Battle of Varize

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Battle of Varize
Part of Franco-Prussian War
Monument aux defenseurs de Varize-Civry.jpg
Memorial of the Battle
Date29 November 1870 [1]
Location
Result Bavarian Victory [1]
Belligerents
Flag of France (1794-1958).svg  French Republic Flag of Bavaria (striped).svg  Bavaria
Commanders and leaders
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Ernest de Lipowski [3] Flag of Bavaria (striped).svg Ludwig von der Tann-Rathsamhausen [4]
Units involved
Franc-Tireur's [1] I Corps [5]
Casualties and losses
10 soldiers died, 37 were wounded, 100 were taken prisoner [6] 450 casualties [6]

The Battle of Varize [7] took place during the Franco-Prussian War [1] on 29 November 1870, [8] in Varize, on the river Conie. [2] In this battle, the First Bavarian Corps under the command of Lieutenant General Infantry Ludwig von der Tann attacked a guerrilla army franc-tireurs of the French Republic under the command of Colonel Ernest de Lipowski, and made them scatter. [1] Despite this, the defense at Varize enabled General Antoine Chanzy, commander of the French Army of Loire, to establish a defensive formation against the Prussian army under the direction of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. [2] With their victory at the Battle of Varize, Bavarian forces captured a number of well-equipped French guerrillas. [1]

Battle

The Bavarian I Corps under General Von der Tann, was on its way from Châteaudun to Orgires, as it approached Civry, they attacked several French franc-tireur guerilla detachments led by Colonel Lipowski at Varize. After the German midfield batteries fired several rounds, the French were driven out of their defensive positions. Subsequently, two German battalions invaded and captured the post-war Varize which was left for prisoners of war. [5] French resistance at Varize failed. [3] Although German casualties numbered 450, [6] when the cavalry scouts on the right found that the vicinity was empty of French troops, the Bavarian I Corps resumed its march and reached Orgferes at 11 o'clock. [5] The battle cost the French 147 men, of whom 10 were killed, 37 wounded, while 100 were captured. [6]

On 1 December 1870 General Chanzy, in command of the French Army of Loire, attacked the Bavarians at the Battle of Villepion to eliminate the threat to the north. This was the second and final victory of the Loire Army over the German army. [2] On 2 December Prussian forces led by Mecklenburg defeated Chanzy at the Battle of Loigny-Poupry. [9]

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