THE BATTLE OF MINDEN: THE BATTLE OF MINDEN 1st August 1759


CAUSES OF THE SEVEN YEARS WAR: CAUSES OF THE SEVEN YEARS WAR The Seven Years War took place from 1756 to 1763, as a result of disagreements between European royal families. England and Prussia were allied against France and Austria. The French had invaded Germany primarily to take vengeance, upon Prussia, for King Frederick The Great's scornful treatment of Madame de Pompadour – The French Queen.


FREDERICK THE GREAT: FREDERICK THE GREAT Frederick The Great of Germany, being already occupied with the Saxons and Austrians to the south and with the Russians on his flank to the east, was now faced disaster with the French pressing on his other flank from the west.


Slide4: Dusseldorf Wesel Munster Lippe River Osnabruck Colonge Krefeld Rheinberg Lippstadt Paderborn MINDEN Hameln Weser Warburg Kassel Hanover Brunswick Halberstadt Magdeburg Rossbach Gottingen Huxter Waldeck Dillenberg Meiningen Neustadt Waldeck Bainberg Wurzburg Frankfurt 0 30 miles Main NORTHWEST GERMANY 1759 N


FERDINAND OF BRUNSWICK: Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick was therefore called to assist King Frederick. Under Ferdinand, the army became an Allied Army for active operations, in concert with King Frederick. Its chief function was to cover Hanover, Hesse-Cassel, and Brunswick. FERDINAND OF BRUNSWICK


Slide6: Dusseldorf Wesel Munster Lippe River Osnabruck Colonge Krefeld Rheinberg Lippstadt Paderborn MINDEN Hameln Weser Warburg Kassel Hanover Brunswick Halberstadt Magdeburg Rossbach Gottingen Huxter Waldeck Dillenberg Meiningen Neustadt Waldeck Bainberg Wurzburg Frankfurt 0 30 miles Main NORTHWEST GERMANY 1758 N


THE FRENCH ARMIES: The French acted with at least two armies, jointly superior to Ferdinand's in numbers, along two different lines. Army of The Rhine - to advance into Westphalia, and thence, if possible, into Hanover. Army of The Main – conduct the invasion of Hesse. THE FRENCH ARMIES


Slide8: Dusseldorf Wesel Munster Lippe River Osnabruck Colonge Krefeld Rheinberg Lippstadt Paderborn MINDEN Hameln Weser Warburg Kassel Hanover Brunswick Halberstadt Magdeburg Rossbach Gottingen Huxter Waldeck Dillenberg Meiningen Neustadt Waldeck Bainberg Wurzburg Frankfurt 0 30 miles Main NORTHWEST GERMANY 1759 N Ferdinand's task, with an inferior force, was in its essence defensive. For him the supremely important thing was to retain possession of the line of the Weser.


FERDIAND AT THE CLOSE OF 1758: FERDIAND AT THE CLOSE OF 1758 At the close of the campaign of 1758 Ferdinand's winter quarters extended from Coesfeld, a little to westward of Munster, through Munster, Lippstadt and Paderborn to the Diemel, his front facing thus somewhat to south of south-east.


THE FRENCH: THE FRENCH The French army of the Rhine under Marshal Contades was cantoned along that river from Wesel, southward almost to Coblentz ; while the army of the Main, under the Prince of Soubise, the defeated General of Rossbach, lay just to north of the river about Frankfurt.


FERDINAND ATTACKS: FERDINAND ATTACKS On the 13th of April, Ferdinand boldly attacked Frankfurt, but was repulsed with a loss of over two thousand men, and compelled to fall back to Ziegenhain, on the road to Cassel. His audacious attempt to cripple one French army, before the campaign had even been opened, had failed.


Slide12: Dusseldorf Wesel Munster Lippe River Osnabruck Colonge Krefeld Rheinberg Lippstadt Paderborn MINDEN Hameln Weser Warburg Kassel Hanover Brunswick Halberstadt Magdeburg Rossbach Gottingen Huxter Waldeck Dillenberg Meiningen Neustadt Waldeck Bainberg Wurzburg Frankfurt 0 30 miles Main NORTHWEST GERMANY 1759 N


THE FRENCH DIG IN: THE FRENCH DIG IN The French therefore dug in and prepared themselves for subsequent attacks. Prince Henry of Prussia, by King Frederick's direction, marched northward to relieve Ferdinand from further trouble from the Austrians - who were still a threat; and the enemy made little movement during the ensuing month.


