The penalty lines to the rhythm of the drums, marching in the fog and rain. Officers 'calls and soldiers' singing. Fire-breathing cannons and towering over it all… a windmill. The wind of history blowing on his wings made him a symbol of the battle that might not have happened, and which saved the French Revolution.
After the outbreak of the Great French Revolution in 1789, the initial enthusiasm of the popular masses began to fade in the face of enormous economic troubles. The confiscation of noble and church property, which was to save the situation, turned out to be insufficient and hunger looms over the revolution . In this situation, the authorities resorted to proven surgery in such circumstances.
Foreign intervention?
When things go wrong in a country, public attention must be redirected to foreign policy issues. It was decided to move the fire of the revolution beyond the borders of France. It was easy to justify, because the French people's army would not be an aggressor, but a liberator of nations from the feudal yoke. In anticipation of an easy victory, profits from contributions imposed on the conquered rulers were already being calculated. The argument of anticipating the attack of neighboring countries, which viewed the situation in France with suspicion, was also important. And on top of that, royalist emigrants tried to persuade their neighbors to intervene.
Initially, Austria and Prussia were content to closely observe the actions of the revolutionaries. Emperor Leopold did not respond to letters for help from his sister Marie Antoinette. It was only the unsuccessful escape of the royal couple in June 1791 that caused him to send a memorial to European rulers on 6 July. He appealed for joint actions to ensure the safety of the royal couple and the defense of the monarchy. At the end of August, the emperor met in Pilnitz with the Prussian king, Frederick William II. There they declared that they did not want to interfere in the internal affairs of Paris, but expressed their hope for the restoration of full royal power, restitution of the privileges of the Church and nobility, and the return of Avignon to the Pope.
Louis XVI
The exchange of notes with the government in Vienna started in autumn with the government in Vienna on the emigrant troops and the emperor's intervention plans led to an exacerbation of the situation. It was decided at the Viennese court that a quick and efficient war expedition could bring only benefits. This view was also shared by the Prussian king. The Austrian Chancellor Kaunitz even added fuel to the fire, instructing the French in his messages on how to solve internal problems. At the beginning of February 1792, a joint Austrian-Prussian campaign plan was created as part of the coalition that had been formed.
The authorities of revolutionary France only seemed to be waiting for it. On April 20, 1792, they persuaded King Louis XVI to declare war on Austria. However, the enthusiasm of the French troops was of no avail. Revolutionary chaos, hunger, fiscal troubles, and hence - the lack of pay, caused a massive desertion of experienced soldiers and professional officers. They were replaced by masses of volunteers who, admittedly, more than supplemented the thinned ranks, but lacked discipline and simple shelling. The new soldiers panicked easily and fought their own troops instead of the enemy.
Into the battle
The cruel fate befell, among others General Dillon, who, unjustly accused of treason, was shot and riddled with bayonets, and then burned in the square of Lille. In this situation, the defeats of the French army at this stage of the war were not surprising. The revolutionaries themselves wrote that "the enemy has an advantage over us and only something resembling a miracle can save us."
And the miracle was needed already, because on 25 July Prussia joined the war, fearing Austria would strengthen too much in the event of an independent victory. Certain of triumph, the commander-in-chief of the intervention forces, Karol Wilhelm Ferdinand, Duke of Braunschweig, played down the threat from the French in view of the French defeats so far. To the soldiers gathered at the ceremonial inspection, seeing their efficiency in performing the drill, he said: "Gentlemen, why bother, do not use so much energy, it will only be a military walk".
Karol Wilhelm Ferdynand
His words seemed to be confirmed when, on August 19, the experienced General La Fayette, commanding the Revolutionary Army of the North, turned to the interveners, and the remaining troops did not react, because they lost commanders as a result of the purges. Three allied corps moved to France, taking the Longwy Fortress almost without firing a shot. In turn, who wanted to defend Verdun at all costs, General Beaurepaire committed suicide against the panic of the inhabitants and the fortress fell.
Appointed as the new commander of the Army of the North, General Dumouriez was ordered to stop the enemy on the line of the Marna River. To this end, by a murderous march from the Netherlands through the marshy forests of the Argons, he managed to circumvent the main forces of Fr. Brunswick and take up positions around Sainte-Menehould and the Valmy windmill. There the Prussians were waiting for him and they stretched their forces on a gentle hill with the front to the east.
Interestingly, they had an open road behind them to the west, but did not go to Paris. A general battle was demanded by King Frederick, who was present at the staff , who wanted to quickly end the war and return to eastern matters - the partition of Poland . In addition, there were concerns about the success of the campaign, with the French army behind. The poor condition of the army of the interveners also induced to fight back.
A battle that never happened?
September 1792 was exceptionally rainy. The blurry roads were difficult for cannons to pass, but most of all for heavy supply wagons. And there was something to worry about, because the main warehouses of the Prussian army were located in Trier, about 200 km away. The provisions were delayed and the soldiers ate unripe grapes to save themselves from hunger. The result was dysentery and diarrhea. Therefore, the combat value of the soldiers of Fr. Braunschweig's eyes were getting smaller.
Both armies waited in the pouring rain at night for what the morning of September 20 would bring. The French forces, reinforced two days earlier by the corps of general Kellermann, had an advantage in numbers over the enemy (47 thousand / 36 thousand), but they did not decide to attack the Prussian army, which was famous for the war. When it cleared a bit, both sides started intense artillery fire.
Johann Wolfgang Goethe, a servant in the Prussian cavalry, recalled:"the bullets rained down on us furiously, and we could not understand where they were coming from ...". Finally, the ranks of Fryderyk's spiers, bristling with bayonets, launched a frontal attack. The French lines did not waver, however, and with their massive cannon fire they stopped the enemy's attempts to strike several times. A lot of missiles stuck in the mud without exploding, but the firing effect was still sufficient. Prince Charles broke off the attack, wanting first to break the resistance of the French with his own artillery. The impatient king of Prussia, to give his troops a boost, moved ahead of the first line, making himself a target for the French gunners.
As if in response to this royal gesture, generals Dumouriez and Kellermann, under which a moment earlier a cannonball killed a horse, set themselves up in front of their troops. The fire, led by the Prussians with great force, finally turned out to be effective because around At 2 p.m. they managed to hit the ammunition lizards. Their blast destroyed one of the batteries, injuring and killing many soldiers and causing confusion in the French ranks. It seemed to be the best time to break their ranks. However, Kellermann did not lose his head and restored peace among the walkers. Within twenty minutes, the destroyed cannons were replaced by new ones, which with redoubled intensity undertook a fire duel with Prussian batteries.
Did diarrhea decide the fate of the battle?
Around At 4 p.m. the columns of Prussian infantry started their attack again. When it seemed that on that day the efficient machine of the Prussian army would sweep away the singing Marseillaise and brandishing ranks of revolutionists, Fr. Braunschweig ordered ... to stop the attack .
Was the bloody diarrhea so effective that the fighting spirit left the Prussian ranks? Maybe it was just a demonstration of strength? However, did the reconnaissance fail and the Prussians did not know what awaited them behind the hill with the windmill? Anyway, the mutual cannonade lasted until 17.30, when dusk and a violent storm stopped the exchange of fire.
Although the late Austrian troops of General Clerfayt joined the Prussian forces, this did not change the situation on the battlefield. The second day of struggle was not expected by many officers and soldiers. The battle, which is said to have been absent, where the bayonet was not crossed, and the matter was settled by cannons and fortitude, ended with the words of Fr. Braunschweig - "We won't fight here" .