Battle of Wetzlar (1796) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Wetzlar (1796)
Part of War of the First Coalition
Date 15 June 1796 Location Wetzlar, Germany Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
Republican France	Habsburg Austria
Commanders and leaders
General Jourdan	Archduke Charles
Units involved
Army of Sambre-et-Meuse	Army of the Lower Rhine
Strength
48,000	64,000
Casualties and losses
Wetzlar: 500, 7 guns Uckerath: 3,000	Wetzlar: 400 Uckerath: 600

The Battle of Wetzlar happened on June 15, 1796. It was a fight between the Austrian army and the French army. The Austrians were led by Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen. The French were led by Jean-Baptiste Jourdan.

This battle was part of the War of the First Coalition. The fighting took place near the Lahn River in Germany. The Austrians won this battle. After the battle, most of the French army had to retreat. They moved back to the west side of the Rhine River.

What Was the Battle of Wetzlar?

The Battle of Wetzlar was a key moment in the 1796 Rhine Campaign. It showed the strength of the Austrian army. The battle happened in Wetzlar, a city in Hesse, Germany. Wetzlar is about 66 kilometres (41 mi) north of Frankfurt.

The Austrians attacked the French defenses along the Lahn River. The French tried to hold their ground. But the Austrian attack was too strong. The French forces were forced to pull back.

The Pursuit After Wetzlar

After the main battle, the Austrians continued to chase the French. On June 19, a smaller fight happened at Uckerath. This was part of the Austrian pursuit. They were trying to push the French left wing even further back.

Why Did This Battle Happen?

The Battle of Wetzlar was part of a bigger plan. This plan was for the Rhine Campaign of 1796. The French had two main armies. One was Jourdan's Army of Sambre-et-Meuse. The other was Moreau's Army of Rhin-et-Moselle.

French Strategy in 1796

Jourdan's army had already crossed the Rhine River. They won a battle at Altenkirchen on June 4. This was on the east side of the Rhine. The French plan was clever. Jourdan's army was supposed to draw the main Austrian forces north. This would make it easier for Moreau's army to cross the Rhine further south.

The plan worked well. Archduke Charles, the Austrian commander, moved his strong forces north. He wanted to push Jourdan's army back. While Charles was busy in the north, Moreau successfully crossed the Rhine. He made an assault crossing at Kehl, near Strasbourg. This showed how the battles were connected.