Battle of Kunersdorf
The battle of Kunersdorf was a battle fought on August 23, 1759 during the Seven Years' War.Kunersdorf is east of Berlin near Frankfurt/Oder and it is somewhat east of the Oder river.
The battle of Kunersdorf is most devastating defeat Prussia saw under the reign of Frederick II.
The battle started with an Prussian attack on the flank of the Russian positions. This attack was successful and if Frederick would have stopped the attack (as demanded by his brother Prince Heinrich), Kunersdorf had become a Prussian victory. But Frederick wanted to take advantage of the beginning success and decided to continue the battle. While the power of the Prussian attack faded, the Austrian cavalry (so far kept in reserve) began to engage in the battle.
A Prussian army of 50,900 men fought a combined Russian and Austrian army of 59,500 men. The Russians and Austrians lost less than 15,000 men (approx. 5000 dead). The Prussians suffered a severe defeat loosing all canons, 6000 men dead, 13000 men wounded and 26000 men that were scattered. Only 3000 Prussians made it with their king over the Oder river.
It is reported that at the end of the battle, when the Prussians were defeated and anybody on the Prussian side was on the run, king Frederick II stood alone on a small hump with his epee sticking in the ground before him - determined to either hold the line against the whole enemy army alone or to die; Austrian cavalry anywhere around. In this situation Rittmeister(cavalry captain) Prittwitz comes with his 200 men strong squadron came to the kings rescue and convinced Frederick to leave.
Letter of the king Frederick II. to Berlin written in the evening of the battle: "This morning at 11 o'clock I have attacked the enemy. ... All my troups have worked wonders, but ... cost of innumberable losses. Our men got into confusion. I assembled them three times. In the end I was in danger to get captured and had to retreat. My coat is perforated by bullets, two horses of mine have been shot dead. My misfortune is that I am still living ... Our defeat is very considerable: To me remain curtly 3000 men from a army of 48000 men. At this moment in which I report all this, everything is on the run; I am no more master of my troups. Thinking of the safety of anybody in Berlin is a good activity ... It is a cruel failure, that I will not survive. The consequences of the battle will be worse than the battle itself. I do not have any more resources, and - frankly confessed - I believe that everything is lost. I will not survive the doom of my fatherland. Farewell forever!"
Four days after the battle most of the 26000 scattered men have found their way back to their king and Frederick's army has recovered to a strength of 32000 men and 50 canons (from Berlin).