Battle of Hennersdorf

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Battle of Hennersdorf
Part of the Second Silesian War (War of the Austrian Succession)
Ziethen aus dem Busch Gedenkstein.jpg
Memorial stone of Hans Joachim von Zieten in Hennersdorf
Date23 November 1745
Location 51°10′00″N15°16′00″E / 51.166667°N 15.266667°E / 51.166667; 15.266667
Result Prussian victory
Belligerents
Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1701-1750).svg Prussia Flag of Electoral Saxony.svg Saxony
Commanders and leaders
Frederick II
General Zieten
Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine
General Buchner
Strength
20 squadrons of hussars
10 squadrons of cuirassiers
6 squadrons of cuirassiers
2 infantry battalions
Casualties and losses
unknown 2,000, [1] including 1,000 prisoners [2]
Battle of Hennersdorf
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200km
125miles
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Dresden
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Prague
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  current battle

The Battle of Hennersdorf, sometimes referred to as Catholic-Hennersdorf, was a minor encounter that took place on 23 November 1745 in Katholisch-Hennersdorf in Silesia (Prussia, present-day Poland) during the Second Silesian War (part of the War of the Austrian Succession). The Prussians under Frederick II defeated the Austrians under Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine. The Prussians surprised the Austrians and Saxons in their cantonments in Lusatia with the most success at Hennersdorf. There a force of two regiments of hussars and two regiments of cuirassiers under Zieten attacked a small force of two battalions of Saxon infantry and three regiments of Saxon cavalry. The Saxons, after making a desperate stand, were overwhelmed by the arrival of additional Prussian cavalry, infantry and artillery.

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References

  1. Clausewitz, Carl von. On war, London, 1908, Vol. 3, p.54.
  2. Tuttle, Herbert. History of Prussia, Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1888, Vol.III, p.38.