War of the Sixth Coalition

Napoleon launched a massive attack on Russo-Prussian forces entrenched at Bautzen. Despite violent fighting and numerical superiority, the allied army managed to retreat. Imperfect coordination between Ney and Napoleon prevented the expected encirclement.

Charged with marching on Berlin, Ney suffered an allied counter-offensive at Dennewitz. Poorly coordinated, his attack failed against determined resistance and a turning maneuver by Bernadotte. The French retreat degenerated into rout, ending the offensive toward the north.

The Allies launched an attack on Dresden expecting to face an inferior French force. But Napoleon arrived in time with reinforcements and organized an effective counter-offensive, exploiting waterlogged terrain to trap the enemy. The Allies were beaten and had to withdraw.

After his retreat from Leipzig, Napoleon encountered a Bavarian-Austrian army at Hanau that attempted to block his route to the Rhine. Although his troops were tired and outnumbered, he attacked violently on 30 October. The Imperial Guard and artillery broke the enemy center. Wrede withdrew in disorder. On the 31st Napoleon continued his advance and crossed the Kinzig, securing the route to Mainz.

In driving rain, Macdonald's troops crossed the Katzbach to face Blücher, but waterlogged ground disorganized their progress. Blücher counterattacked vigorously on the flanks, broke the French order of battle, and provoked a rout. It was one of the worst defeats of the campaign.

Vandamme, sent in pursuit of the Allies after Dresden, advanced too far without support. He was caught in a pincer by superior forces from the rear and flank. His corps was nearly annihilated and he himself was captured. This defeat canceled the tactical benefits of Dresden.

The Battle of Leipzig, also called the "Battle of the Nations," was the largest military confrontation of the Napoleonic Wars. For four days Napoleon resisted the coordinated assault of allied armies converging on Leipzig from the north, south, and east. Despite energetic defense and several successful counterattacks, enemy numerical superiority became overwhelming. On 18 October Saxon troops went over to the enemy, further disorganizing French lines. On 19 October Napoleon ordered retreat, but the premature destruction of the Elster bridge trapped 30,000 men, including part of the Guard and Marshal Poniatowski, who drowned.

Lützen was the first great battle of the German campaign. Surprised by a Russo-Prussian attack on his flank, Napoleon reacted swiftly, gathered his forces, and launched a massive counterattack. The Allies withdrew in order but conceded the field.