Chapter 253
Chapter 253: Battle of Weissenburg
On August 2, 1870, six divisions of Frossard's Second Army and Bazin's Third Army entered Saarbrücken. The Prussian army had mostly withdrawn from the area, resulting in limited resistance, and both sides suffered relatively low casualties.
Napoleon III personally rode into Saarbrücken and accepted congratulations from the troops. The French media celebrated the victory, and the news was accompanied by enthusiastic illustrations.
However, after taking Saarbrücken, there were disagreements within the French army regarding the next course of action. Bazin wanted to continue the offensive to destroy the 40,000-strong Prussian army assembled near Saarbrücken, but Napoleon III disagreed.
The news and the presence of Prussian cavalry made French commanders nervous. Leboeuf suggested a withdrawal from Prussian territory and defensive deployments along the border. This decision led to a retreat of French forces from various positions, with the Fourth Army returning to defend the Mosel Valley Pass.
The French Army adopted a defensive posture, and this change in strategy frustrated the initial enthusiasm of the French troops.
The German forces, led by Moltke, responded by launching a counterattack. The Third Army was ordered to take Wiesenburg on August 4.
The Battle of Wiesenburg began suddenly, taking the French army by surprise. General Abel Douy commanded the French defense, but due to a lack of reconnaissance and prompt response, the Prussian and Bavarian troops attacked without warning.
The French soldiers, despite their disadvantage in numbers, effectively used their Chassepot rifles and machine-guns to create a dense fire net. The French artillery and musketry inflicted serious damage on the attacking Bavarian forces.
The Prussian and Bavarian infantry, hiding under cover, engaged in a firefight with the French army, but they faced difficulties due to the accuracy and speed of the French Chassepot rifles. However, the Prussian and Bavarian armies had the advantage of new Krupp cannons, which proved effective against the French.
The battle resulted in a victory for the German forces, but the French demonstrated their combat effectiveness, especially against the Bavarians, despite being outnumbered. The French casualties exceeded those of the Germans, but they put up a determined resistance in the face of overwhelming odds.
The Battle of Weissenburg highlighted the fierce early engagements of the Franco-Prussian War and the effectiveness of the Chassepot rifles used by the French infantry.