FRENCH SUCCESSES: FRENCH SUCCESSES Both armies therefore began to march against each other to gain the upper hand. Ferdinand and Frederick throughout were on the back foot, outnumbered and had no real idea of what the French intended to do. The French moves, directed by Marshall Contades, were masterly!


Slide15: Dusseldorf Wesel Munster Lippe River Osnabruck Colonge Krefeld Rheinberg Lippstadt Paderborn MINDEN Hameln Weser Warburg Kassel Hanover Brunswick Halberstadt Magdeburg Rossbach Gottingen Huxter Waldeck Dillenberg Meiningen Neustadt Waldeck Bainberg Wurzburg Frankfurt 0 30 miles Main NORTHWEST GERMANY 1759 N The French besieged, Osnabruck, Hanover, Munster and Hameln. Ferdinand moved against them, to do battle.


Slide16: Dusseldorf Wesel Munster Lippe River Osnabruck Colonge Krefeld Rheinberg Lippstadt Paderborn MINDEN Hameln Weser Warburg Kassel Hanover Brunswick Halberstadt Magdeburg Rossbach Gottingen Huxter Waldeck Dillenberg Meiningen Neustadt Waldeck Bainberg Wurzburg Frankfurt 0 30 miles Main NORTHWEST GERMANY 1759 N


THE FALL OF MINDEN: THE FALL OF MINDEN He sent a summons to the garrison to surrender, which was refused. The French then forced entrance, and by evening they were in possession of the town, with an open road to Hanover. Broglie was soon joined by de Contades who, as senior Marshall, assumed command. Ferdinand took up position on the west bank of the Weser, north of Minden.


Slide18: The French position was very strong; the Weser protected their front, their left was covered by marshes. They could not be attacked with any prospect of success. CONTADES De Contades had but one problem - supply. Ferdinand had placed 6,000 men across his lines of communication to force his withdrawal. HARTUM


Slide19: CONTADES CONTAGES CONSOLIDATES 16th July 1759 When, on 16 Jul, Contades withdrew south of Minden, to what appeared to be an unassailable position, Ferdinand moved his camp to Petershagen HARTUM On the 22nd Wangenheim's corps, about 10,000 strong, was pushed forward to Todtenhausen


THE FALL OF MUNSTER: THE FALL OF MUNSTER In the midst of these movements came the bad news of the fall of Munster, which enabled d`Armentieres to march from thence to besiege Lippstadt, and Chevreuse & to return with his detachment to Minden. This misfortune only quickened Ferdinand to action.


Slide21: CONTADES FERDINANDS INITIAL MOVES 29th July 1759 HARTUM On the 29th the Prince, leaving Wangenheim's corps isolated about Todtenhausen, led the whole of the rest of the army a short march to the south-west. The fields and hedgerows were full of wild roses and the British soldiers picked these and placed them on their hats.


Slide22: CONTADES xxx De BROGIE FERDINANDS OPTIONS HARTUM


Slide23: CONTADES 12 20 Despite what appeared to be a position of disadvantage for Contades…….. xxx De BROGIE THE FIELD OF MINDEN 31ST July 1759 HARTUM


FERDINANDS WEAKNESS: FERDINANDS WEAKNESS The Allied army was, to his mind, dispersed in every direction. Ten thousand men were with the Hereditary Prince at Gohfeld At least two thousand more at Lubbecke. Ferdinand himself, with the greater portion of the army, seemed so anxious to be within supporting distance of the Prince that he had left Wangenhiem in the air While even Wangenhiem`s corps was not united, but had detached a few battalions across the river to keep an eye on Broglie.


CONTADES MOVES: CONTADES MOVES He therefore dispatched the Duke of Brissac with eight thousand men to Gohfeld to hold the Hereditary Prince in check. He threw 8 bridges over the Bastau, for the passage of his troops across it in as many columns. He sent orders to Broglie to be ready to cross the Weser with his corps to form a 9th column upon his right.


