West Germany
Victor François, the Duc de Broglie, was not particularly happy with his new orders for the spring campaigns. He wanted to finish off Brunswick’s army and and complete the conquest of Hanover. Instead, even though he was still order to indeed complete that conquest, he was also being asked to divert a sizable amount of his forces eastwards.
Those forces would march southeast, take the city of Brunswick and meet up with the second French-allied army going northeast from Clausthal. They would then march east and take Magdeburg and move onward to Berlin, and eliminate Prussia from the war.
While Broglie understood and agreed with the need to remove Fredrick and Prussia from the war, his armies were already at the end of a long supply line, while his principal opponent the Hanoverian-British army still roamed. The order though could not be avoided, and to this end he sent a fifth of his forces east to be joined to the second army after the fall of Brunswick. But prior to that likely siege, points in between must be taken.
Battle of Burgdort
Elements of Hanover garrisons which had retreated the prior year were being organized and pushed back across the Aller River against the previous taken town of Burgdort. Broglie left a garrison force of 20,000 in Hanover and took the remaining 35,000 French and allied German troops eastward and was met in battle against a smaller detachment of 6,000 Hanover troops on March 12th.
Battle Results:
French Forces: ~500 casualties
Hanover Forces: ~1500 casualties, ~1000 captured. Remaining routed.
Clear French Victory
While not part of the Duke of Brunswick’s main British-Hanoverian army in the west, these smaller fights were would takes its toll on the French forces.
Siege of Brunswick
Five days later on March 17th, Broglie had met with the contignet led by Ladislac Ignace, Comte de Bercherry which had marched north from Clausthal, joining their 9000 to his 34000 to begin the siege of Brunswick.
While less defended than Hanover was, the city still well prepared, and was prepared to hold out for some time.
Battle Results:
Brunswick Garrison Forces: ~800 casualties. ~2500 captured. City surrendered.
French-West German Forces: ~1500 casualties
Clear French Victory
The siege lasted for nearly two months, when the defending fortress finally surrenders to a bloody assault on May 4th. Broglie himself though would not be present at the end of the siege as he would be force to take a large component of his forces back westwards to deal with troubles being caused by Brunswick’s army.
Siege and Battle of Minden
After the French had marched off to the east the Duke of Brunswick planned a campaign to strike at the French supply lines and cut them off in Hanover as he did not believe he could retake Hanover with a direct assault. The British-Hanoverian army pushed the French lines south west of the Weser River in a drive toward the Rhine, and in the process liberated most of occupied Minden, and began besieging French Garrison forces in Minden on March 30th.
Brolie upon hearing of Brunswick’s southern march knew what he was up to and was forced to take a significant part of the French-West Garman army off the Siege of Brunswick to face the British-Hanoverian army once again. Broglie arrived with 37,000 of his forces to meet the 35,000 strong defenders on April 16th.
Battle Results:
British-Hanover Forces: ~4500 casualties
French-West German Forces: ~7500 casualties, several guns captured.
British-Hanoverian Victory
Broglie’s luck could not hold forever as Brunswick and the British were fnally able to inflict a sound but costly defeat against the French and their West German forces. Though with the close call and the danger of some of his own forces faltering Brunwick was unable to capitialze on an immediate pursuit. Broglie, as a testament to his skill was able to hold the defeated French-West German army together and prevent a rout and was forced to retreat toward the southeast to regroup.
After the defeat of Broglie’s relief force the French forces defending Minden surrendered two days later on April 18th.
Silesia
Siege of Jauer
After delays by winter and weather, in late March, Leopold Von Duan, still the head of Austrian allied forces in Silesia began planning for the renewed battles against Prussia. It a started with the Siege of Jauer against a small Prussian defending forces. Since the area was so war torn and weary he had hoped it would not last long. Th Siege of Jauer began on March 27th.
Battle of Goldberg
Fredrick though had already been in the move after moving and reinforcing his army during late winter. While not all of his pieces were in place yet, we would not sit and wait while Austria renewed their attacks. Upon hearing word of the siege he brought the bulk of his army south to meet them. Duan too with his own scouts learned of Fredrick's movement and the two armies shadowed each other, one trying to end the siege the other trying to protect it. Eventually Fredrick and Duan fought once more near Goldberg on April 4th. Each side had a force strength of approximately 30,000
Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: ~3000 casualties
Austrian Forces: ~4000 casualties
Prussian Victory
With another bloody battle in which no side got a clear advantage until a charge by Wilhelm von Seyditz managed to break though an Austrian flank and Duan began giving ground until finally ordering a retreat even the the charge was eventually repulsed. With their defeat came a abandonment of the Siege of Jauer as well as Duan pulled back to Schweidnitz to regroup.
A defeat so early in the campaign was disenheartening to Austrian forces. Duan sent riders and emissaries seeking to again coordinate linking with the Russian armies, even though he was at the time, unaware of events playing out in St. Petersburg. Both sides pulled back to regroup and obtain reinforcements. By late-April however, Fredrick had learned of the French siege of Brunswick and became worried over his western front.
