Battle of Maxen
Maxen, near Dresden, Saxony, Germany
What happened
An Austrian army under Leopold von Daun trapped a Prussian corps under Friedrich August von Finck. Frederick the Great sent Finck's corps to threaten the Austrian supply lines, but it was left cut off. Daun attacked with about 32,000 men and broke the Prussian line. Surrounded and with no way out, Finck surrendered his whole force the next day.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was another heavy loss for Prussia in a bad year that had already seen defeat at Kunersdorf. A whole Prussian corps was lost.
What came next
Daun went into winter quarters near Dresden. An angry Frederick had Finck court-martialled and sent to prison for two years.
Did you know?
Finck tried to argue that his cavalry should not count in the surrender, but Daun insisted it was included.
Timeline
- 1759Prussia is defeated at Kunersdorf.
- 20 November 1759Battle of Maxen.
- 21 November 1759Finck surrenders.
- 5 February 1766Daun dies in Vienna.