Battle of Meissen

The Battle of Meissen (4 December 1759) was an Austrian victory over a larger Prussian army during the Third Silesian War (part of the Seven Years' War). An Austrian force under the command of general Beck assaulted 3,500 Prussian troops under Diericke at Meissen, overwhelming them and driving the survivors across the Elbe. The Prussians lost 400 men in the action and 1,543 fell prisoner. Austrian losses were few, totalling only 72 killed and 115 wounded.[1] The Austrians secured an important victory, which effectively kept their ally Saxony in the war.

Battle of Meissen
Part of the Third Silesian War (Seven Years' War)
Date 4 December 1759 Location Meissen, Saxony, present-day Germany Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
Austria	Prussia
Commanders and leaders
Philipp Levin von Beck	Kaspar Christoph von Diericke (POW)
Strength
8,000	3,500
Casualties and losses
187 72 killed 115 wounded	1,943 400 killed or wounded 1,543 captured

Footnotes

1. Szabo, p. 219.

References

• Szabo, Franz. The Seven Years War in Europe: 1756–1763. Routledge, 2013, ISBN 978-1-317-88696-9.