Battle of Landeshut
Despite his concern over events in the west, Fredrick needed to press the attack on the Austrian before they could fully recover. Once his remaining reinforcements arrived from the northern borders he began marching toward Glatz in the hopes for cutting of the Austrian supply lines. Duan maneuver to meet and block him with the two forces coming to a clash on May 11th, near the city of Landeshut in Silesia. Fredrick commanded a force of 37,000 and Duan having recovered had about an equal sized force.
Duan though had learned that facing Fredrick with even numbers resulted in a loss more often than not, and was careful to force a battle onto more favorable terrain for the defender.
Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: ~3500 casualties
Austrian Forces: ~2000 casualties
Mostly a draw, but the Austrians held the field.
The Austrian had tenaciously dug into their position, and Fredrick after seeing too many of his own forces fall, decided he could not sustain that rate of loss in this battle and thus withdrew to look for another way around or some other advantage. Fredrick continued to only skirmish with the Austrian forces through to the summer, managing to keep them on the defensive, and prevent any further incursions, even though the Prussian did not recover much more territory.
West Germany
Battle of Mundes
Brunswick pursued as soon as he was able while the French retreated southeastwards. Broglie knew though that he needed the reinforcements from the rest of his army still occupying the hard won Hanover. He was forced to recall them to rejoin his own forces, briefly leaving the city with minimal defenses. This bolstered his ready forces up to 38,000 which which to face Brunswick’s 30,000 strong force on May 2nd.
Battle Results
British-Hanoverian forces: ~4500 casualties, several guns captured.
French-West German forces: ~5000 casualties.
Clear French victory.
Vindicated, Broglie was able to defeat the Duke of Brunswick handily forcing him to retreat back toward the north again, it was not the end of Brunswick’s army though, and the battle had been costly for Broglie’s forces.
Siege and Battle of Magdeburg
Comte de Bercheny moved on toward Magdeburg with a 15,000 strong army and prepared to lay siege to the light Prussian garrison there on May 16th.
Fredrick though had learned of the fall of the city of Brunswick some 24 days after the latter had occurred on May 28th. Realizing the danger the French now posed to Brandenburg, Fredrick was forced to march the bulk of his forces out of Silesia in Jauer and toward the west. Fredrick personally led a force of 20,000 toward Magdeburg, learning of the start of its siege on the way there, and arrived on June 20th. The city had not yet fallen, and Fredrick viciously fell on the French forces.
Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: ~1500 casualties
French Forces: ~5000 casualties, 2000 captured 3000 desertions during the rout, several guns captured. Comte de Bercheny captured.
The outnumber French suffered a significant defeat and were routed, outright eliminating the second French–West German Army. Only about a third of their original number would regroup enough to rejoin Broglie’s army in the west. For the moment, the Prussian western front seemed secured. Fredrick though could not stay in the west for as soon as Duan learned he had marched toward Magdeburg, the Franco-Austrian army took advantage of his departure.
Silesia
Second Battle of Jauer
After most of Fredricks forces were away, Duan resumes a new attack of Jauer with a 35,000 strong force on June 2nd, against his remaining 15,000 strong force whom were led by Heinrich von Manteuffel.
Battle Results:
Prussian forces: ~500 casualties
Franco-Austrian Forces: ~1500 casualties
Franco-Austrian Victory
Fredrick had known it would be unlikely that his remaining forces would succeed against the greater numbers, so his orders were to inflict as many casualties as possible while engaging in fighting retreats. To this end Manteuffel was successful inflicted three times as many casualties as he had received, but of course Jauer would be lost.
Siege of Wohlau
After victory at Jauer, Duan sent some of his force around Pox ridden Liegnitz to Wohlau to lay siege to it while he continued to chase Manteuffel. A force of 10,000 Austrians led by Baron Ernst Gideon Loudon laid siege to the city on June 7th.
Battle Results:
Prussian Garrison: ~100 casualties, ~400 surrendered.
Austrian Forces: ~200 casualties
Austrian Victory
The city which had already traded hands more than once, did not last long during the conflict. The Prussian forces surrendered after a week and a half of exchanged shelling on June 18th.
Second Battle of Gorlitz
While Loudon besieged Wohlau, Duan now 22,000 strong force chased Manteuffel’s surviving forces to Gorlitz, where they again faced off on June 11th.
Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: ~750 casualties
Franco-Austrian Forces: ~2000 casualties
Franco-Austrian Victory
In a repeat of the prior action at Jauer, Manteuffel fought a fighting reteat design to inflict as many losses on the Franco-Austrian army as he could while delaying them to give Fredrick time to return.
Siege of Glogau
As Manteuffel get retreating westward into Saxony, Duan decided to stop pursing him into these deadly skirmishes, and refocus on the Silesia objective. He turned northward toward Glogau and met up with Loudon to prepare a siege of the city. The siege of Glogua began on June 26th.
