Battle Of Kolin, 1757, In The Seven Years’ War

By André Geraque Kiffer

The Seven Years War (1756–1763) was a global conflict between Great Britain and France for global preeminence. Britain, France and Spain fought both in Europe and overseas with armies and fleets, while Prussia sought territorial expansion in Europe and consolidation of its power. Occurred on June 18, 1757, the battle of Kolin was Frederick s first defeat in this war. Prussian attempts to engage the Austrian right flank turned into fragmented frontal attacks that were defeated in five and a half hours of combat. In the battle simulation, I will try to correct the flaws presented in the historical analysis, testing improvements in the maneuvers. And then we will prove which maneuver will prevail, both being instructed with the best and maximum effort.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clube de Autores
• Release date: Mar 8, 2024

Book preview

Battle  of  Kolin,  1757,

in  the  Seven  Years’  War A  historical  simulation

André  Geraque  Kiffer

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---  Kiffer,  André  Geraque.

Battle  of  Kolin,  1757,  in  the  Seven  Years’  War.  A  historical simulation.  André  Geraque  Kiffer.

Author’s  Edition,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  2024. Bibliography:  131  p.  69  il.  21  cm..

1.  History.  2.  Art  of  War.  3.  Science  of  War.  4.  War Games.  I.  Author.  II.  Title.

ISBN  978-65-00-96323-6

HISTORICAL  FACT...................................................  5

5 HISTORICAL  ANALYSIS.........................................  1

1  8 8

HISTORICAL  SIMULATION....................................  5

5  4 4

REFERENCES.......................................................  1

1  2

2  9 9

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As  a  Military  Historian  I  rely  on  a  summary  of  the historical  fact,  I  analyze  and  highlight  the  decisive  factors, before  simulating  hypotheses  what  if…  hypotheses through  a  board  game.  In  the  simulation,  all  possibilities of  the  purpose  of  the  study  are  completed,  when  the  past of  history  is  analyzed  based  on  the  theory  of  the  present and  projected  for  similar  situations  in  the  future.  Since 2010  I  have  published  the  following  series  of  simulations: I.  Historical  Simulation  of  the  Wars  of  the  First  Empires; II.  Historical  Simulation  of  the  Wars  in  Classical  Greece; III.  Historical  Simulation  of  the  Roman  Wars;  IV.  Historical Simulation  of  Wars  in  the  Medieval  Era;  V.  Historical Simulation  of  Wars  in  the  Modern  Era  (1453  to  1774);  VI. Historical  Simulation  of  Wars  in  the  Age  of  Revolutions (1775  to  1860);  VII.  Historical  Simulation  of  Wars  in  the Industrial  Age  (1861  to  1913);  VIII.  Historical  Simulation of  the  First  World  War;  IX.  Historical  Simulation  of  World War  II;  X.  Historical  Simulation  of  the  Cold  War  (1917  to 1991);  and  XI.  Historical  Simulation  of  Contemporary Wars  (1991  to  ...). Keywords:  History.  Art  of  War.  Science  of  War.  War

Games.

Battle  of  Kolin,  1757.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

HISTORICAL  FACT

Seven  Years’  War  (1756  to  1763)

Img  1:  Europe  in  1748.

The  so-called  Diplomatic  Revolution  was  a  major diplomatic  change  triggered  by  the  separation  of  interests between  Austria,  Great  Britain  and  France.  The  Peace  of Aix-la-Chapelle,  following  the  War  of  the  Austrian Succession  (1744-1748),  made  Austria  aware  of  the  high price  it  had  paid  in  having  Great  Britain  as  an  ally. Maria  Theresa  of  Austria  had  defended  her  claim  to  the Habsburg  throne  and  had  her  husband,  Francis,  crowned emperor  in  1745.  However,  she  was  forced  to  give  up valuable  territory  in  the  process.

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Battle  of  Kolin,  1757.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

Img  2:  Diplomatic  Revolution  in  the  18th  century.

Under  British  diplomatic  pressure,  Maria  Theresa  had  to give  up  most  of  Lombardy  and  the  occupied  part  of Bavaria.  The  British  also  forced  her  to  cede  the  Italian  city of  Parma  (from  the  Duchy  of  Milan)  to  Spain  and,  more importantly,  to  abandon  her  valuable  state  of  Silesia  to Prussian  occupation. During  the  war  of  1744,  Frederick  II  of  Prussia  had conquered  Silesia,  one  of  the  lands  of  the  Kingdom  of Bohemia,  further  advancing  Prussia  as  a  major  European power  and  a  growing  threat  to  the  German  lands  of Austria  and  Central  Europe  as  a  whole. This  growth  of  Prussia  was  welcomed  by  the  British,  who saw  it  as  a  means  of  reducing  French  influence  in Germany,  which  might  otherwise  have  grown  in  response to  Austria's  weakening.