Slide26: CONTADES 12 20 xxx De BROGIE 51,000 men 162 guns 41,000 men 170 guns THE FIELD OF MINDEN 31ST July 1759 HARTUM


Slide27: CONTADES 12 20 xxx De BROGIE THE FIELD OF MINDEN Midnight – The French Move French deserters confirmed Contades was on the move… HARTUM


FERDINAND REACTS: FERDINAND REACTS At three o`clock a belated messenger arrived at his headquarters from Prince Anhalt with the news to confirm the French advance. Instantly Ferdinand called the whole of his troops to arms, and ordered them to march to their appointed positions. His orders had already been issued, and were clear and precise enough.


Slide29: CONTADES 12 20 xxx De BROGIE THE BATTLE OF MINDEN 1st August 1759 The advance was to be in eight columns, and the formation for battle, as usual, was with Infantry in the centre and cavalry on each flank. HARTUM


Slide30: CONTADES xxx De BROGIE x R. Weser HARTUM


THE BRITISH MOVE: THE BRITISH MOVE Seven out of the eight columns were formed and marched off with great promptitude; but in Sackville's column all was confusion and delay. Some of the regiments were ready and others were not; Sackville himself was not to be found. It was not a good start for the British cavalry.


Slide32: CONTADES xxx De BROGIE x R. Weser HARTUM


Slide33: CONTADES De BROGIE x R. Weser Evidently Wangenhiem was hotly engaged. But meanwhile from windward there came the roar of a furious cannonade about Hille HARTUM


Slide34: CONTADES x R. Weser xxx De BROGIE HARTUM This could only be a diversion, for Ferdinand had already sealed access to the Plain with five hundred men and two guns


FRENCH DIFFICULTIES: FRENCH DIFFICULTIES The French had not executed their own maneuvers without confusion and delay. The indiscipline of the French army among both officers and men was not calculated to favour orderly movement in the dark.


Slide36: CONTADES x R. Weser THE FRENCH DISPOSITIONS 1st August 1759 xxx De BROGIE HARTUM


THE BRITISH INFANTRY MOVE: THE BRITISH INFANTRY MOVE The order was either misdelivered or misunderstood, for to his surprise the leading British brigade shook itself up and began to advance forthwith. A flight of aides-de-camp galloped off to stop them; and the line of scarlet halted behind a belt of fir-wood to await the formation of the rest of the army.


Slide38: x De BROGIE X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X HARTUM


Slide39: x De BROGIE X X X X X X X X X X X X Suddenly to Ferdinand's amazement the drums again began to roll, and the first line stepped off once more, advancing rapidly but in perfect order, straight upon the French horse. There then they stood for a few minutes, while the second line, which was only partially deployed, hastened to complete the deployment. HARTUM The second line, though its formation was still incomplete, stepped off likewise in rear of its comrades, deploying as it moved, and therefore of necessity dropping slightly behind.


THE MARCH CONTINUES: THE MARCH CONTINUES And so the nine battalions, with the leading brigade far in advance, swung proudly forward into a crossfire of more than sixty cannon, alone and unsupported from the rest of the line.


Slide41: x De BROGIE X X X X X X X X X X X No aide-de-camp, gallop though he might, could stop them now; and their majestic bearing showed that they would not easily be stopped by an enemy. HARTUM


THE ADVANCE CONTINUED: THE ADVANCE CONTINUED For nearly two hundred yards of the advance, the French guns tore great gaps in their ranks; but they passed through the tempest of shot unbroken and untamed, and pressed on with the same majestic steadiness against the huge motionless bank of the French horse.


Slide43: x De BROGIE X X X X X X X X X X X HARTUM


Slide44: x De BROGIE X X X X X X X X X X X


SACKVILLE FAILS TO MOVE: SACKVILLE FAILS TO MOVE Sackville disputed the meaning of the order for a time, and then advanced his squadrons for a short distance, as if to obey it and then brought them once more to a halt A second messenger came up, in hot haste, to ask why the cavalry of the right did not come on; but Sackville remained stationary, and the opportunity was lost.


