Franco-Prussian War Game

For the first Franco-Prussian War game we have played in the or four years I chose to run as a free kriegspiel - where all five player play against the umpire...me.

I decided to base the game on the opening stages of the Battle of Spicheren fought on 6 August 1870. One player is playing the brigadier commanding 27th Infantry Brigade brigadier and each of the other players commands one of the six battalions. Each battalion consists of four companies, each of three platoons, each represented by a stand. Companies may be detached from battalion, but all platoons must remain in base to base contact, except that one platoon may be detached to cover the company front. Four field batteries of the divisional artillery are also available. 

The general briefing ran as follows:

War was declared on 16 July 1870 and within two days the French moved a blocking force of corps strength to a position south of Saarbrücken, the point selected by the Prussians as the point as the gateway for the invasion of France. On 2 August the French attacked a small Prussian garrison at Saarbrücken and occupied the heights overlooking the town and dominating the two bridges that crossed the Saar there, but did not occupy the city or make any effort to push north of the river. Prussian high command did not view the French action as a significant threat to operations and decided to continue with the plan to concentrate all of Second Army at Saarbrücken. First Army, that had been covering the front, would shift east to be in a flanking position.

On the evening of 5 August, rumours began to circulate that the French had abandoned the Saarbrücken Heights. The cavalry confirmed this on the morning of the 6th. They reported that the French had fallen back south and were embarking at Forbach, the Frontier rail centre, and trains were running south. They reported that a rearguard six or more battalions and of a battery was posted on the heights south of Saarbrücken. They were not, however, able to press further.

News of the French withdrawal spread quickly amongst the Prussian units near the Frontier and their abandonment was largely viewed as a mistake since a contested crossing of the Saar was likely to be a costly operation.  With this in mind Major General Kameke, commanding 14th Infantry Division, determined to cross the river and occupy the Saarbrücken Heights before the French recognised their error and returned. In doing so he was acting in violation of the orders that First Army was to operate west of Saarbrücken, but he reasoned that since no Second Army units could be expected at Saarbrücken until the afternoon and evening, he needed to occupy the place in the interests of Second Army. He crossed his advanced guard, three battalions and a battery, to the right bank of the Saar. These troops soon came under fire from a French battery on the Spicheren Heights opposite. As the French fire began to bite, Kameke instructed Major General von Francois, commanding 27th Brigade, to clear the French from their position. He was to attack as soon as the remaining three batteries of the divisional artillery arrived.

Von Francois is to make his plan from this briefing and from what he can see on the table. He then issues orders to each of the battalion commanders. He also has control over the divisional batteries and two of the battalions.

The Battlefield of Spicheren

I needed to simplify the terrain a little.

As for rules, they are quite fluid. I have a set of guidelines, but as the umpire I get to manipulate them to make more or less realistic outcomes. The only thing that the players know for certain is the movement distances. They know that the rifle ranges are around 400mm, but if they choose to try a greater range they may hit something.  Enemy units will be concealed until visible.

Historically von Kameke ordered von Francois to make a double envelopment, sending two battalions against each flank and when the flanks were established would deliver the coup de grace against the centre on the Rotherberg.  In doing so he committed a single brigade against a position that was only partly reconnoitred and unwittingly blundered headlong into an entire French corps in good positions. He had a second brigade to be sure, but they were the better part of an hour away. Von Francois' Brigade was very roughly handled. The succeeded in storming the Rotherberg but could make no further headway, and von Francois was killed in the assault. In the end von Kameke was saved by the willingness of nearby German commanders to march to the sound of the guns and the unwillingness of the French commanders to do so. The Germans claimed victory because the French withdrew, but Kameke's bullheadedness cost 4300 casualties.

So what happened in our game?

Well, the plan developed was pretty much as it was historically. A double envelopment with two battalions turning each flank and two held back for an assault on the Rotherberg.

Before the party started

The French position on the Rotherberg

The Germans advancing to the right of the High Road

The French opened fire on them with a mitrailleuse battery

And rifle fire from the heights

French Guns engage

But the Germans have guns too a d soon gain the upper hand

To the east of the Rotherberg two battalions of Germans advance boldly

The skirmishers went forward into the woods

There they found French skirmishers

Then a French battleline

And there are a lot of them

To the west the French in the brewery opened fire 

And the mitrailleuses continued to grind away

On the extreme right if the German line a battalion plunged into the copse and met fierce resistance from two French battalions

Meanwhile the battle along the High Road continued

With the flanks engaged the two assault columns came forward in the centre

On the crest of the Rotherberg the French Chasseurs fought valiantly

 

But there were a lot of Germans

And eventually they stormed the Rotherberg

General von Francois was pleased

The casualties were high

Here the game ended. Historically at this point the French committed three brigades to contain the Germans and succeeded in driving them back in places. Von Francois' brigade had to cling on in desperation while other troops came up. But in the context of our game the Germans achieved the objective.