Gravelotte, Battle of

Prussian victory in the Franco-Prussian War 18 August 1870; the battle took place on a ridge between the villages of the same names, about 10 km/6 mi west of Metz. Although the Prussians gained an important strategic victory, isolating General François Bazaine in Metz, it cost them over 20,000 casualties, compared to French losses of around 13,000. The victory left the bulk of the Prussian forces free to concentrate upon Marshal Marie MacMahon's army which they destroyed at Sedan.

Bazaine, marching to Verdun, had been checked by the Prussians at Vionville, and the road to Verdun was now closed. He therefore decided to fall back on a line between St Privat and Rozerieulles where his army could rest while vital stores, ammunition, and rations were brought up from the fortress of Metz. The army was demoralized and made little attempt to place itself in a defensive posture; the troops simply went to sleep as soon as they arrived in the new location.

Meanwhile the Prussians under Count Helmuth von Moltke were advancing north, trying to find where the French had gone. Eventually Prussian cavalry discovered the French position, though there was some miscalculation over the position of the northern end of the line, and the armies gradually wheeled into position to begin the battle. The fight was bitter, with the French having the positional advantage, but eventually the Prussians were able to turn the French right flank at St Privat, the north end of the line, which led to a general rout and Bazaine's entire force falling back into the fortress of Metz, where they were subsequently besieged.