Battle of Podol
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Podol was a minor engagement in the opening days of the Königgratz
campaign of the Austro-Prussian War
in Bohemia on June 26 and June 27, 1866. The battle took place in modern day Svijany
between troops from the Prussian First Army (Bose
's 15th Brigade) and soldiers of the Austrian I Corps (Poschacher's "Iron" brigade).
met with his Saxon counterpart Prince Albert
, and they decided that they had to plug the breech in their Iser line before Prussian reinforcements arrived. Holding Podol was important because of two strategic bridges over the Iser, which a further Prussian advance would need.
The battle started around 8 PM when elements of Ferdinand Poschacher's brigade encountered Prussian skirmishers. After driving them off, the brigade barricaded itself in the town. The Prussians returned them with three battalions of line infantry and engaged the Austrian in street fighting. The technological advantage of the Dreyse needle gun allowed the Prussians to drive off the Austrians and clear the town.
Another Prussian battalion crossed the river upstream and moved to attack the Austrians engaged in the town but stumbled across Poschacher's two reserve battalions. Clam-Gallas ordered these reserves to attack, but they were beaten off by the Prussians' superior fire power. However, after repulsing three attacks, the Prussians had exhausted their ammunition and retired over the river.
Having lost the town, Clam-Gallas admitted defeat and withdrew around 2 AM. His losses amounted to around 1,048 men, including over 600 prisoners. Prussian losses totaled about 100.
Battle of Königgrätz
The Battle of Königgrätz , also known as the Battle of Sadowa, Sadová, or Hradec Králové, was the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire...
campaign of the Austro-Prussian War
Austro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
in Bohemia on June 26 and June 27, 1866. The battle took place in modern day Svijany
Svijany
Established in 1564, Svijany is one of the oldest Czech breweries. It is located in the village of Svijany.The brewery produces an extensive range of unpasteurised lagers, mostly light in color and ranging in strength between 4% and 6.5% ABV....
between troops from the Prussian First Army (Bose
Julius von Bose
Friedrich Julius Wilhelm Graf von Bose was a Prussian general who commanded the Prussian XI Corps during the Franco-Prussian War....
's 15th Brigade) and soldiers of the Austrian I Corps (Poschacher's "Iron" brigade).
The battle
Bose's advance guard arrived near Podol in the evening of June 26, 1866. The Austrian commander Clam-GallasEduard Clam-Gallas
Count Eduard Clam-Gallas was an Austrian General. He was the eldest son of Count Christian Christoph Clam-Gallas , patron of Beethoven, and Countess Josephine Clary-Aldringen .- Career :...
met with his Saxon counterpart Prince Albert
Albert of Saxony
Albert of Saxony may refer to:* Albert of Saxony * Albert I, Duke of Saxony * Albert, Duke of Saxony * Prince Albert of Saxony, Duke of Teschen * Albert of Saxony...
, and they decided that they had to plug the breech in their Iser line before Prussian reinforcements arrived. Holding Podol was important because of two strategic bridges over the Iser, which a further Prussian advance would need.
The battle started around 8 PM when elements of Ferdinand Poschacher's brigade encountered Prussian skirmishers. After driving them off, the brigade barricaded itself in the town. The Prussians returned them with three battalions of line infantry and engaged the Austrian in street fighting. The technological advantage of the Dreyse needle gun allowed the Prussians to drive off the Austrians and clear the town.
Another Prussian battalion crossed the river upstream and moved to attack the Austrians engaged in the town but stumbled across Poschacher's two reserve battalions. Clam-Gallas ordered these reserves to attack, but they were beaten off by the Prussians' superior fire power. However, after repulsing three attacks, the Prussians had exhausted their ammunition and retired over the river.
Having lost the town, Clam-Gallas admitted defeat and withdrew around 2 AM. His losses amounted to around 1,048 men, including over 600 prisoners. Prussian losses totaled about 100.
Reference
- Geoffrey WawroGeoffrey WawroGeoffrey Wawro is a Professor of Military History at the University of North Texas, and Director of the UNT Military History Center. His primary area of emphasis is modern and contemporary military history, from the French Revolution to the present...
, The Austro-Prussian War. Austria's war with Prussia and Italy in 1866 (New York 2007), p. 131-135.