Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf

Overview

The Battle of Gross Jägersdorf was a victory for the Russian force under Field Marshal Stepan Fyodorovich Apraksin over a smaller Prussian force commanded by Field Marshal Hans von Lehwaldt, during the Seven Years' War. This was the first battle in which Russia engaged during the Seven Years' War.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf on 30 August 1757 was the first engagement in which Russia entered the Seven Years' War, marking the opening of an eastern front that would impose significant additional pressure on Frederick the Great's Prussia. A Russian force of approximately 54,800 under Field Marshal Stepan Apraksin defeated a Prussian force of between 24,700 and 27,700 under Field Marshal Hans von Lehwaldt, with Russia sustaining around 5,400 casualties against Prussian losses of approximately 4,600. The engagement demonstrated that Prussia, already committed on multiple fronts against Austria, France, and their allies, now faced a capable adversary to its east. As the first Russian operational action of the war, Gross-Jägersdorf established the viability of Russian arms in the wider coalition against Prussia and signaled the strategic weight that Russia would carry in the anti-Prussian alliance for the remainder of the conflict.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (4)