Battle of Gadebusch

The Battle of Gadebusch or Wakenstädt (20 December 1712) was Sweden's final great victory in the Great Northern War. It was fought by the Swedes to prevent the loss of the city of Stralsund to Danish and Saxon forces.

Battle of Gadebusch
Part of the Great Northern War

Magnus Stenbock at Gadebusch, unknown author
Date9 December 1712 (O.S.)
20 December 1712 (N.S.)
Location
Wakenstädt near Gadebusch, 35 km south of Lübeck in present-day Germany
Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Swedish Empire Denmark–Norway
 Electorate of Saxony
Commanders and leaders
Magnus Stenbock Frederick IV
Jobst von Scholten
Jacob Heinrich von Flemming
Strength

12,500:[a]

6,500 foot,
6,000 horse,
20 or 30 cannon

17,000:[b]

8,300 Danish foot,
4,900 Danish horse,
3,800 Saxon horse,
14 cannon
Casualties and losses

1,600:[c]

550 killed,
1,022 wounded

6,500:[d]

2,500 killed,
4,000 captured (of which 1,500 were wounded)
Notes
  • ^[a] The Swedes had 19 battalions and 54 (or 58) squadrons with an effective fighting force of between 12,000 and 14,000 men (6,000 being cavalry) and 20 or 30 cannons. Reportedly, the Swedish army counted 10,600 men after the battle, which, if the artillery crew of 300 men and the 1,600 losses is applied, presents a figure of 12,500 men.
  • ^[b] The Danes had 19 (or 18) battalions and 46 (or 48) squadrons with an effective fighting force of between 13,200 and 16,000 men (about 5,000 being cavalry) and 14 cannons. The Saxons had 32 squadrons (some sources mentions 2 battalions as well) with between 3,000 and 3,800 men. In total, the Danes and Saxons had 19 battalions and 78 squadrons with between 17,000 and 20,000 men.
  • ^[c] The Swedish losses were 29 officers killed, 62 officers wounded with between 491 and 521 commons killed and between 895 and 960 wounded. The higher number is regarded the more reliable one.
  • ^[d] The Danes and Saxons had sustained over 2,000 or possibly 3,000 men killed in the battle. Up to 4,000 or 4,500 had been captured (about 1,700 took Swedish service after the battle) of which a third, or about 1,500 men, were wounded. The amount of wounded which slipped away in the retreat is unknown. Furthermore, 13 cannons, 2 drums and 13 standards and banners were lost to the Swedes.
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