Battle of ulm

The Battle of Ulm was a major victory for Napoleon Bonaparte's Grande Armée over an Austrian army commanded by General Mack von Leiberich that took place in Ulm, then part of the Electorate of Bavaria and, at present, a city belonging to the German federal state of Baden-Wurttemberg.

In 1805, England, Austria, Sweden, and Russia formed the Third Coalition to overthrow the French Empire.

The Austrians, with 72,000 troops under the command of General Mack von Leiberich, launched an invasion prematurely while the Russians were still marching through Poland, this brought the conflict to Austria before the Russians could reach the front. The mistake made by the allies had to do with the calendar, while the Austrians used the Gregorian, the Russians used the outdated orthodox calendar, therefore both nations handled different dates.

When the invasion of England failed, on August 27 Napoleon decided to change his strategy and assert French superiority on land. The large French army stationed at Boulogne moves towards Vienna across the Rhine from Strasbourg to Weißenburg. After a swift march, the rapidity of which confounds their rivals, by September 25 they were in position to meet General Mack's force around Ulm. On October 7 Mack received word that Napoleon intended to march around his right flank to cutting off his Russian lines, which were approaching via Vienna, he therefore changed the front, locating his left wing at Ulm and his right wing at Rain, but the French crossed the Danube at Neuburg.

Trying to evade encirclement, Mack attempted to cross the Danube at Günzburg, but ran into the French 6th Corps on October 14 at the Battle of Elchingen, losing 2,000 men and being forced to return to Ulm. On October 16, Napoleon had surrounded the Austrian army at Ulm.

Contrary to the opinion of his General Staff, Napoleon decided not to attack the city, he is of the opinion that an assault would be costly in men and, anyway, Ulm will fall quickly. Mack is short of food, so if the Russian army does not come to his aid, he decides to hold out until October 25. However, on October 20, after a light bombardment by French artillery, he relents and negotiates terms of surrender. At the surrender (known as the Ulm Agreement), Mack offered his sword and introduced himself to Napoleon as "the unfortunate General Mack." Bonaparte smiled and replied: I return to the unfortunate General his sword and his freedom, along with my regards to his emperor.& # 34;

Balance

25,000 Austrians were captured, including 18 generals, and 60 guns were taken. The French suffered 500 dead and 1,000 wounded, a very low figure for such a decisive battle for the future of the campaign.

The captured troops were sent to France, while the officers were allowed to return to their country. Mack was tried and sentenced to death, but pardoned by Emperor Francis II of Austria, he fell into disgrace and was imprisoned for two years.

In less than fifteen days, the Grande Armée has put out of action 60,000 Austrians and 30 generals, in addition to capturing all weapons and baggage.

The Ulm Campaign is considered one of the best examples of strategic victory; it was won without any major battle. The Austrians fell into the same trap that Napoleon had set at the Battle of Marengo, but with greater success. Everything was prepared to confuse the enemy.

Napoleon himself, in the Bulletin de la Grande Armée dated October 21, 1805, proclaimed:

Soldiers of the Great Army, I announced a great battle to you, but thanks to the mistaken manoeuvres of the enemy, we have been able to achieve the same success without running any risk. In fifteen days we have campaigned.

In fact, Napoleon, after defeating the most important Austrian armies, ensures his entry into Vienna, which will be taken a month later.

Consequences

Although he defeats Mack, Bonaparte has yet to defeat the third coalition: the Russians advance from Galicia while on October 21 the British won the Battle of Trafalgar. Napoleon marches on Vienna, 'to spare the Russians half the road', which, after several clashes with Mikhail Kutuzov's Russians, is taken on November 14.

Napoleon decides to put an end to the Austro-Russian coalition by pursuing their armies. The decisive battle took place at Austerlitz, 80 km north of Vienna.

In the same way as the battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon's Bavarian campaign is still taught in the most important military schools in the world.