Second Battle of Orléans (1870)

The Second Battle of Orléans was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. It took place on December 3 and 4, 1870 and was part of the Loire Campaign. The Germans recaptured Orléans, which had been retaken by the French on November 11, 1870 after the Battle of Coulmiers, and divided the French Army of the Loire in two. The French lost 19,000 men in two days of combat, including 12,000 prisoners as well as 74 guns and four gunboats.[1] German manpower losses amounted to 1,746, of which 353 killed or dead of wounds, 1,327 wounded and 67 missing. The Germans lost 368 horses, including 175 killed, 183 wounded and 10 missing.[2]

Second Battle of Orléans
Part of the Franco-Prussian War
German troops enter Orléans on 4 December 1870
Date 3–4 December 1870 Location Orléans, France Result German victory
Belligerents
North German Confederation Kingdom of Prussia  Bavaria	France
Commanders and leaders
Frederick Francis II Friedrich Karl	Louis d'Aurelle de Paladines
Casualties and losses
1,746 353 killed or died of wounds 1,327 wounded 67 missing	19,000 7,000 killed or wounded 12,000 prisoners 74 guns and 4 gunboats captured

Citations

1. German General Staff 1880, p. 364.
2. German General Staff 1880, p. 116‡.

References

• von Moltke, Helmuth, The Franco-German war of 1870-71, London: J. R. Osgood, McIlvaine & co. 1891 p29-41
• German General Staff (1880). The Franco-German War 1870-71: Part 2; Volume 1. London: Clowes & Sons.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)