Battle of Domstadtl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Domstadtl (Domašov) |
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| Part of The Third Silesian War (Seven Years' War) | |||||||
 "Black Cross", memorial of the battle near Domašov |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Prussia |
 Austria |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Hans Joachim von Zieten Friedrich Wilhelm von der Mosel |
Ernst Gideon von Laudon Joseph von Siskovits |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 7,000 | 12,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2,700–3,500 dead, wounded, missing, or captured | 680 dead or wounded | ||||||
The Battle of Domstadtl (pronounced DOHM-shtaht-l) was an important fight during the Seven Years' War. It happened on June 30, 1758, near the village of Domašov nad Bystřicí in what is now the Czech Republic. This battle was between the Austrian army and the Prussian army.
Before the main battle, there was a smaller clash at Guntramovice on June 28. Austrian forces, led by Major General Ernst Gideon von Laudon and Major General Joseph von Siskovits, attacked a large supply convoy. This convoy was on its way to the Prussian army, which was trying to capture the city of Olomouc. The Austrians won, destroying the supplies. This victory saved Olomouc and forced the Prussian King, Frederick the Great, to leave Moravia.
Contents
Why did Prussia invade Moravia?
In May 1758, King Frederick the Great of Prussia invaded Moravia. He began to besiege the strong city of Olomouc. Frederick hoped that the Austrian army would come to defend the city. If they did, he planned to defeat them in a big battle. If the Austrians did not come, he thought he could quickly capture Olomouc. This city would then be a good base for defending Silesia and putting pressure on Vienna.
However, the Austrian Field Marshal Leopold Joseph von Daun knew how strong the Prussian army was. So, he avoided a direct, big battle. Instead, the Austrians focused on attacking the Prussian supply lines. They caused damage through many small fights. The soldiers defending Olomouc also fought bravely. They held out much longer than Frederick expected. By June, the city's walls were badly damaged by cannons. But the Prussians desperately needed new supplies to keep fighting.
What was the big convoy?
King Frederick worried that many small supply convoys would be easily captured. So, he decided to send one very large convoy. This huge convoy would be protected by a strong force. Supplies for this convoy were gathered in Silesia. By the end of June, it reached Moravia.
The convoy was so big that it was impossible to keep it a secret. It had about 4,000 wagons filled with military equipment. It also included about 2,500 cattle. When it started its journey, the convoy stretched for about 45 kilometers (28 miles).
About 10,870 soldiers protected the convoy. They were led by Colonel Wilhelm von Mosel. The strongest part of this force was its cavalry, with 1,341 men. There were also eight infantry battalions, made up of new recruits or soldiers who had recovered from injuries.
When Field Marshal Daun learned about this giant convoy, he decided it had to be stopped. He gave this important task to Ernst Gideon von Laudon and Joseph von Siskovits.
The Battles
The Fight at Guntramovice
Laudon waited for the Prussian convoy at Guntramovice. This was a small village in northern Moravia. Siskovits, who had gotten lost in the woods, was supposed to arrive two days later. This was a problem for Laudon. His force had only about 6,000 men. These included four infantry battalions, a regiment of dragoons, a regiment of hussars, an artillery battery, and some frontier guards.
Despite being outnumbered, Laudon decided to attack. Olomouc was close, and there was no time to wait. He also knew that 20,000 Prussian soldiers were rushing to help the convoy. These soldiers were led by Lieutenant-General Hans Joachim von Zieten.
The convoy arrived early on June 28. The Austrians immediately started firing at the lead wagons. One Prussian battalion moved forward to check the enemy's strength. But they were quickly defeated by Austrian artillery. The Prussians also set up their own artillery and began to fire back. They tried to attack the Austrian positions in the hilly area several times. Each time, they were forced back. The fight lasted about five hours. Finally, the Prussians started to gain control. Laudon ordered his men to retreat towards Moravský Beroun. They did this without problems, as Mosel did not have enough cavalry to chase them.
Even though Laudon retreated, his losses were much smaller than the Prussians'. More importantly, he gained precious time. Some historians now believe the Prussians could have succeeded if they had abandoned some wagons and rushed to Olomouc. However, Mosel and Zieten (who arrived later) did not know about Siskovits's approaching forces. So, they decided to reorganize the convoy and repair damage. They continued their journey early on June 30.
The Ambush at Domašov
Meanwhile, the Austrians prepared for a new attack. They chose an open area between Domašov nad Bystřicí and Nová Véska. This spot was surrounded by hills and woods, perfect for an ambush.
Siskovits's troops arrived first. They waited for the enemy in the woods on the left side of the road. Laudon was supposed to arrive later from Moravský Beroun. His plan was to attack from the opposite side during the fight. This would create more confusion among the Prussian soldiers.
First, the Prussian vanguard arrived. This group had 4,850 soldiers and 250 wagons. Siskovits let them pass. Austrian artillery began firing when the main part of the convoy was passing. This caused huge chaos among the wagons. Siskovits's infantry fought well against the Prussian soldiers, even though they were outnumbered three to one. When Laudon's troops appeared from the other side, the battle's outcome was decided. After seven hours of fighting, the Prussian convoy was completely defeated.
Who suffered more?
The total number of Austrian soldiers fighting was about 12,000. They lost only about 680 men in both Guntramovice and Domašov. The Prussian losses were much higher. Different sources give different numbers. The Austrians claimed about 2,000 Prussians were killed, injured, or missing. They also captured 1,450 Prussians, including General Puttkamer. The Prussians, however, reported only 2,701 total casualties. They admitted it was hard to count precisely because their troops were completely scattered after the battle.
The Austrians also captured 2,200 horses, many cattle, and most of the military supplies. Many wagons were damaged, so the Austrians burned what they could not take. Some ammunition wagons were even blown up as part of the victory celebration. An important part of the spoils was 2 million Prussian thalers (old German money). The Austrian commanders let their soldiers keep half of this money. Only the rest went to the government.
Only 250 wagons from the vanguard escaped the main battle. But some of these were captured by Croatian soldiers near Svatý Kopeček, just a few kilometers north of Olomouc. In the end, only about 100–200 wagons reached their destination.
What happened next?
The importance of this battle is sometimes not fully appreciated. The number of soldiers lost was not as high as in other big battles of that time. But losing the supplies had serious effects for the Prussian army. It greatly influenced King Frederick's decision about continuing to besiege Olomouc. It also shocked the Prussian camp. When Daun finally came to help Olomouc, the Prussians had to give up their siege. They could not capture the city without ammunition. The Prussian army then retreated to Silesia. The Battles of Guntramovice and Domašov were a turning point in the fight for Moravia.
A memorial called "Black Cross" was built northeast of Domašov in 1858. This was to mark 100 years since the battle. There is also a memorial for soldiers killed in the battle southeast of Guntramovice.
