Battle of Hochkirch

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Battle of Hochkirch
Part of the Seven Years' War
Date October 14, 1758 Location Hochkirch, Saxony Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
Prussia	Austria
Commanders
Frederick the Great	Marshal Leopold Josef Graf Daun
Strength
31,000 men	80,000 men
Casualties and losses
>9,000 men	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.

[edit] External links

• Battle of Hochkirch - Chapter 14 of Thomas Carlyle's History of Friedrich II. (accessed 13 June 2005)

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