Mollwitz - April 1741

The sun rose into a clear sky on the 10th of April 1741, illuminating an expanse of thick but hard-frozen snow. The troops loaded their knapsacks onto the company baggage wagons. Soon the Prussians would be deployed opposite their Austrian opponents who were drawn up in front of Mollwitz on this snow covered battlefield.

The Austrians finally alerted to the Prussian advance deployed. Now they watched as the Prussians moved forward around 1.30pm. One Austrian officer was later to describe Prussian infantry "that it did not appear to be infantry that was marching towards us, but moving walls". As they approached the Prussian right was slightly nearer the Austrian lines. Then the Prussian line paused and their heavy cannon deployed in preparation to bombard the Austrians.

The Prussian left rested near the town of Pampitz the right extended towards the smaller village of Gruningen. Frederick centre comprised some 16,000 infantry deployed in two lines around 200 yards apart. Each infantry regiment was supported by several light cannon while Frederick's few heavy cannon were deployed towards the centre right slightly forward. The infantry were commanded von Schwerin. To the left some 2,000 cavalry a mix of dragoons, cuirassiers and hussars placed under Posadowsky. Deployed slightly forward of Pampitz the cavalry were separated from the main Prussian formations by the marshy Kleiner-Bach stream. To the right of the Prussian infantry centre was the cavalry under Schulenburg. Again some 2,000 cavalry but now a mix of dragoons and cuirassiers. Interspersed amongst the cavalry were a couple of battalions of converged infantry grenadiers. In all some 21,600 troops. Below, a view of the Prussian centre.

Opposite, Neipperg had deployed his 19,000 Austrians slightly forward of Mollwitz. The centre comprised 10,000 infantry supported by just 19 light cannon. The infantry, like the Prussians, formed two lines. The larger first line was commanded by Browne and comprised the equivalent of six regiments. The second line, under Kollowrat, comprised the equivalent of three regiments. Not only were the Austrian infantry outnumbered many of the Austrian infantry were recent recruits, as such they were fragile. Deployed on the flanks were the Austrian cavalry. The right wing was commanded by Berlichingen and comprised around 3,500 cuirassiers and dragoons. The Austrian left, commanded by Romer, was slightly larger with around 4,500 also a mix of cuirassiers and dragoons. Below, a view of the Austrian centre.

Around 2pm Romer, who you will recall commanded the Austrian left wing cavalry, ordered an advance. His first line cavalry, mostly cuirassiers, surged forward against the Prussian extreme right, in particular the Prussian dragoons. Below, the view of the Prussian right as the Austrian cavalry under Romer charge home.

In the ensuing combat against the Prussian right the Austrian cuirassiers, drawn from four regiments but converged into two brigades, broke Prussian dragoons. This seemingly unhinged the Prussian right. However, the Prussians that remained on the right, a mix of converged grenadiers and cuirassiers, stabilised the line delivering heavy volleys or charges on the Austrians as they reformed.

Simultaneously, the Austrian left wing dragoons moved past the Prussian right. From here they would be well positioned for a further charge against the Prussian left, or so it was hoped. 

Elsewhere the Austrian infantry of the second line redeployed in an effort to cover the Austrian extreme right, thus allowing at least some of the right wing cavalry to move to the left.

Above, the Austrian right flank after some redeployment as described previously.

Despite the chaos on his right the Prussian commander, von Schwerin ordered the Prussian infantry of the first line forward. Eight Prussian infantry regiments closed on the white clad Austrians. 

Above and below, the Prussian infantry of the first line advances.

In support the Prussian cavalry of the left wing also moved to threaten the Austrian right flank. The Austrian right was itself outflanked by the Prussian cavalry but the marshy banks of the Kleiner-Bach stream offered some protection from an immediate charge. Below, the Austrian right flank now threatened by the Prussian left flank cavalry.

As the two infantry lines closed the Austrian left centre was pressed first. Soon two Austrian regiments were shaken. One regiment would break within 30 minutes, it's remnants fleeing back through Mollwitz causing even more panic. Neipperg attempted to recover the deteriorating situation in the centre. One Prussian regiment was thrown back and Neipperg's spirits rose - briefly. Despite his best efforts the Austrian line was crumbling. Just prior to 4pm the Austrian first line of infantry, deployed in the centre, collapsed.

In an attempt to stabilise the situation in the centre Neipperg began to realign with his remaining troops. One infantry regiment, from Kollowrat's second line, formed in Mollwitz itself while another deployed to the left of Mollwitz. The final regiment, the Thungen Regiment, formed up forlornly in an attempt to halt the pending onslaught. The remaining cavalry of the right now moved in mass also towards the left of Mollwitz where they could threaten any Prussians who attacked Mollwitz or support the left wing cavalry. But the move was premature.

Above, the Austrian regiments in and around Mollwitz.

As the Prussian left flank pressed towards the retiring Austrian centre the cavalry of the Prussian left flank crossing the Kleiner-Bach stream. Around 4pm the Austrian cavalry who had only just retired towards Mollwitz turned and charged one of two isolated Prussian infantry regiments. The Prussian infantry were driven back and in so doing disrupted the Prussian cavalry who had not yet recovered their cohesion from their crossing the Kleiner-Bach. Again Neipperg was encouraged. 

Above, the Austrian Hohenzollern and Cordua Cuirassiers, converged into a single brigade here, charge home. Below, the Prussian converged grenadiers are driven back carrying the von Platen and Bayreuth Dragoons of the left wing back.

However, while promising initially, the Austrian attack faltered. Finally, around 4.30pm, the cavalry of the Austrian left were exhausted.

The Austrian centre, now effectively comprising the second line infantry, were under extreme pressure as the Austrian infantry continued to press forward towards Mollwitz, as can be seen below.

Yet as these events were unfolding it was on the Prussian right flank that any hope of Austrian success lay. Having gained initial success against the Prussian cavalry the Prussian grenadiers and cuirassiers fought with determination. Despite this the Prussian right broke around 3pm. Yet even then the remnants fought on until what remained of the Prussian right was reinforced by the infantry of the Prussian second line. 

As they formed up the Prussian infantry pinned the Austrian cavalry. Neipperg attempted further assaults but slowly his attacks were becoming fruitless. Eventually, around 5.30pm the cavalry of the Austrian left, having delivered one final charge, also became exhausted. Neipperg, his army exhausted, was finally forced to concede the field.

The engagement was fought using 6mm miniatures from the Heroics & Ros Seven Years War range. The miniatures are from my own collection and are based at half scale where 1" on table represents 200 yards. Our miniature battlefield was just 2' x 2'. An infantry regiment here is represented by a base 1.5' in width. Each turn represents one hour. 

A subsequent refight of Mollwitz can be found on my YouTube channel here.

For those interested the Mollwitz scenario can be downloaded from my Volley & Bayonet website and was used with only slight modification. The game started at 2pm and ended at the end of the Austrian 5pm turn. At this stage both Austrian cavalry wings were exhausted and the Austrian first line infantry had collapsed. The Prussian cavalry of the right wing was exhausted by 3.30pm. The cavalry of the left wing, while not exhausted, was weakened. The Prussian infantry of the first line had suffered heavy casualties with three regiments lost, but the combined casualties had not yet exhausted it.