Battle of Wilhelmsthal

Battle of Wilhelmsthal
Part of the Seven Years' War
General map of Duke Ferdinand of Brunswicks campaigns in 1762, Berlin 1872
Date 24 June 1762 Location Castle of Wilhelmsthal near Calden, Northwestern Germany Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Prussia Hanover Brunswick Hesse-Kassel  Great Britain	France
Commanders and leaders
Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick	Prince de Soubise and Duc d'Estrées
Strength
50,000	70,000
Casualties and losses
707	over 1,500 killed or wounded several thousand prisoners

The Battle of Wilhelmsthal (sometimes written as the Battle of Wilhelmstadt) was fought on 24 June 1762 during the Seven Years' War between on one side the allied forces of British, Prussian, Hanover, Brunswick and Hessian troops under the command of the Duke of Brunswick against the French. Once again, the French threatened Hanover, so the Allies manoeuvered around the French, surrounded the invasion force, and forced them to retreat. It was the last major action fought by Brunswick's force before the Peace of Paris brought an end to the war.

France had made a number of attempts to invade and overrun Hanover since 1757, hoping to occupy the Electorate and use it as a bargaining counter to exchange for the return of French colonies captured by the British. The Allied army under the Duke of Brunswick had prevented them from taking Hanover - and by 1762, aware that the war was likely to draw to a close, the French had decided on a final thrust to try to defeat Brunswick and occupy Hanover.

Ferdinand had advanced and outflanked the French on both flanks, nearly encircling them. An attack on the French center held by Stainville's command was particularly effective, with one column engaging his front, another striking his rear causing some 1500 casualties and forcing some regiments to surrender.

The result is viewed as victory for the Allied forces. It ended the last French hopes of overrunning and occupying Hanover before the armistice that ended the war, and the Treaty of Paris. The Anglo-German forces advanced and captured Cassel in November, but by then the premilaries of peace had been signed.

Coordinates: 51°25′00″N 9°24′00″E / 51.4167°N 9.4000°E / 51.4167; 9.4000

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