Battle of Hochkirch

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=
conflict=Battle of Hochkirch
colour_scheme=background:#cccccc
partof=the Seven Years' War
date=October 14, 1758
place= Hochkirch, Saxony
result=Austrian victory
combatant1=flagicon|Prussia|1750 Prussia
combatant2=flagicon|Holy Roman Empire Austria
commander1=Frederick the Great
commander2=Marshal Leopold Josef Graf Daun
strength1=31,000 men
strength2=80,000 men
casualties1=>9,000 men
casualties2=8,300 men|

The Battle of Hochkirch was a battle fought on October 14, 1758 during the Seven Years' War between a Prussian army of 31,000 commanded by Frederick the Great and a Austrian army of 80,000 commanded by Marshal Leopold Josef Graf Daun. The battle took place around Hochkirch, which is 9 km east of Bautzen, Saxony.

Frederick's army was deployed facing east, with its right flank in front of the village of Hochkirch. By use of a secret overnight march (camisado), Daun fell upon Frederick's right, and in heavy fighting drove the Prussians off Hochkirch hill, forcing them to retreat.

Although the Prussians lost over 9,000 men and the Austrians 8,300, Hochkirch was one of Frederick the Great's three worst defeats in battle, along with Kunersdorf and Kolin. Ironically, the defeat was brought about by the Daun's use of a variation on Frederick's own oblique order of attack.

External links

* [http://carlyle.classicauthors.net/Friedrich/Friedrich204.html Battle of Hochkirch] - Chapter 14 of Thomas Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II". (accessed 13 June 2005)