Battle of Kolin
Part of the Seven Years' War
Date June 18, 1757 Location Kolin, present-day Czech Republic Result Austrian victory
Combatants
Prussia	Austria
Commanders
Frederick the Great	Leopold Josef, Count von Daun
Strength
32,000	44,000
Casualties
14,000 dead or wounded	9,000 dead or wounded

The Battle of Kolin (Kolín) was a battle fought on June 18, 1757 during the Seven Years' War. A Prussian army of 32,000 men fought an Austrian army under Daun of 44,000 men. The Prussians lost the battle and nearly 14,000 men, the Austrians lost 9,000 men. Combatants Prussia Great Britain Hanover Portugal Brunswick Hesse-Kassel Austria France Russia Sweden Spain Saxony Naples and Sicily Sardinia The Seven Years War(i) (1754 and 1756–1763), incorporating the Pomeranian War and the French and Indian War enveloped both European and colonial theatres. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... 1757 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Flag of Prussia (1894 - 1918) The Kingdom of Prussia existed from 1701 until 1918, and from 1871 was the leading kingdom of the German Empire, comprising in its last form almost two-thirds of the area of the Empire. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Habsburg_Monarchy. ... Frederick the Great Frederick II of Prussia (Friedrich der Große, Frederick the Great, January 24, 1712 – August 17, 1786) was the Hohenzollern king of Prussia 1740–86. ... Leopold Josef Graf Daun, Fürst von Thiano (Count Leopold Joseph von Daun or Dhaun) (September 24, 1705 – February 5, 1766), Prince of Thiano, Austrian field marshal, was born at Vienna. ... Combatants Prussia Great Britain Hanover Portugal Brunswick Hesse-Kassel Austria France Russia Sweden Spain Saxony Naples and Sicily Sardinia The Seven Years War(i) (1754 and 1756–1763), incorporating the Pomeranian War and the French and Indian War enveloped both European and colonial theatres. ... 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Motto: Suum cuique Latin: To each his own Prussia at its peak, as leading state of the German Empire Capital Königsberg, later Berlin Political structure Duchy, Kingdom, Republic Duke1  - 1525–68 Albert I  - 1688–1701 Frederick III King1  - 1701–13 Frederick I  - 1888–1918 William II Prime Minister1,2...

Background

Frederick II had won a battle against Austria and was now besieging Prague. Marshal Daun had been too late to participate in the battle of Prague, but picked up 16,000 men who had escaped from the battle. With this army he slowly moved to relieve Prague and the Prussian forces had to be split. Nickname: Motto: Praga Caput Rei publicae Location within the Czech Republic Coordinates: , Country Czech Republic Region Capital City of Prague Founded 9th century Government  - Mayor Pavel Bém Area  - City 496 km²  (191. ...

Frederick took 32,000 of his men to intercept Daun. Knowing that the Prussian forces were too weak to both besiege Prague and keep Daun away from Prague for a longer time (or to fight the Austrian army reinforced by the Prague garrison), the Austrians took defensive positions on hills near Kolín. Frederick was forced to attack the Austrians. Reports of the Austrian strengths are mixed: some report 44,000 men, some reports mention 65,000 men. The battlefield of Kolin consisted of gently rolling hill slopes. Town hall Kolín is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic on the Elbe river. ...

Frederick's plan was to envelop the Austrian right wing with most of his army. Along the Austrian lines (Prussian right wing and center) he kept only enough troops to hide the concentration on the Prussian left wing. The Prussian main force was to turn right toward the Austrians to attack their right flank. The Prussian left wing would locally outnumber the Austrians. After the Austrian right wing had been defeated the battle would be decided.

Battle

Frederick's main force turned toward the Austrians too early and attacked their defensive positions frontally instead of outflanking them. Austrian light infantry (Croats) seem to have played an important role in this; harassing the regular Prussian infantry under Generals von Manstein and Tresckow, they provoked them into a premature attack. Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ...

Now the disunited Prussian columns all blundered into a series of uncoordinated attacks, each against superior numbers. By the afternoon, after about five hours of fighting, the Prussians were disoriented and Daun's troops were driving them back.

Prussian cuirassiers under Oberst von Seydlitz (promoted to major-general on that day) finally showed up. The Krzeczor Hill was the location of numerous charges and countercharges. The first Guard battalion under General von Tauentzien saved the Prussian army from a worse fate, covering the Prussian retreat. Cuirass (French cuirasse, Latin coriaceus, made of leather, from corium, the original breastplate being of leather), the plate armour, whether formed of a single piece of metal or other rigid material or composed of two or more pieces, which covers the front of the wearers person. ... Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz Friedrich Wilhelm, Freiherr von Seydlitz (February 3, 1721 - August 27, 1773), Prussian soldier, one of the greatest cavalry generals of history, was born at Kalkar in the duchy of Cleves, where his father, a major of Prussian cavalry, was stationed. ...

Results

The battle was Frederick's first defeat in this war. This disaster forced him to abandon his intended march on Wien, and entailed raising the siege of Prague, and the Prussians fell back on Leitmeritz. The Austrians, reinforced by the 48,000 troops in Prague, followed them, 100,000 strong, and, falling on Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia, who was retreating eccentrically (for commissariat reasons) on Zittau, inflicted a severe check upon him. The king was compelled to abandon Bohemia. Wien is the German language name for Vienna, the city and federal state in Austria. ...

Frederick blamed his defeat on his generals, such as Prince Moritz von Anhalt-Dessau. The truth is more subtle. The greatest blame must be laid in Frederick himself. He opted for an assault against a numerically superior opponent. He chose a risky strategy for the battle. An often underestimated factor in the battle was the tenacious and skillful defense organized by the Austrian marshal Daun. In other battles Fredrick opted for the same flanking strategy, and won brilliant victories. The Austrian army under Daun not only withstood the Prussian assaults but also selected the correct momentum for a careful counter-attack. Prince Moritz of Anhalt-Dessau (1712-1760) was a Prussian soldier. ...