Leipzig 1813

Germany. Those Poles, and their leader, Dombrowski were aware that there was no home to return to if the French lost. (PN:The designers of La Bataille de Wiederitzsch have built the desperate nature of the Polish position into the game. Given the long history of antagonism between Poland and Russia, as well as the desperate nature of the Polish existence generally, the designers have increased the likelihood of casualties during any melee’ between Russian infantry and Polish infantry. The casualties have increased by a factor of one- third. The probable addition of casualties will also increase the likelihood of the Poles holding on to Wiederitzsch longer than they should considering the overwhelming superiority in numbers by the Russians.) The Poles were a tough lot at La Bataille de Wiederitzsch, as the Russians would discover. For example, the article on the Polish army in the Napoleonic Wars in the napolun.com website reports that “When under artillery fire some Polish units sat down to lessen their casualties (Borodino, Leipzig, etc).” (PN: the ability of the Poles to withstand artillery bombardment more effectively than others is reflected in the Wiederitzsch Special Rules.) Dombrowski’s division, though small in number, saw significant action on three separate days at Leipzig. Despite taking heavy casualties at Wiederitzsch, the Poles fought again the next day at Gohlis. Then, on the last day of the battle, the much-reduced 27 th Division was the only intact unit on the West side of the Elster. Dombrowski had committed to Napoleon, that his Poles would fight to the last man in trying to preserve the French position. He was almost right as the Poles fought as if they were possessed. While Dombrowski, overwhelmed by Coalition troops, finally surrendered on the afternoon of that day, small detachments of Poles fought to the very end of 19 th , and many escaped, to only fight later in many battles in both 1813 and 1814. The Charnel House Of Wiederitzsch …So the battle was joined by the attack of Dombrowski’s four infantry battalions and two cavalry regiments upon the whole of the Russian IX Corps just outside the twin villages of Wiederitzsch. Confusion reigned---Langeron’s batteries even fired on some Prussians. But then the reality of the numbers started to be felt. The Russians entered Klein Wiederitzsch for the first time as Russians outnumbered Poles by a more than three-to-one factor. But the Poles were able to push them out of the village for the first, but not the last time. The Russians again attacked the village, but now were supported by cavalry on the periphery of the villages. The Coalition cavalry, heavily outnumbering the Polish horsemen, were able to rout one of the Polish regiments and captured a horse battery and 500 men. But then the Polish infantry advanced again and cleared the Russians out the village for the second time. When the battle first started, the French 9 th Division of Delmas was not near Wiederitzsch. However, the French were quickly drawn to the support of Dombrowski. Delmas had fought together with Dombrowski in Italy in 1798, so they had a rapport which assisted both in 1813. Delmas’ division had twice as many men at the 27 th , and while there were a few good units, the division also had weaker provisional troops. (PN: The French troops in the 9 th Division do not have the same strong morale ratings that the Poles do, and in the playtests of the game, have a tendency to melt away once placed in defensive positions. It is likely that the French will go on a morale level before the Poles, even though the Poles are in the battle from the beginning and have

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La Bataille de Leipzig 1813