ORDER OF BATTLE // August 18, 1870
Battle of Gravelotte
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 301,132 estimated
North German Confederation
188,332
Medium-confidence figure
French Empire
112,800
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of Gravelotte on 18 August 1870 was the largest engagement of the Franco-Prussian War, fought roughly six miles west of Metz in Lorraine. It followed directly from the Battle of Mars-la-Tour the previous day, in which Prussian forces had intercepted the French army's westward retreat. At Gravelotte, the North German Confederation — fielding over 188,000 troops against a French force of approximately 112,800 — moved to complete the destruction of those French forces. The battle resulted in heavy losses on both sides, with Prussian casualties exceeding 20,000 against roughly 12,000 French, reflecting the intensity of the effort to pin and eliminate the army under Bazaine. By pressing the engagement after Mars-la-Tour, Prussian commanders under Wilhelm I and Moltke effectively sealed Bazaine's forces against Metz, setting the stage for the siege that would follow and removing a significant French field army from the broader campaign.
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