Battle of Smoliani

At the Battle of Smoliani (November 13–14, 1812), the Russians under General Peter Wittgenstein defeated the French forces of Marshal Claude Victor and Marshal Nicholas Oudinot. This battle was the last effort of the French to reestablish their northern flank in Russia, known as the "Dwina Line". Previously, the French had been defeated in this sector at the Second battle of Polotsk (October 18–20, 1812) and at the Battle of Czasniki (October 31, 1812)

Battle of Smoliani
Part of the French invasion of Russia

The night bivouac of Napoleon's army during the retreat from Russia.
Date13–14 November 1812
Location
Bol'shiye Smolyantsy, Governorate of Vitebsk, Russian Empire
54°50′N 29°11′E
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire French Empire
Commanders and leaders
Peter Wittgenstein Claude Victor
Nicholas Oudinot
Strength

30,000 troops:

  • more than 6,000 involved on the 1st day;
  • unknown number involved on the 2nd day.

approx. 25,000 troops available:

  • 6,000 involved on the 1st day;
  • 5,000 involved on the 2nd day.
Casualties and losses
3,000 3,000
500km
300miles
Smoliani
Pultusk
15
Gorodeczno
14
Drohiczyn
13
Tauroggen
12
Riga
11
Tilsit
10
Warsaw
9
Berezina
8
Maloyaro-
slavets
7
Moscow
6
Borodino
5
Smolensk
4
Vitebsk
3
Vilna
2
Kowno
1
  current battle
  Prussian corps
  Napoleon
  Austrian corps
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.