Battle of Luckau facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Luckau
Part of the German campaign of the Sixth Coalition
German map of the Spring-Campaign 1813 in Germany.
Date 4 June 1813 Location Luckau, Brandenburg 51°51′00″N 13°43′00″E / 51.85000°N 13.71667°E / 51.85000; 13.71667 Result Coalition victory
Belligerents
France	Prussia  Russia
Commanders and leaders
Nicolas Oudinot	Friedrich Wilhelm von Bülow
Strength
18,000	21,400
Casualties and losses
2,200 killed, wounded or captured	800 killed or wounded

The Battle of Luckau was a fight during the War of the Sixth Coalition. It happened on June 4, 1813, in Luckau, Brandenburg. In this battle, Prussian and Russian soldiers fought against French and their allies. General Friedrich Wilhelm von Bülow led the Prussian and Russian forces. Marshal Nicolas Oudinot led the French-Allied side. The Prussian and Russian forces won this battle.

Why the Battle Happened

After a big battle at Bautzen on May 21, 1813, the French army won. Emperor Napoleon sent Marshal Oudinot's army north. Their job was to protect against General Bülow's forces. On May 27, Oudinot's and Bülow's armies met near the Black Elster River. Bülow's soldiers then moved away. They went to Jüterbog and Cottbus.

On June 3, Bülow moved his troops from Cottbus to Luckau. He wanted to meet up with his soldiers in Jüterbog. When Oudinot found out Bülow was in Luckau, he decided to attack.

The Battle of Luckau

Oudinot's first soldiers arrived at Luckau at 9 AM on June 4. They immediately started fighting. Oudinot only used one part of his army, called the 13th Division. This division had two brigades of soldiers. They also had artillery (cannons) and cavalry (soldiers on horseback).

At first, the French pushed the allied soldiers back. The allies went into the walled part of Luckau town. General Bülow's army had about 15,800 men. This included a Russian group and a Prussian group. They also had many cannons.

The French tried to break through the town's walls. But they could not succeed. Bülow saw this chance. He sent more of his cavalry to attack the French from the sides. The fighting lasted all afternoon. Finally, Oudinot pulled his troops back. They moved about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest to Übigau.

The Russian and Prussian forces lost about 800 soldiers. These were either killed or wounded. The French and their allies lost more. They had 1,500 soldiers killed or wounded. Bülow's soldiers also captured 700 French and allied soldiers. They also took one cannon and two wagons of ammunition.

What Happened Next

On the same day, June 4, 1813, both sides agreed to a truce. A truce is a stop in fighting. This one was called the Truce of Pläswitz and lasted for seven weeks. Later in August, Napoleon ordered his army to take the Prussian capital, Berlin. This led to another big battle called the Battle of Großbeeren.