Walking Germany: Auerstadt

Auerstadt is an easy battlefield to explore, and the road junction at the village of Hassenhausen is an excellent place to start. This was the centre of the French position and the area of the most intense fighting.

Auerstadt was, of course, fought on the same day as Jena. Marshal Davout took on the larger part of the divided Prussian army and won an outstanding victory. Some say it was resented by Napoleon, who had thought that he was fighting the entire Prussian army at Jena.

This view was taken from the extreme right of the French line. It is looking right towards the area of Blucher’s cavalry attack which came from Speilberg (centre of photo). This was followed by an infantry attack, which the leading French division were hard pressed to resist. When Friants division arrived they were used to extend the French line towards Speilberg.

Taken from the same spot, this is looking left towards Hassenhausen. The line of trees follow the Speilberg road. Guidin was the leading French division and they held this area against the first Prussian attack.

Again from the same spot, this time looking directly ahead to the centre of the Prussian deployment area. The main Prussian attack advanced towards the camera. It was also the scene of the Prussian rear guard action at the end of the battle. There were a number of attacks and counter attacks here throughout the battle.

Again from the cross roads, looking half right towards Poppel. The village is hidden by the trees in the centre of the photographs. The French cavalry screening Davouts march towards Jena were surprised by the Prussian advance guard just short of Poppel. The capture of the village by Friant later in the battle signaled the beginning of the end for the Prussian army.

This photo was taken from the cross roads at the village of Hassenhausen. I was struck by how similar it looked to Waterloo. May Prussian attacks, including the famous massed cavalry charge, were launched over this area. The Brunswick monument is in dead ground to the front. Far right is the village of Gernstadt.

Artist impression of the massed Prussian cavalry attacks on the French squares. Again a reminder of the doomed French cavalry charge on the British squares at Waterloo.

The Brunswick Monument marks the spot where the Duke of Brunswick received the fatal wound to his eye. Nine years later his son would be killed at Quatre Bras.

Taken from the Brunswick Monument looking towards Hassenhausen. This is the view as seen by the massed Prussian cavalry as they advanced against the French left wing with its steady infantry squares.

Returning to Hassenhasuen we found a new museum. It was closed, but our guide managed to persuade the owner to open it for us.

The centerpiece of the museum was this large diorama of the battle. The figures are all “flats”, much more common in Germany than the usual round model soldiers found in UK.