Slide46: x De BROGIE X X X X X X X X X X X HARTUM


THE FRENCH CHARGE AGAIN: THE FRENCH CHARGE AGAIN Then the second line of the French horse came thundering down, eager to retrieve their dead upon the nine isolated battalions. For a moment the lines of scarlet seemed to waver, under this triple attack, but recovering themselves they closed up their ranks and met the charging squadrons with a storm of musketry which blasted them off the field.


Slide48: x De BROGIE X X X X X X X X X X X Then turning with equal fierceness upon the French Infantry they beat them back with terrible loss. The messenger delivered his order; but not a squadron moved. HARTUM


THE FRENCH ATTACK AGAIN: THE FRENCH ATTACK AGAIN Meanwhile Ferdinand had hurried forward fresh battalions on his right to save the British from annihilation. And now the third line of French horse, the Gendarmerie and the Carbineers, essayed a third attack upon the nine dauntless battalions.


Slide50: x De BROGIE X X X X X X X X X X X The 3rd charge actually broke through the first line; but was shattered to pieces by the second and sent the way of its fellows. HARTUM


THE 4TH ORDER TO SACKVILLE: THE 4TH ORDER TO SACKVILLE A fourth messenger was sent to Sackville, but with no result. "When is that cavalry coming " Ferdinand kept exclaiming. "Has no one seen that cavalry of the right wing ? In desperation he sent a fifth messenger to bring up Lord Granby, with the squadrons of Sackville's second line, only.


THE BATTLE ALL BUT OVER: THE BATTLE ALL BUT OVER Granby was about to execute the order, when Sackville rode up and forbade him. Nevertheless the astonishing attack of the British Infantry had virtually gained the day. Ferdinand's line had gained time to form and to join with Wangenheim's. The guns of the Allies, coming up gradually in increasing force, silenced the inferior artillery of the French.


Slide53: x De BROGIE X X X X X X X X X X X Ferdinand`s left wing then took the offensive. The German cavalry, by a brilliant charge, dispersed the whole of the infantry opposed to them. HARTUM


THE FRENCH BEATEN: THE FRENCH BEATEN Between nine and ten o'clock the struggle was practically over. The French were completely beaten, and retreating rapidly under the guns of Minden to their pinfold behind the marsh. Had Sackville's cavalry come forward, when it was ordered, it might have cut the flying French squadrons to pieces, barred the retreat of most, if not all of the French left wing.


Slide55: x De BROGIE X X X X X X X X X X X HARTUM


THE FRENCH ROUT: THE FRENCH ROUT Contades abandoned his communications with Paderborn, crossed the Weser in the night, broke down the bridge of Minden, burned his bridges of boats, and retired through a difficult and distressing country to Cassel, with an army not only beaten, but demoralised. So ended the Battle of Minden, a day of pride and disgrace to the British.


THE COST: THE COST The losses of the Allies amounted to 2600 killed and wounded. The British losses amounted to close on 1400 men. Of the 4,434 men who advanced alone - 78 officers and 1,252 men, or about thirty per cent, were killed or wounded.


FRENCH LOSSES: FRENCH LOSSES The official lists amount to 7,000 killed or wounded; though the letters of Broglie and Contades state the numbers at 11,000. The defeated army lost in addition the greater part of its baggage, seventeen standards and colours, and forty-three guns.


THE BRAVERY OF THE INFANTRYMAN: THE BRAVERY OF THE INFANTRYMAN "I never thought," said Contades bitterly, " to see a single line of Infantry break through three lines of cavalry ranked in order of battle, and tumble them to ruin”. "Never," grimly wrote Westphalen, the chief of Ferdinand's staff, " were so many boots and saddles seen on a battlefield as opposite to the English and the Hanoverian Guards."


THE END OF 1759: THE END OF 1759 The French were pushed back and lost the gains it secured before the Battle of Minden. Thus ended the campaign of 1759, leaving both parties in occupation of the same territory as at its beginning. It had branded the French with the discredit of a great defeat, and had heightened in the Allies their contempt for their enemy and their confidence in their commander.


THE MINDEN ROSE: THE MINDEN ROSE The Battle of Minden was the greatest battle honour won by the 51st Regt of Foot. Since that day, each of the six regiments involved in what was an unprecedented display of gallantry, continued to wear roses in their hats as a lasting memory of the action. Cede Nullis.


QUESTIONS ?: QUESTIONS ?