Battle of Ulm
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| War of the Third Coalition |
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| Wertingen – Haslach-Jungingen – Elchingen – Ulm – Trafalgar – Caldiero – Amstetten – Dürenstein – Schöngrabern – Austerlitz |
The Battle of Ulm, part of the Napoleonic Wars, was fought in 1805 near Ulm in Württemberg. It was a great victory for Napoleon, resulting in the surrender and destruction of an entire Austrian army.
In 1805, England, Austria, Sweden and Russia formed the Third Coalition to overthrow the French Empire. When Bavaria sided with Napoleon, the Austrians, 72,000 strong under General Baron Mack von Liebereich, prematurely invaded it, while the Russians were still marching through Poland. This mix-up was caused by the fact that while the Austrians used the Gregorian calendar, the Russians were still using the Julian calendar. This meant that their dates did not correspond, and the Austrians were brought into conflict with the French before the Russians could come into line.
Napoleon had 177,000 troops of the Grand Army at Boulogne, ready to invade England. They marched south on August 27 and by September 24 were in position facing General Mack, around Ulm, from Strasbourg to Weissenburg in Bayern. On October 7, Mack learned that Napoleon planned to march round his right flank so as to cut him off from the Russians who were marching via Vienna. He accordingly changed front, placing his left at Ulm and his right at Rain, but the French went on and crossed the Danube at Neuburg.
Trying to extricate himself, Mack attempted to cross the Danube at Günzburg, but clashed with the French 6th corps at Elchingen on October 14, lost 2,000 men and returned to Ulm. By October 16, Napoleon had surrounded his entire army at Ulm and three days later Mack surrendered with 30,000 men, 65 guns and 40 standards.
Some 20,000 escaped, 10,000 were killed or wounded and the rest made prisoner. About 6,000 French were killed or wounded. At the surrender, Mack offered his sword and presented himself to Napoleon as "The unfortunate General Mack". Bonaparte smiled and replied, "I give back to the unfortunate General his sword and his freedom, along with my regards to give to his Emperor". Francis II was not as kind, however, Mack was court martialed and sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
The Battle of Ulm is considered one of the finest examples of a strategic turning movement in military history.
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