Siege of Olomouc facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Olmütz
Part of the Third Silesian War (Seven Years' War)
Map of the fortress of Olomouc, 1757
Date 4 May – 2 July 1758 Location Olomouc, Moravia 49°35′43″N 17°15′07″E / 49.5954°N 17.2519°E / 49.5954; 17.2519 Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
Prussia	Austria
Commanders and leaders
Frederick the Great	Ernst Dietrich von Marschall
Strength
22,000	7,500

The Siege of Olomouc was a military event that happened in 1758. It was part of a bigger conflict called the Seven Years' War, also known as the Third Silesian War. During this time, the army of Prussia, led by their famous king, Frederick the Great, tried to capture the city of Olomouc. Olomouc (which is now in the Czech Republic) was then part of Austria.

Frederick the Great thought it would be easy to take Olomouc. However, the city's defenders fought back much harder than he expected. The Prussian army also started to run out of food and other important supplies. When an Austrian army came to help Olomouc after a battle nearby, Frederick decided to give up. He ended the siege and took his army out of the area.

What Was the Siege of Olomouc?

The Siege of Olomouc was a long attack by the Prussian army on the city of Olomouc. A siege happens when an army surrounds a city or fortress. They try to cut off its supplies and prevent anyone from leaving or entering. The goal is to force the people inside to surrender.

Why Did Prussia Attack Olomouc?

King Frederick the Great of Prussia wanted to take over more land. He was especially interested in a region called Moravia, where Olomouc is located. Capturing Olomouc would have given Prussia a strong base in this area. It was part of his plan to expand the Prussian kingdom.

Who Was Involved in the Siege?

• Prussia: The attacking army was from the Kingdom of Prussia. Their leader was Frederick the Great, a very skilled military commander. He had about 22,000 soldiers.
• Austria: The defending army was from Austria, which was part of the Habsburg monarchy. The city was defended by General Ernst Dietrich von Marschall and his 7,500 soldiers.

The Battle for Olomouc

The siege began on May 4, 1758. The Prussian army surrounded Olomouc and started to bombard it with cannons. They hoped to break down the city's walls and force the Austrian defenders to give up quickly.

Strong Defense by Austria

The Austrian soldiers inside Olomouc were very determined. They fought bravely and did not surrender easily. They repaired the damage caused by the Prussian cannons. This made the siege much harder for Frederick's army than he had planned.

Supply Problems for Prussia

As the siege continued, the Prussian army faced a big problem: they were running out of supplies. It's hard to feed and equip a large army during a long siege. The Austrians also attacked Prussian supply convoys (groups of wagons carrying food and weapons). This made it even harder for the Prussians to get what they needed.

The Battle of Domstadtl

One important event during the siege was the Battle of Domstadtl. This battle happened on June 30, 1758. Austrian forces attacked a large Prussian supply convoy. They managed to destroy or capture most of the supplies. This was a huge blow to the Prussian army. Without enough food and ammunition, they couldn't continue the siege effectively.

The End of the Siege

After the loss of their supplies at Domstadtl, King Frederick realized he could not win. An Austrian relief force was also getting closer to Olomouc. On July 2, 1758, Frederick the Great decided to end the siege. He ordered his army to retreat from Olomouc and leave Moravia.

What Was the Result?

The Siege of Olomouc was a victory for Austria. They successfully defended their city against a powerful Prussian army. This event showed that even Frederick the Great could be stopped. It was an important moment in the Seven Years' War.