Baltic Sea, which prompted Wilhelm to make that statement. King George V of Hanover believed he could negotiate independently with the Austrians and Prussians, which wasted time that could have been used to strengthen his forces by joining other German states. When he finally attempted to do so, it was too late. In a show of Hanover's naïveté, George's Foreign Minister declared that Bismarck would never break the law that insisted on maintaining a six-week interval before invading another land. On 15 June 1866, Wilhelm ordered Hanover, Saxony and Kassel to disarm at once, effectively beginning the war with Austria’s allies. On 16 June, Prussian forces began moving against all three German states, with those of General August Karl von Goeben approaching Hanover.

Battle

Battle of Langensalza (1866) Hanoverian Medal, awarded by King George V to his troops fighting in that battle. Obverse.
Battle of Langensalza (1866) Hanoverian Medal, reverse.

Hanover began in an excellent position, as the Prussian attack happened to occur during Hanoverian summer exercises, and its army was already mobilised. Realising the vast size of the total Prussian force, George directed his 19,000 man army under General Alexander von Arentschildt to withdraw quickly and to march south to link up with Bavarian allies. Prussia pressed 40,000 total troops into Hanover, which then split into four detachments under Generals Falckenstein, Goeben, Flies, and Beyer. Falckenstein, recognizing the absence of an army to fight, marched unopposed into the Hanoverian capital, north of the marching Hanoverians. General Helmuth von Moltke, the Prussian commander, also ordered Goeben to the north and, in turn, deployed Beyer to the Hanoverians' south, and Flies, with 9,000 troops, quickly marched around to the west. That formed a box around the Hanoverian army, with Prussia itself forming the Eastern side.

Moltke ordered Flies to hold fast and to intercept Hanoverians trying to break through westward as Falckenstein's force performed the main Prussian assault from the north. In direct defiance of his orders, Flies gathered his detachment and directly attacked the Hanoverian army. Following a feint toward Thamsbruck to the North, the Prussian forces under Flies made a concentrated assault toward Merxleben. The much larger Hanoverian force and artillery fire drove them back toward the actual city of Langensalza. Having a force more than twice the Prussian detachment's size, Arentschildt severely routed Flies's troops, capturing more than 900 men.

Although the Hanoverians attained a decisive victory in the actual battle, the fighting halted their movement and allowed the other Prussian forces from the north and the south to converge on the battle site. Out of options, George and the Hanoverians pulled back to the east, which was farther from their Bavarian allies. Pinned down against the Harz Mountains and out of options, George surrendered in Nordhausen two days after the battle.

Aftermath

The battle was nearly a disaster for the Prussians in the Hanoverian campaign. It wiped out Flies's detachment of troops and could have allowed an avenue of escape for the Hanoverian army. At the same time, the battle provided just enough time for the northern and southern Prussian contingents to link up at the battle site, which ultimately forced the Hanoverian surrender.

Langensalza was an important aspect of the Austro-Prussian War by leading to a quick Prussian occupation of Hanover, both taking the Austrians by surprise and greatly weakening the Austrians' position in the war. The Prussians also quickly overran Kassel and Saxony while they were attacking Hanover. Altogether, the small states could have contributed more than 100,000 good troops to Austria’s cause, but they were destroyed before they could unite and fight together. If the Hanoverians had successfully reached other allies on the Austrian's side, the Austro-Prussian War may have gone very differently.

Another lasting result of the battle is the use of the Red Cross by medical personnel. Created by the First Geneva Convention in 1864, the Red Cross began an international humanitarian aid group. The organisation, which would later greatly expand in size, was originally very small. Involving just 30 trained volunteer nurses from Gotha, the first actual combat mission of the Red Cross occurred on the Prussian side at Langensalza. Although Austria and Hanover were not involved in 1866, Prussia was already a member of the Red Cross Convention. Prussian medical personnel worked on the battlefield, wore the sign of the Red Cross on their arms and provided critical aid to wounded soldiers. Its legacy continues today in the form of the International Red Cross.

See also

References

  1. Wawro, p. 74
  2. Friedjung, p. 206-207
  3. Malleson, p. 119
  4. Dupuy, p. 80
  5. Malleson, p. 125
  6. Wawro, p. 80
  7. Bucholz p. 122
  8. Friedjung, p. 207
  9. Bucholz, p. 123
  10. Bad-Langensalza Site (Internet)

Sources

  • Austria- Militärische Berichte, Officieller Bericht über die Kriegsereignisse zwischen Hannover und Preussen im Juni 1866 und Relation der Schlacht bei Langensalza am 27. Juni 1866 (Wien:Commissionsverlag von Carl Gerold’s Sohn, 1866).
  • Arden Bucholz, Moltke and the German Wars, 1864-1871 (New York: Palgrave, 2001).
  • COL. T.N. Dupuy, A Genius for War: The German Army and General Staff, 1807-1945 (Fairfax: Hero Books, 1984).
  • Heinrich Friedjung, The Struggle for Supremacy in Germany 1859-1866 (New York: Russell & Russell, 1897).
  • COL. G. B. Malleson, The Refounding of the German Empire, 1848-1871 (London: Seeley & Co., 1904).
  • Geoffrey Wawro, The Austro-Prussian War: Austria’s War with Prussia and Italy in 1866 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996).

External links

Further reading

  • John Breuilly, Austria, Prussia, and Germany 1806-1871 (London: Pearson Education, 2002).
  • Germany (West) Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt, Entscheidung 1866. Der Krieg zwischen Österreich und Preussen (Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1966).
  • Alexander Malet, The Overthrow of the Germanic Confederation by Prussia in 1866 (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1870).
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