First Battle of Polotsk

Overview

In the First Battle of Polotsk, which took place on 17–18 August 1812, Russian troops under the command of Peter Wittgenstein fought French and Bavarian troops led by Nicolas Oudinot near the city of Polotsk, halting Oudinot's advance toward Saint Petersburg once more as at the Battle of Klyastitsy. It was a strategic Russian success, but tactically the battle ended in a draw. The First Battle of Polotsk should be distinguished from the Second Battle of Polotsk which took place during the same campaign two months later.

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

Significance

The First Battle of Polotsk on 17–18 August 1812 halted the French and Bavarian advance under Oudinot toward Saint Petersburg, repeating the check Wittgenstein's forces had already imposed at the Battle of Klyastitsy. The Russian command secured a strategic success by denying Oudinot forward momentum on the northern axis of the French invasion, though the engagement itself ended in a tactical draw with substantial casualties on both sides. The battle was one of two actions fought near Polotsk during the 1812 campaign; the Second Battle of Polotsk followed approximately two months later in the same theater.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)