In June 1778, Frederick the Great adopted the trench warfare method suggested by William to great success in Saxony, severely damaging the Austrian army led by Marshal Lacy in World War I.
After this battle, Marshal Lacy had to lead the remaining Austrian troops to retreat to Vienna. After receiving the news, Joseph II broke the tea cup and became furious and wanted to execute Marshal Lacy. Fortunately, his mother, Queen Maria Theresa, came to Vienna.
The emperor's advice saved Marshal Lacy's life.
After Frederick won the great victory, he felt that his opportunity had come. He felt that he no longer needed to go to Bohemia, but should lead the army directly towards Vienna. That day he wrote a letter to his brother, Prince Henry, ordering Henry to
The prince held Bohemia back in the face of the enemy, and he directed his victorious army towards Vienna.
After receiving Frederick's letter, Prince Henry was startled by Frederick's idea, and then immediately wrote back to Frederick: My dear brother, attacking Vienna is not the best strategy at this time. Our army should follow the instructions
The original plan was to join forces in Bohemia and capture Bohemia. Once the target is changed to Vienna, even if we win, our army will pay an extremely heavy price. And Austria and we have no room for maneuver anymore. European countries
They will definitely not sit back and watch us conquer Vienna. They will definitely intervene. Prussia has not yet recovered from the damage caused by the last war. My brother, I pray that you will preserve the future for Prussia.
But when Frederick received Henry's letter, he was furious. He had never felt that he was so close to Vienna. The thought of avenging the shame of the Seven Years' War was like a dream, and Frederick had to gnash his teeth every night.
I can't fall asleep without hearing the name of Vienna and that woman.
Frederick was unwilling to give up his idea of Vienna and wrote to Prince Henry again:
My brother, thank God, I have never felt that I am so close to Vienna. It is like a nightmare that enters my dreams every night and tortures me. I must conquer this city and let everyone in this city
They all kneel at my feet. My brother, for the rise of Prussia, we must defeat Austria. Now that Lacy has been defeated by me, he returned to Vienna with only 20,000 people. I must cherish the opportunity God gave me. I
My brother, you must obey my orders, you must hold back the enemies of Bohemia, and I will immediately send my troops to join you after capturing Vienna, for the sake of Prussia.
Prince Henry had to accept Frederick's order and changed his previous tactics of advancing step by step, but launched a fierce attack on the enemies of Bohemia.
In July 1778, the Prussian army was only more than 200 kilometers away from Vienna. During this period, Joseph II had to order the Bavarian front army to return to support Vienna, and at the same time recruited garrison troops from various places to form the Vienna garrison. Joseph II sent troops to the entire Holy Roman Empire
The nobles called on King Qin, but very few responded. They were all watching the war between Prussia and Austria.
Before the Prussians came to the city, Joseph II ordered the establishment of the Vienna garrison. This army was still under the command of Marshal Lacy. Although Joseph II was very angry about Lacy's defeat, he had to admit that now
In Austria, only Lacy was the most promising person to resist Frederick.
At the same time, the Bavarian Front led by Leopold II had to give up their previous advantage in Bavaria and return to Vienna after receiving orders from Joseph II.
However, the process of returning reinforcements was not peaceful. The Prussian cavalry led by Prince Ferdinand of Prussia stuck behind them like brown candy, always surprising the Austrians by surprise, which greatly delayed the return of reinforcements from the Bavarian Front.
speed.
In August 1778, the Prussian army, led by Frederick, arrived outside Vienna.
Frederick led a group of accompanying generals to a small hill outside Vienna, pointed his riding whip at Vienna and said:
"My generals, Vienna is right in front of us. Prussia's century-old dream is about to be realized in our hands. I ask every soldier to commit himself to this battle with a spirit of sacrifice and no fear of sacrifice. Until the day we win, I will
Distribute the wealth accumulated by Vienna for hundreds of years to every soldier participating in this war. And you will gain the respect of all the Prussian people. When you are old, you can hold your grandson proudly and say to him
, your grandfather followed Frederick to conquer Vienna, defeated the Habsburg dynasty that had dominated Europe for hundreds of years, and laid a solid foundation for Prussia's future."
Just when the Prussian army appeared outside the city of Vienna, Marshal Lacy inside the city was reorganizing his army in high spirits.
The 20,000 people who returned to Vienna after defeat in the last battle, the 30,000 people mobilized by Joseph II to join the garrison from various places, and the 30,000 militiamen in the city totaled 80,000 people. They only had more than 200 artillery pieces, but they benefited from
Thanks to the savings of the Habsburg dynasty over the past dynasties, the equipment of this army is Europe's first-class, and a large number of military horses have been transferred into the army, including the royal horses from Joseph II's royal horse farm.
Although the Austrians were much short of artillery, they were armed with 30,000 cavalry, of which 20,000 were cuirassiers, which gave the Austrians confidence in defending Vienna.
After the Prussians arrived in Vienna, Frederick ordered the siege of the city. He ordered all the soldiers to dig trenches outside the city to block possible reinforcements from the Austrians. At the same time, after the last war, he urgently recruited two domestic troops.
More than 10,000 people are about to arrive, and by then there will be a Prussian army totaling 100,000 gathered under the walls of Vienna.
While Frederick ordered his soldiers to dig trenches, he ordered his artillery to pour artillery shells into Vienna. The Austrian artillery and artillery shells captured in the last war were enough to last the Prussian army for half a month. There were three trenches in front of his artillery position.
It was to prevent an Austrian raid.
Joseph II urgently summoned Marshal Lacy and said:
"My marshal, I can forgive you for your failure in the last battle, but I will not allow you to fail in this battle. This is Vienna, where my Habsburg dynasty has built its foundation for hundreds of years. My marshal, Austria's century-old
The fate of our country is all left to you."
And Lacy said to Joseph II:
"Your Majesty, please rest assured that I will defend Vienna with my life, but I have only one request. Can you and Her Majesty the Queen evacuate Vienna?"
Queen Maria Theresa on the side said:
"Marshal Lacy, my son and I are not going anywhere. Vienna is our home and the place where the souls of the Habsburg ancestors return. There are only two roads in front of us.
Either the Prussians are defeated by us, and Frederick, who deserves to go to hell, kneels before us. Or His Majesty the Emperor and I are captured by the Prussians, and the thousand-year glory of the Habsburg family is trampled on.
Marshal Lacy, Your Majesty and I have not only entrusted Austria's national destiny to your hands, but also our lives. You must not disappoint the expectations that His Majesty and I have for you."