#OTD #battleofhanau #Hanau #Napoleon #bavaria #austria #oesterreich #befreiungskriege #coalitionwars In the morning of the 30th Napolen stayed in Langenselbold until 8. Marshal MacDonald hindered the french troops to commit crimes and to maraud the civilian houses.

After the french general-staff had left Langenselbold, it was pillaged totally also the castle. The bavarian and austrian divisions went in formation north of the river Kinzig. On the far left wing the cavalry was postioned in „en echelon“ formation. The Kosacks were

in the north in direction of Friedberg, to stay in the backround and eventually flank the French. The French weren’t those unarmed, ragged soldiers who were seen the days before. The infantery was mostly the imperial guard and in the eyes of Wrede in a good condition.

60 000 men. The deep echoloned cavalry were mostly veterans of the peaninsular war. 12 000 curassiers and chasseurs under command of Nansouty and Sebastiani. Most of the french forces were hidden in the Lamboy-forest.. At 12 the French moved forward. The imperial guard faught

hard, that Wrede had to strengthen the centre. Soon three regiments austrian Infantry arrived, High motivated and singing, fifes and drums were playing. The allied forces repulsed the french formations under light losses.

3 o’clock. Now Napoleon showed that he was still the strategic mastermind in attack. Ten days after Leipzig! The french cavalry attacked. Often, cavalry units start slowly, move faster an crush into the enemy with full speed. This time the imperial cavalry started suddenly in a

„breathtaking“ speed. In three closed lines onto the allied artillery strait towards and through the fire of the bavarian main battery. In a short moment the french cavalry lines swinged southwards and crushed into the allied infantry. Followed by the allied cavalry.

Then behind the horses the Bavarians and Austrians now saw, what Bonaparte had hidden. A hidden french battery with 12 pounder guns, fired now salve after salve and hammered into the back of the allied cavalry.The allied reserve cavalry now couldn’t help anymore.

The battle was lost and the allied forces retreated into the city, which soon was shelled heavily. Now the centre broke. Many of the brave men who had shown no fear now retreated to the small and shallow Lamboy - Bridge and drowned in the floods of the river.

Fights in the streets began, which now were stuffed by Warriors, wounded, refugees and horses.