Battle of Nauen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skirmish at Nauen |
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| Part of Swedish-Brandenburg War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Swedish Empire |
 Brandenburg-Prussia |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| FM Wolmar Wrangel | FM Georg von Derfflinger | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| unknown number in the rearguard | unknown number in the vanguard | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 200 killed outside Nauen, (from 25 to 27 June (Greg.) total losses of about 600 killed and wounded and 600 captured) |
60 killed | ||||||
The Skirmish at Nauen was a small but important fight. It happened on June 27, 1675, near the town of Nauen in Germany. This battle was part of the Swedish-Brandenburg War.
During the skirmish, the leading troops of Brandenburg-Prussia fought against the Swedish army's rearguard. Brandenburg-Prussia won this fight, taking control of Nauen. This victory helped set the stage for a much bigger battle the next day, the Battle of Fehrbellin.
Why the Skirmish Happened
In December 1674, a Swedish army from Swedish Pomerania invaded Brandenburg. Brandenburg was not ready for this attack. Its army was far away, fighting the French in the Franco-Dutch War.
By June 1675, the Brandenburg army returned home. Their goal was to free their land from the Swedes. The Swedish commander, Field Marshal Wrangel, wanted to cross the Elbe River. He hoped to join forces with other troops and move towards Magdeburg.
The Swedes sent a group of soldiers to Rathenow to secure a river crossing. But the Brandenburg army surprised them. They recaptured Rathenow in the Battle of Rathenow. This meant the Swedes could no longer cross the Elbe where they planned.
After losing Rathenow, the Swedish general, Wolmar Wrangel, ordered his army to move. They planned to go through Nauen to reach another river crossing near Fehrbellin. The Brandenburg leader, the Elector, quickly followed them.
The Fight at Nauen
A group of 1,200 Brandenburg soldiers rode ahead. They reached a position near Nauen. The land in front of Nauen was swampy, with only a narrow path. The Swedes had built defenses there, including cannons.
But when the Swedes saw many enemy horsemen coming, they didn't fight. Instead, they pushed their cannons into a nearby lake. Then they quickly ran away. Brandenburg cavalry chased them, causing many Swedish losses.
Most of the Swedish soldiers pulled back behind a stream. A smaller group of Swedish musketeers stayed in Nauen. They fought the Brandenburgers with muskets and cannons.
Even before more Brandenburg troops arrived, 200 Brandenburg soldiers pushed back 1,000 Swedish cuirassiers. The Swedes quickly gave up Nauen and fled. The Brandenburg cavalry kept chasing them, causing more losses.
However, the Brandenburg cavalry could not cross the stream behind the town. The Swedes had built a strong defense at the end of the bridge. They had several cannons there. These cannons forced the Brandenburgers to retreat.
Meanwhile, the main Swedish army got ready for battle behind their defenses. A Brandenburg division, led by Field Marshal Georg von Derfflinger, fixed the damaged bridge. They set up three cannons that destroyed the Swedish guns. Still, the Swedish position was strong. A direct attack would have been too risky. Also, the Brandenburg troops were tired from their long march. So, they decided to pull back into Nauen and set up camp for the night.
What Happened Next
By the evening of June 27, 1675, the two armies were very close to each other. The Brandenburg side expected a big battle the next morning. But the Swedes used the darkness of night to sneak away towards Fehrbellin.
The Brandenburg army woke up at 5:30 a.m. the next day. They continued to chase the Swedes. The Swedes lost about 200 men killed in and around Nauen.
This skirmish was important because it showed the Brandenburg army was strong. It also forced the Swedes into a position where the bigger Battle of Fehrbellin would happen.
"My little angel, we are dutifully pursuing the men of Sweden. They crossed the passes by Nauen this morning, but had to leave behind 200 of their rearguard dead; on the other side we have razed all the bridges near Fer-Berlin and occupied all the remaining passes, so that they cannot escape again from the land."
—General of Cavalry Frederick of Hesse-Homburg, Projekt Gutenberg, Theodor Fontane:Wanderungen durch die Mark Brandenburg in a letter to his wife
Images for kids
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A Brandenburg soldier and shawm piper of Electress Dorothea's Own Infantry Regiment, ca. 1675
See also
- Wars and battles involving Prussia
