Battle of Friedberg (Bavaria) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Friedberg
Part of the French Revolutionary Wars
Date 24 August 1796 Location Friedberg, Bavaria, Germany Result French victory
Belligerents
France	Habsburg Austria
Commanders and leaders
Jean Moreau	Count Latour Prince of Condé
Units involved
Army of Rhin-et-Moselle	Army of the Upper Rhine Army of Condé
Strength
59,000	30,288 5,000–6,000
Casualties and losses
400	1,800, 17 guns

The Battle of Friedberg happened on August 24, 1796. It was a fight between the French army, led by Jean Victor Marie Moreau, and the Austrian army, led by Maximilian Anton Karl, Count Baillet de Latour. The French army was moving east near the Danube River when they found an Austrian army group that was separated from the main force. The French attacked and won a clear victory. Friedberg is a town in Bavaria, Germany, located near the Lech River and Augsburg. This battle was part of a bigger conflict called the War of the First Coalition.

What Was the War About?

The French Revolutionary Wars

The Battle of Friedberg was part of the French Revolutionary Wars. These were a series of big wars fought mainly between France and other European countries from 1792 to 1802. Many countries joined together to fight against France, forming groups called Coalitions. The Battle of Friedberg was part of the First Coalition.

The Rhine Campaign of 1796

In 1796, France wanted to push into Germany. Two large French armies crossed the Rhine River to do this. One army, called the Army of Sambre-et-Meuse, was led by Jean-Baptiste Jourdan. It took a northern route. The other army, the Army of Rhin-et-Moselle, was led by General Moreau and took a southern path.

Opposing them were two Austrian armies. The Army of the Lower Rhine was led by Wilhelm von Wartensleben. The Army of the Upper Rhine was led by Count Latour. All Austrian forces were under the command of Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen, a very skilled general.

The Armies' Moves

French Successes

General Moreau had already won some important battles against Archduke Charles. He defeated Charles at the Battle of Ettlingen on July 9 and again at the Battle of Neresheim on August 11. These victories forced the Austrians to retreat.

Austrian Strategy

The Austrian army had fewer soldiers than the French. Archduke Charles wanted to find a way to defeat one of the French armies by attacking it with a stronger force. He saw an opportunity in late August. He decided to leave Count Latour's army weaker and quickly marched north with about 27,000 soldiers. His plan was to join forces with Wartensleben's army and defeat Jourdan's army.

The Battle of Friedberg

An Unexpected Encounter

On August 24, 1796, Archduke Charles's plan worked against Jourdan. Jourdan's army was badly defeated at the Battle of Amberg. However, General Moreau didn't know about this. He kept moving forward with his army.

Near Friedberg, Moreau's forces came across an isolated Austrian infantry regiment called Schröder Infantry Regiment Nr. 7. This regiment was separated from the main Austrian army. The French quickly attacked this smaller group.

French Victory

The battle was short but intense. The isolated Austrian regiment was overwhelmed by the French. They suffered heavy losses, with many soldiers killed or captured. The French won a clear victory at Friedberg.

What Happened Next?

French Retreat

Even though Moreau won at Friedberg, the overall French plan was in trouble. Jourdan's army had been defeated twice, first at Amberg and then again at the Battle of Würzburg. This meant Moreau's army was becoming more and more isolated deep inside Germany. By early September, Moreau had no choice but to turn around and lead his army back towards France.