No One is Invincible: Frederick the Great and the Battle of Kolin (1757)

He didn’t always win. Despite his tactical genius and repeated ability to beat the odds and pull off a victory, even Frederick the Great was beatable. After all, he spent nearly 24 years leading his kingdom in near continuous warfare. He often faced enemies on two or three fronts. Furthermore, he was sometimes overly aggressive and took difficult, though calculated risks.

During June 1757, early in the Seven Years’ War, Frederick was attempting to knock his primary enemy - Austria - out of the war, before his two other foes - France and Russia - could intervene. Frederick’s mid-sized army besieged the city of Prague, hoping to seize the city and then drive towards the Austrian capital of Vienna. However, Austrian Marshal Daun gathered more than 50,000 troops and moved to relieve the siege of Prague. Daun knew that Frederick did not have enough troops to maintain the siege and also fight a major battle with the relief force. However, he also knew that Frederick could not fight a two sided battle outside Prague against Daun and the city’s garrison simultaneously.

Correctly recognizing Frederick’s predicament, Daun marched his larger army close to Prague and set up a defensive position - including 150 cannon - along the hills outside of Kolin. He hoped to force Frederick to attack, and, stuck in a predicament himself, the Prussian King took the bait. Frederick’s plan was remarkably consistent with his traditional tactics. Though he was outnumbered (50,000 to 35,000), he planned to feint against the Austrian left, then mass forces on the Austrian right - where he would gain local superiority - and flank the enemy lines.

It was a solid plan, but Daun was ready and the Prussian execution was flawed. The two attacks ended up being poorly coordinated and executed piecemeal. Furthermore, Austrian (Croatian) Light Infantry harassed the Prussian main effort on the Austrian left and provoked Frederick’s force into a premature attack before they’d maneuvered far enough. Thus, the Prussian main attack ended up being a frontal assault on the Austrian right, rather than the planned flanking maneuver. Austrian combined arms fire was fierce and threw back both attacks, inflicting heavy casualties.

After five hours, the Prussians were driven back and Daun’s Austrians counterattacked. Many Prussians were captured, and as the lines floundered, Frederick supposedly yelled, “Rascals, would you live forever?” Only a brave series of charges by Prussian cavalry saved the army and covered the Prussian retreat. Frederick’s defeat at Kolin was his first of the war and a setback to his plans. He had to abandon his drive on Vienna, lift the siege of Prague, and retreat. However, as always, Frederick may have been down, but he was not out - and would escape the Seven Years’ War on the side of the victors.

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