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Battle  of  Kolin,  1757.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

Img  3:  Silesia  until  1742.

Therefore,  Great  Britain  and  Prussia,  at  the  Westminster Convention  on  January  16,  1756,  agreed  that  Great  Britain would  not  support  Austria  in  a  renewed  conflict  over Silesia,  if  Prussia  agreed  to  protect  Hanover  from  France, because  this  it  had  been  owned  since  its  King  George  I (born  and  raised  in  the  electorate). Maria  Theresa  sent  her  chancellor,  Count  Wenzel  Anton von  Kaunitz,  to  France  to  secure  an  alliance  that  would allow  Austria  to  regain  Silesia.  Kaunitz  approached  Madam de  Pompadour,  Louis  XV's  mistress,  to  intervene  in  the negotiations.

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Battle  of  Kolin,  1757.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

Img  4:  British  Hanover  since  1714.

However,  the  French  king  was  reluctant  to  agree  to  any treaty  presented  by  Kaunitz.  Furthermore,  the  Habsburg lands  no  longer  threatened  their  territory,  as  Frederick  II had  managed  to  interrupt  Habsburg-German  rule  on  the border  with  France. Therefore,  France  no  longer  saw  Austria  as  an  immediate threat  and  thus  preferred  to  sign  only  a  defensive  alliance with  Austria,  concluding  a  First  Treaty  of  Versailles  on  May 1,  1756,  in  which  both  signatories  agreed  to  remain neutral,  but  provide  24,000  soldiers  each  if  the  other came  into  conflict  with  third  parties. Maria  Theresa's  diplomats,  after  ensuring  this  French

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Battle  of  Kolin,  1757.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

neutrality,  actively  began  to  establish  an  anti-Prussian coalition.

Img  5:  Habsburg  lands  at  the  beginning  of  the  18th  century.

Austria's  actions  alerted  Frederick  II,  who  decided  to attack  first,  invading  Saxony  and  starting  the  Seven  Years' War.  Frederick  also  intended  to  dissuade  Russia  from supporting  Austria,  who  had  had  a  defensive  alliance  since 1746.  However,  Russia,  under  the  direction  of  Empress Elizabeth,  sent  80,000  soldiers  to  support  Austria. A  year  after  the  signing  of  the  First  Treaty  of  Versailles, France  and  Austria  signed  a  new  alliance,  this  offensive,  in a  Second  Treaty  of  Versailles  on  May  1,  1757.  Austria promised  France  the  Habsburg  Netherlands  (present-day Belgium)  and,  in  return,  Maria  Theresa  would  receive  back

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Battle  of  Kolin,  1757.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

Parma,  129,000  French  soldiers  and  the  promise  of  12 million  pounds  every  year  until  the  return  of  Silesia  to Austria.

Img  6:  Central  Europe.

This  Seven  Years'  War  was  divided  into  five  Theaters  of Operations:  Europe,  North  America,  South  America,  West Africa  and  India.  For  these  other  theaters,  see  my  book The  World  War  from  1756  to  1763.  A  historical simulation  ,  published  in  2021.

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Battle  of  Kolin,  1757.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

Theaters  of  Europe.  The  Western  European  theater  of operations  in  western  Germany  pitted  the  French  against the  British-allied  Germans.  After  initial  defeats,  the  British allied  army  managed  to  protect  Prussia's  western  flank and  secure  Hanover  against  French  occupation The  Central  European  theater  of  operations  was  the  scene of  campaigns  and  battles  between  Prussians  against Austrians  and  Russians,  with  the  majority  taking  place  in Saxony,  Silesia,  Bohemia  and  the  region  bathed  by  the Oder  River. Frederick  began  the  war  with  the  intention  of  attacking and  occupying  wealthy  Saxony.  His  strategy  for  1757  was to  deliver  a  knockout  punch  to  the  main  Austrian  army before  the  Russians  had  fully  mobilized  for  war.  This  year was  marked,  then,  by  a  series  of  major  battles  which, however,  did  not  give  a  decisive  strategic  victory  to