Second Battle of Orléans

The Second Battle of Orléans was fought during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. It took place on December 3 and 4, 1870 and was part of the Loire Campaign. The Germans recaptured Orléans, which had been retaken by the French on November 11, 1870 after the Battle of Coulmiers, and divided the French Army of the Loire in two. Future king of Serbia, Peter, took part in the battle on the French side. The French lost 20,000 men in two days of combat, including 18,000 captured or missing, as well as 74 guns and four gunboats.[2] German manpower losses amounted to 2,000, of which 400 killed and 1,600 wounded.[1] The Germans lost 368 horses, including 175 killed, 183 wounded and 10 missing.[3]

Second Battle of Orléans
Part of the Franco-Prussian War

German troops enter Orléans on 4 December 1870
Date3–4 December 1870
Location
Result German victory
Belligerents

North German Confederation North German Confederation

French Third Republic France
Commanders and leaders

North German Confederation
Frederick Francis II
Friedrich Karl

Kingdom of Bavaria
Ludwig von der Tann
French Third Republic
Louis d'Aurelle de Paladines
Strength
86,000[1] 62,000[1]
Casualties and losses
400 killed
1,600 wounded[1]
3,000 killed or wounded
18,000 captured or missing
74 guns and 4 gunboats captured[1]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e Bodart 1908, p. 564.
  2. ^ German General Staff 1880, p. 364.
  3. ^ German General Staff 1880, p. 116‡.

References

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  • von Moltke, Helmuth, The Franco-German war of 1870-71, London: J. R. Osgood, McIlvaine & co. 1891 p29-41
  • German General Staff (1880). The Franco-German War 1870-71: Part 2; Volume 1. London: Clowes & Sons.
  • Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905). Wien und Leipzig, C. W. Stern.

47°54′09″N 1°54′32″E / 47.9025°N 1.9090°E / 47.9025; 1.9090