Battle of Soor (1745)

Background

The Battle of Soor (30 September 1745) was a battle between Frederick the Great’s Prussian army and an Austro-Saxon army led by Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine during the War of the Austrian Succession. The battle occurred in the vicinity of Soor, also known as Hajnice, in the modern day Czech Republic. The battle started with a failed Austrian surprise attack on the outnumbered Prussians. Despite initial setbacks the Prussian army managed to defeat the Austrians, due to an unexpected attack from a reserve regiment that refused to follow Frederick’s orders.

Prussian scouts soon detected the Austrian presence, and drummers and trumpeters sounded the general alarm as Prussians began preparing for battle. Austrian artillery proceeded to fire on the Prussian encampment, while the Prussian army marched into battle.

Frederick ordered the cavalry to charge up the valley to the side of the hill in order to encircle the enemy. During the maneuver the cavalry came under artillery fire, suffering heavy casualties. Despite the initial setback the vanguard regiments of the Gens D’Armes and General Buddenbrock’s cuirassiers managed to surprise the Austrian cavalry forcing it to flee. Coming under musket fire the Prussian cavalry withdrew into rear of the force.

By the time of the cavalry retreat, Prussian grenadiers and the Anhalt infantry regiment began engaging the Austrian troops positioned on the hill. An Austrian counterattack, supported by artillery fire, dealt significant damage to the Prussian infantry causing it to fall back. The Prussians then launched a second assault consisting of Geist Grenadiers, Blanckensee, La Motte and other battle hardened regiments. The unwillingness of the Austrian artillery to risk firing at its own troops contributed to the fall of the summit.

A number of Prussian regiments positioned south of Burkersdorf ignored orders to remain in the area and attempted to capture Burkersdorf. A bayonet charge led by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick seized an Austrian battery, and the surprise attack led to the collapse of the Austrian line.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Soor

The Game

Terrain:

The board was generally wide open with a couple of woods behind the Austrian main positions.  A large steep hill (The Graner Kroppe) was on the Austian right and extended to the center as a gentle slope.  The town of Burkersdorf was in the middle of the table, with smaller towns around the periphery.  Fields were added for aesthetic purposes.

Forces:

The Prussian army marched onto the table and consisted of Nine Regiments of Cavalry, a twelve gun Artillery Battery and twenty six battalions of infantry.

The Austro-Saxon army set up in overall historical locations for each wing on the battlefield, but players had flexibility on how to organize their specific units.  Arenburg’s right wing was not included, as it did not factor in the actual battle.  To represent the how under-strength the Austrian infantry was, infantry regiments were represented as two battalions.  The Autro-Saxons consisted of thirteen cavalry regiments, three eight gun artillery batteries and thirty three battalions of infantry.

Scenario Rules:

The Austro-Saxons were set up on the table.  All formations were on defend orders, with the C-in-C located on the far left.  Prussians march onto the table.

Recap:

Turn One:  The Prussians enter the board and begin their approach against the Austrians positions.

Turn Two:  Prussians continue to advance against the Graner Kroppe, while their cavalry try to sweep around the Austrian left flank.  Austrians move up reserve battalions to reinforce the Graner Kroppe, while additional cavalry moves to support the left flank.

 

Turn Three:  Prussian infantry begin their attacks against the Graner Kroppe, with initial firefights causing casualties on both sides.  The Prussian cavalry engages the Austrian left flank cavalry.  Both Prussians get the worst of the clashes, but both sides fall back without a breakthrough.  The Austrians begin redeploying their right wing cavalry for future action.

Turn Four:  The Cavalry clash on the left takes a pause, as both sides reorganize their forces.  The Prussian main infantry attack starts to grind through the defending Austrians.

Turn Five:  The cavalry fight on the Austrian left continues with the Austrians gaining the advantage.  The Austrians on the Graner Kroppe continue to get the worst of the firefights and start falling back.

Turn Six:  The Austrians on the Graner Kroppe continue to take heavy losses from the attacking Prussian infantry.  The Prussians cavalry on the Austrian left tries to counterattack the Austrian cavalry to gain the initiative.  The Austrian right flank begins to move against the Prussian left.  With this move, the Prussians advance their left to engage the finally active Austrian right flank.

Turn Seven:  The Prussian cavalry continues in vain to defeat the Austrian left flank cavalry.  The Prussian main force finally overcomes the remaining Austrian positions on the Graner Kroppe.  The Austrian right flank continues on the Prussian left.  The Prussian infantry is now engaged along the entire front, using their superior firepower to cause carnage against the Austrians.  The Austrian’s infantry continue their slow advance, while the Austrian cavalry continues to hesitate.

Close up view of the charge to contact between the Prussian and Austrian cavalry on turn eight!

Turn Eight:  The cavalry fight on the Austrian left finally reaches the tipping point.  With a final charge, the climax results in the Austrians finally beginning to sweep the Prussians from the field.  However, the Austrian center is in a shambles, with isolated units trying to hold of the Prussian infantry.  The Austrian right continues to advance, hoping to turn the Prussian flank before it is too late.

Turn Nine:  The Austrian cavalry on the left clears the last remaining Prussian cavalry, but is exhausted from the fight.  In desperation, the Austrian center cavalry moves to attack the Prussians.  However, it is too late.  The Austrian center is gone and the army must quit the field.  The game is called, an historic Prussian victory!

– Manteuffel