The Prussian army assembles to the north…
May 1757 CE
The Austrians form for battle facing north and east.
Frederick orders an immediate assault, but Schwerin convinces him to make a reconnaissance around the Austrian right flank.
He returns with the information that gradually sloping green meadows offer a better chance for attack at the Austrian rear.
The Prussian army starts marching around seven AM, and succeeds in staying largely out of sight until the Austrian generals notice the movements around ten AM.
Field Marshal von Browne shifts six infantry regiments to take up position to the south east.
Schwerin, accompanied by General Winterfeldt, is finally prepared to attack.
Winterfeldt's infantry leads the attack.
The Prussian infantry soon find themselves not in meadows, but in the remains of fish ponds.
While they struggle through, Winterfeldt is hit by a musketball.
The Prussian infantry wavers and Schwerin rallies them, leading them from the front.
He is hit several times by Austrian canister.
Frederick, when he hears the news, orders the assault to continue.
The Austrian infantry smells the Prussian confusion and starts to press the Prussians back down the slope, opening a gap between themselves and the remainder of the Austrian line still facing north.
At this time von Browne is mortally wounded by Prussian infantry fire and carried into Prague.
While King Frederick and General von Zieten reorganize the Prussian infantry in the south for another attack, the generals Hautcharmoy and Bevern spot the gap in the Austrian line and start to filter infantry into the gap.
Austrian Croats have engaged Prussians to the north of the Austrian left flank, but with the gap in the Austrian line being exploited by a steady stream of Prussians he pulls back and forms a new line running south from the west end of the Tabor mountain.
The final phase of the battle starts around 3 pm, with Prussians engaging the still-forming Austrian line and outflanking them from the south.
Charles withdraws into the town, the retreat being covered by his cavalry.
People
Augustus William, Duke of Brunswick-Bevern
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Charles Alexander of Lorraine
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Frederick the Great
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Hans Karl von Winterfeldt
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Hans von Lehwaldt
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James Francis Edward Keith
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Kurt Christoph, Graf von Schwerin
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Louis XV of France
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Maria Theresa
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Maximilian Ulysses Browne
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Prince William, Duke of Cumberland
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Wenzel Anton, Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg
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Groups
Austria, Archduchy of
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Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duchy of
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Saxony, Electorate of
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Holy Roman Empire
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Hesse-Kassel, Landgraviate of
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France, (Bourbon) Kingdom of
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Bohemia, Kingdom of
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Bavaria, Electorate of
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Brunswick-Lüneburg, Electorate of (Electorate of Hanover)
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Spain, Bourbon Kingdom of
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Prussia, Kingdom of
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Britain, Kingdom of Great
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