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Prussia vs Russia: Round 2

Although Fredrick won a precious victory that kept the Austrians at bay for the time being, he knew he would have to face the Russians again. Reports indicated the Swedish and Russian navies had blockade the Baltic coastal ports, particularly around Kolberg, and important fortress in eastern Pomerania, still held by Prussia. The Russian, still in control of East Prussia, were making a move to besiege the fortress and Fredrick did not want their forces in place before winter set in.

Toward this aim he had to set off northwards once again to face down the Russian threat and keep them from moving any further westwards during the year. In letters ot Berlin him expressed concern that moving back and forth with such frequency would be unsustainable in the long wrong by his weary troops. He expressed loathing at the thought of another winter campaign, fearing his weary and low-spirited troops might revolt if it occurred again, yet he may have to do just that to return south again should the Austrian advance further.

As reported, when Fredrick arrived in the area he found the Russian army had moved westwards through Eastern Pomerania to near the town of Koslin, not far from Kolberg their ultimate destination, and was scouting the routes from which to besiege the Fortress of Kolberg. Their ships, already in place would be able to supply the besieging army even if the land route of supply back to East Prussia was disrupted. Should Kolberg fall, it would be a short matter before the Russian link up with Sweden and moved on Berlin.


Battle of Koslin

The time to attack then was now, against the weaker, mostly conscript Russian observation that was to the main army’s southern side and left flank. In total the Russians forces numbers about 54,000. Fredrick had less than half that at 25,000. The rest needed to stay behind in lower Silesia to keep the Austrians in check.

On August 30th, utilizing rapid artillery deployment once again, Fredrick hoped to achieve a swift overwhelming assault, and if necessary pull away before the enemy had a chance to counter attack. Fredrick approached the enemy column which was stretched out down and road from the cover of adjoining forests to the south.

Fredrick’s army hammered onto the Russians left flank and the observation army took mass casualties yet did not retreat, because they could not. They were trapped against thick undergrowth along a lakeshore. Having nowhere to run, and because Fredrick did not having the luxury of taking on prisoners, the Russian fought furiously despite being mostly conscripts.

As the Russian lines reformed and moved south, and because despite heavy casualties the Russians did not retreat, Fredrick himself was forced to pull back, not wanting to risk too much of his shrinking forces.

Battle Results:
Prussian Forces: 1200 dead and wounded.
Russian Forces: 8500 dead and wounded, 25 guns captured. Field Marshal Peter Ivanovich Shuvalov was slain in battle.

Russian Tactical Victory; Prussian Strategic Victory

The Russians kept the field, and Fredrick retreated, yielding the battlefield after capturing a few curious guns later learned to be called ‘secret howitzers’ from the defeated observation corps. The damage though was significant enough for the Russians to retreat back to East Prussia, and wait for promised reinforcements, and postpone their plans to lay siege to Kolberg until the following year. The observation corps, having suffered over 75% casualties, as well as the loss of their commander, was disbanded and its survivors were folded into the rest of the regular Russian army. Aside from maintaining their blockades, as a result of this action, the Russians would pursue no more offensives during 1758.