Battle of Roßlau

Overview

The Combat of Rosslau was fought in the War of the Sixth Coalition on 29 September 1813, near Rosslau, Germany. Michel Ney attacked the Swedish bridgehead at the Elbe, to stop the Army of the North from crossing the river. The Swedish commander Johan August Sandels counterattacked and chased the French for 5 km (3 mi) before being forced to retire himself. About 350 Swedes were dead and wounded while the French had 600 losses. The battle had no strategic effects, but it was one of very few times in the war that a Swedish force was fully committed in battle.

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

Significance

The Combat of Roßlau saw Michel Ney attack the Swedish bridgehead on the Elbe in an attempt to prevent the Army of the North from crossing the river. Although the Swedish commander Sandels launched a counterattack that drove the French back roughly 5 km, he was ultimately forced to retire, leaving the engagement without a clear strategic outcome. Casualties were recorded at approximately 350 for the Swedes and 600 for the French. The battle produced no strategic effects on the broader campaign of the Sixth Coalition, but it stands as one of the rare instances in the war when a Swedish force was fully committed to a pitched engagement.

Tactics

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)