Battle of Hohenfriedburg

Battle of Hohenfriedberg
Part of the Second Silesian War (War of Austrian Succession)
Battle of Hohenfriedberg, Attack of the Prussian Infantry , by Carl Röchling. Oil on canvas.
Date 4 June 1745 Location Striegau, Prussian Silesia (present-day Poland) Result Decisive Prussian victory
Belligerents
Prussia	Austria  Saxony
Commanders and leaders
Frederick ll	Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine Johann Adolf II, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
Strength
58,500 192 guns	62,500 122 guns
Casualties and losses
4,800	8,650 dead or wounded, 5,080 captured

The Battle of Hohenfriedberg or Hohenfriedeberg, now Dobromierz, also known as the battle of Striegau, now Strzegom, was one of Frederick the Great's most admired victories. Frederick's Prussian army decisively defeated an Austrian army under Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine on 4 June 1745 during the Second Silesian War (part of the War of the Austrian Succession).

Austria sought to regain Silesia, which had been lost to Prussia in the Battle of Mollwitz. An Austrian army of about 62,500, including allied Saxon troops marched to Silesia. The commander was Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine, brother-in-law of Empress Maria Theresa. Johann Adolf II, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels commanded the Saxons.

Frederick had a very low opinion of his counterpart, saying of Prince Charles Alexander that "there will be some stupid mistakes." In fact, Frederick was counting on Charles entering Silesia by crossing the Riesengebirge (Giant Mountains). If he did, Frederick intended to attack the Austrian army and crush it in one decisive blow. Hans Joachim von Zieten's Zieten-Hussars shadowed the Austrian army, keeping Frederick informed of their movements and position as he awaited the right moment to strike. When the Prince finally did cross in early June, Frederick saw his opportunity to attack.

The Austrian army marched some 50 km northeast from the Riesengebirge to Striegau (now Strzegom). They encamped near Striegau, with the Saxons just northwest of the town at Pilgrimshain and the Austrians spreading out west and south to the village of Hohenfriedberg. Their front was covered by the Striegau River, which ran north and then west through Striegau town. The Prussian army was camped south of the town.

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