Battle of Beuthen
After the French defeat at Magdeburg, Fredrick rushed back east toward Silesia as fast as his army could move, reuniting with Manteuffel’s forces along the way. They arrived in lower Silesia in late July learning that Glogau was now under siege by the Franco-Austrian army. At about Prussia’s 30,000 to the Franco-Austrians 31,000 force they wer once again nearly evently match, but Fredrick had scant few more troops he might call on after this. After days of attempts and out maneuvering each other, the battle was joined near Beuthen on July 28th.
Battle Results:
Prussian forces: ~4250 casualties
Franco-Austrian forces: ~7500 casualties
Prussian victory
In what was another very bloody battle in Silesia, Fredrick proved his luck once more and put the Franco-Austrian army into another route. But his victory may have been Pyrrhic as his army was in no condition to pursue, and the numerous battle and long fast marches had taken their toll in exhaustion on his troops.
The Siege of Glogua was abandoned the following day as a result of the Franco-Austrian defeat.
West Germany
Siege of Celle
Broglie’s force spent the remainder of the month of pushing the British-Hanover lines back north and re-exerting control over the province of Minden. While going after Fredrick when the Comte de Bercheny was captured was tempting, he would not let an eastward diversion put the conquest of Hanover at risk again. He wanted to cut landward lines of communication and supply between Hanover and Prussia and thus needed to capture Celle and exert control over the Hanover owned principality of Lunberg. Broglie gathered 32,000 strong force begin besieging Celle on June 3rd.
Battle Results:
Hanover Garrison: ~600 casualties, ~1400 captured.
Franco-West Germany forces: ~500 casualties
Franco-West German Victory
The city surrendered after nearly three months of siege in a final assault on September 1st. With French patrols now able to push northeast from Celle, subblies and subsidies over land via Hanover to Prussia would become more difficult. Unfortunately Britain had already sent a half year of subsidies and supplies into Brandenburg by way of the Elbe River prior to the city’s fall.
Battle of Walsrode
Broglie and Brunswick would face one more battle during the year. After the fall of Celle, Broglie want edto attempt to finally eliminate Brunswick army for good and marched on Verden. Brunswick took his army out to meet Broglie in battle at nearby Walsrode on September 6th. Brunswick set up a defensive force of 25,000 vs. Broglies 32,000.
Battle Results:
British-Hanover forces: ~2000 casualties
Franco-West German forces: ~3500 casualties
Mostly a draw, but Broglie’s forces withdrew.
Unable to obtain a quick decsisive defeat, Broglie withdrew before more causualties could mount, as even if he won, he might not have enough to besiege Verden before winter. As the final battle in the year in West Germany both sides withdrew to where they had each headquartered their forces, Broglie in Hanover again, and Brunswick in Verden.
Russia returns to the Front
Silesia
Duan’s request for assistance dispatched during the Battle of Goldberg had arrived in Russian occupied Kongsberg and was forward on to St. Petersburg. Newly coronated Empress Catherine consented to the request and sent orders back to Fermor in Konigsburg to march 20,000 of their forces there through Poland to link up with the Franco-Austrian army and either defeat Fredrick or force him into peace talks. Catherine did not want to remain tied up in the war longer than she had to as she was already eyeing gains to be had against the Ottoman Empire. By July 29th, Fermor’s army had reached Posen, as had word of its coming had reached Fredrick.
Fredrick was unable to do much to oppose it, given the current condition of his army, which had just endured a battle the day before. Fermor marched ever closer to Wohlau over the next few days.
Battle of Lissa
Fredrick could not do nothing either, and as soon as he dared, sent a contingent of 8,000, about a third of his offensive army consisting of his freshest troops led by Paul von Werner to attempt to intercept the Russian force. On August 4th they met in battle near the town of Lissa.
Battle Results:
Prussian forces: ~1500 casualties
Russian forces: ~3000 casualties
Russian victory
Despite doing well in the actual battle there was just not enough strength of numbers on Werner side to stop the Russians. After enduring the maximum amount of casualties Fredrick was willing to accept on the gamble he was forced to withdraw. Fermor continued on his way and arrived in Wohlau on August 8th. Fredrick once again retreated to Crossen.
A Peace?
At Russia’s insistence, and per Catherine’s orders, although they were willing to see the war to the end, it needed to end soon. Learning of what was left of Fredrick’s army the Russian delegation that accompanied Fermor felt he might come to terms. A tenuous trace held in the fall. Fredrick was stubborn though, and delayed, hoping that in the next year France would fail in the pursuit of Hanover and the British aid would continue.
When Fredrick learned that Broglie had begun besieging Celle, he offered status quo to Austria. A withdrawal from the part of Saxony his forces still occupied for the Austrian’s withdrawal from the parts of Silesia they occupied. He could offer little to the Russians except the concession of East Prussia, which he was loathe to do. Catherine had pre-authorized that obtaining East Prussia would be acceptable as would exchanging it to Poland for territory elsewhere after the war was done. Empress Maria Teresa however was insulted and refused, demanding all of the original goals she had set out before the war. By the time the diplomats had finished arguing only to declare no agreement had yet been made, winter was nearing. There would be no more actions in the Silesian Theater during 1762.
Wait till the current war is over before worrying about the next one, which will be a long while at my current update speed.