Battles & Campaigns · 1813
Battle of Hagelberg
Hagelberg, Brandenburg, Germany
What happened
Girard's force was sent from Magdeburg to support Oudinot's march on Berlin but arrived too late. Prussian Landwehr militia attacked from the east through a forest. Rain soaked the gunpowder, much of the fight was at close quarters, the Saxon contingents changed sides, and Girard's troops fell back toward Magdeburg.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The French corps was effectively destroyed. The battle showed the value of Prussia's new Landwehr militia.
What came next
The campaign moved on toward the great Battle of Leipzig in October.
Did you know?
After the battle, 136 Iron Crosses were awarded to the Prussian soldiers.
Timeline
- 23 August 1813Battle of Großbeeren.
- 27 August 1813Battle of Hagelberg.
- 6 September 1813Battle of Dennewitz.