The Battle of Gadebusch was Sweden's final great victory in the Great Northern War. It was fought by the Swedes to prevent the loss if the city of Stralsund to Danish and Saxon forces. Not to be confused with the Northern Wars (1655–1661) The Swedish Victory at Narva, 1700 by Gustaf Cederström, painted 1910 Battle of Poltava fragment of mosaic, by Mikhail Lomonosov, 1717 The Great Northern War was the war fought between a coalition of Russia, Denmark-Norway and Saxony-Poland (from... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Treaty of Aargau signed between Catholic and Protestants. ... Statistics State: Schleswig-Holstein District: Independent city Area: 214. ... With an area of 18,400 sq. ... Count Magnus Gustafsson Stenbock (1664 - 1717), Swedish soldier, was educated at Uppsala and at Paris, chose the military profession, and spent some years in the service of the United Provinces. ... Frederick IV (October 11, 1671 - October 12, 1730) king of Denmark and Norway from 1699. ... Not to be confused with the Northern Wars (1655–1661) The Swedish Victory at Narva, 1700 by Gustaf Cederström, painted 1910 Battle of Poltava fragment of mosaic, by Mikhail Lomonosov, 1717 The Great Northern War was the war fought between a coalition of Russia, Denmark-Norway and Saxony-Poland (from... Stralsund is a city in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. ... With an area of 18,400 sq. ...

Prelude

During 1712, all of Sweden's dominions south of the Baltic Sea, apart from forts, had been conquered by the allies Denmark, Saxony, and Russia. In the Baltic the Danish admiral Gyldenløve patrolled with a squadron to disrupt Swedish supply lines to the Continent. It was vital for Sweden not to lose Stralsund, as it was the gateway to campaigns in Poland. Events Treaty of Aargau signed between Catholic and Protestants. ... The Dominions of Sweden or Svenska besittningar were territories that historically came under control of the Swedish Crown, but never became fully integrated with Sweden. ... The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of east and central Europe, and the Danish islands. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... The word admiral comes from the Arabic term amir-al-bahr meaning commander of the seas. ... Supply lines are roads, rail, and other transportation infrastructure needed to replenish the consumables that a military unit requires to function in the field. ...

While a Danish army moved in the region of Hamburg, a large Russian-Saxon force stood south of Stralsund. Stenbock could hardly attack this force with a frontal assault, but hoped that by moving west towards Mecklenburg it could be encircled or scattered. Such a movement would also prevent the joining of the two allied forces. The Danish army under Frederick IV of Denmark was led by general Jobst von Scholten closer to the Russian-Saxon army, and on December 3 the Danish forces reached the little town of Gadebusch, southwest of Wismar. Fortunately for Stenbock the allied movements were slowed due to disagreements among the allied commanders. On December 8 he marched the Swedish army to Gross Brütz less than ten kilometers east of Gadebusch. Now the Russian infantry was too far away to assist the Danes, but the Saxon cavalry under Jacob Heinrich von Flemming was approaching quickly. Position of Hamburg in Germany Hamburgs central broadway Jungfernstieg at the Alster lake, between 1900 and 1914 This article is about the city in Germany. ... The military tactic of frontal assault is a direct, hostile movement of forces towards enemy forces in a large number, in an attempt to overwhelm the enemy. ... Mecklenburg, located in Northern Germany, was a duchy within the Holy Roman Empire, then divided, and after 1815 two Grand Duchies, then a state, and now part of the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. ... Encirclement is a military term for the situation when one sides force or target is isolated and surrounded by other sides forces. ... Frederick IV (October 11, 1671 - October 12, 1730) king of Denmark and Norway from 1699. ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Wismar Coat of Arms Wismar is a smaller port and Hanseatic League city in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, about 45 km due east of Lübeck, and 30 km due north of Schwerin. ... December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer) (symbol: km) is a unit of length equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words khilia = thousand and metro = count/measure). ... Infantry in the First World War Infantry (or Infantrymen) are soldiers who fight primarily on foot, using personal weapons. ... An army unit consisting of mounted soldiers are commonly known as cavalry. ...

That night the Danish forces broke camp and moved to a better position around the village of Wakenstädt, three kilometers south of Gadebusch. Scholten expected the Swedish attack to come from the south to avoid the marshy Radegas river. At four in the morning of December 9 the Danish army was arrayed in defensive formation, with cavalry wings flanking the infantry in the center. As hours passed, snowfall turned to rain. Finally, the Saxon cavalry under Flemming arrived at Wakenstädt at mid-morning. This article is about marsh, a type of wetland. ... For the Second World War frigate class, see River class frigate The Murray River in Australia A waterfall on the Ova da Fedoz, Switzerland A river is a large natural waterway. ... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Swedish reconnaissance made it clear that the only Swedish option was a frontal assault. Stenbock judged that although the passable terrain was narrow and his men somewhat outnumbered, the thirty Swedish field guns would provide an advantage over the Danish thirteen. Reconnaissance is the military term for the active gathering information about an enemy, or other conditions, by physical observation. ... The military tactic of frontal assault is a direct, hostile movement of forces towards enemy forces in a large number, in an attempt to overwhelm the enemy. ... A field gun is an artillery piece. ...

Battle

The Swedish onslaught from the east began around 11 am. Swedish artillery opened fire on the tightly grouped Danish battalions and provided cover for the deploying cavalry and infantry. At 1 pm the order to attack was given. While the artillery kept firing, the infantry marched towards the Danes, not firing until reaching a distance of twelve paces. During this time, the Danish opponent remained relatively passive. A Danish cavalry counterattack was broken by the infantry, supported by the constant artillery fire. In military terminology, a battalion consists of two to six companies typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. ...

To the north, the Swedish cavalry made a flanking movement and surprised the Danish cavalry on the left wing. The susequent retreat into Wakenstädt caused confusion in the Danish ranks, which was exploited by the infantry on the Swedish right wing. Meanwhile, heavy fighting was taking place on the Swedish left wing, but despite their numerical superiority, attacks by the Saxon cavalry were repelled.

The battle wound down by dusk: Danish and Saxon forces withdrew more or less orderly to a position several kilometers west of Gadebusch to regroup. All of the Danish artillery had been abandoned.

Aftermath

After the battle Stenbock was promoted to Field Marshal by an approving King Charles. The battle was won by efficient use of artillery, and it gave the hard-pressed Swedish forces some well needed breathing room. Strategically, however, there was little impact, and the allies would surround and defeat Stenbock's forces the next year. Note: This article is about the military usage of the word marshal. For other usages, see the end of this article. ...