Siege of Pirna facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Pirna
Part of the Third Silesian War (Seven Years' War)
Date 10 September – 14 October 1756 Location Pirna, Saxony 50°58′01″N 13°55′59″E / 50.9670°N 13.9330°E / 50.9670; 13.9330 Result Prussian victory
Belligerents
Prussia	Saxony  Habsburg monarchy
Commanders and leaders
Frederick the Great	Frederick von Rutowski Maximilian Ulysses Browne
Strength
62,000	20,076 8,000
Casualties and losses
	15,000 captured 5,000 dead and wounded

The Siege of Pirna was an important event in 1756. It was part of a bigger conflict called the Third Silesian War. This war was also a part of the even larger Seven Years' War.

What Was the Siege of Pirna?

A siege happens when an army surrounds a city or fortress. They try to cut off supplies and force the people inside to give up. The Siege of Pirna took place in the town of Pirna in Saxony.

Why Did the Siege Happen?

In 1756, Frederick the Great, the king of Prussia, invaded Saxony. His army took over Dresden, the capital city, on September 9. The Saxon army, led by Frederick von Rutowski, retreated. They went to the strong fortress of Pirna.

The Armies Involved

• Prussia: Led by King Frederick the Great. They had about 62,000 soldiers.
• Saxony: Led by Frederick von Rutowski. They had about 20,000 soldiers.
• Austria: Led by Maximilian Ulysses Browne. They were allies of Saxony and tried to help. They had about 8,000 soldiers.

The Battle and Surrender

The Saxon army hoped that the Austrian army would come to help them. The Austrian army was nearby in Bohemia. They tried to reach Pirna. However, after a battle called the Battle of Lobositz, the Austrians had to pull back. They tried another way to reach Pirna, but they couldn't get through.

The Saxon soldiers inside Pirna tried to escape. They attempted to cross the River Elbe. But it soon became clear that they were trapped. On October 14, Frederick von Rutowski agreed to surrender to Frederick the Great.

What Happened After the Siege?

About 18,000 Saxon soldiers surrendered. King Frederick of Prussia made a very unusual decision. He forced these captured Saxon soldiers to join his own Prussian forces. This caused a lot of anger, even among Prussians.

Many of these Saxon soldiers did not want to fight for Prussia. Later, many of them deserted, meaning they ran away from the Prussian army. Some even joined the Austrian army. Whole groups of them switched sides during battles, like at the Battle of Prague.