BATTLE // October 9, 1805

Battle of Günzburg

Name: Battle of Günzburg
Start: 1805-10-09
End: 1805-10-09
Location: Battle of Günzburg

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Significance

At Günzburg on 9 October 1805, French forces under Marshal Michel Ney secured a crossing over the Danube River against an Austrian force commanded by Karl Mack von Leiberich. The seizure of the bridge gave French forces a foothold across the Danube at a critical moment in the War of the Third Coalition, tightening the encirclement that was closing around Mack's army in the Ulm region. Austrian casualties of 2,000 against a defending force of 7,000 reflect the weight of the engagement and the cost of failing to deny the crossing. The action contributed to the strategic isolation of the Austrian army that culminated shortly afterward at Ulm.

Tactics

Malher's division was ordered by Ney to seize a bridge over the Danube at Günzburg. The division captured the bridge and then held it against Austrian counterattacks, preventing the Austrians from retaking the crossing.