Siege of Kolberg (Seven Years' War)

Siege of Kolberg (1759)
Part of the Seven Years' War
Date 1759 Location Kolberg, Prussia Result Prussian victory
Belligerents
Prussia	Russia
Commanders and leaders
Heinrich Sigismund von der Heyde	Johann Palmenbach

Siege of Kolberg (1760)
Part of the Seven Years' War
Date 1760 Location Kolberg, Prussia Result Prussian victory
Belligerents
Prussia	Russia Sweden
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Heinrich Sigismund von der Heyde (defense) Major-General Hans Paul Werner (relief)

Siege of Kolberg (1761)
Part of Seven Years' War
Date 1761 Location Kolberg, Prussia Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Prussia	Russia Sweden
Commanders and leaders
Friedrich Eugen of Württemberg Dubislav Friedrich von Platen	Pyotr Alexandrovich Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky Ivan Ivanovich Möller-Sakomelsky

During the Seven Years' War, the Prussian-held town of Kolberg in Brandenburg-Prussian Pomerania (now Kołobrzeg) was besieged by Russian forces three times. The first two sieges, in late 1759 and from 26 August to 18 September 1760, were unsuccessful. A final and successful siege took place from August to December 1761. In the sieges of 1760 and 1761, the Russian forces were supported by Swedish auxiliaries.

As a consequence of the fall of the city, Prussia lost her last major port on the Baltic Coast, while at the same time the Russian forces were able to take winter quarters in Pomerania. However, when Empress Elizabeth of Russia died only weeks after the Russian victory, her successor, Peter III of Russia, made peace and returned Kolberg to Prussia.

A first siege in 1759 was repelled by the Prussian defenders. Russian Count Fermor was ordered to expel the Prussian forces commanded by Count Dohna from Pomerania, take Kolberg and establish winter quarters in Brandenburg-Prussian Pomerania. Fermor reluctantly pursued his objectives, regarding full achievement nearly impossible.

Fermor dispatched 4,000 troops and 20 artillery pieces, commanded by Lieutenant-General Johann Palmenbach to siege Kolberg, defended by 700 regulars and a levy, commanded by Heinrich Sigismund von der Heyde who had just upgraded the defense works and stocked supplies.

Siege was laid on 4 October. Though Russian reinforcements brought up Palmenbach strength to 5,000 the following month, heavy rain and storm rendered successful construction of siege works impossible. In addition, twenty-seven Russian warships arrived to assist the siege from the seaside, yet throughout October, storms wrecked twenty-one, and none came close enough to participate. The siege was lifted on 1 November.

The Russian forces had the objective to establish their 1760/61 winter quarters near the lower Oder, which could only be achieved by securing the fortress of Kolberg. In July, a Russian expedition commanded by Gottlob Heinrich Tottleben advanced into Brandenburg-Prussian Pomerania, but upon reaching the Rega valley was ordered to the Silesian battlefields.

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Wikipedia