Battle of the Lisaine

The Battle of the Lisaine, also known as the Battle of Héricourt, was fought from 15 January to 17 January 1871 between German and French forces. The French were led by Charles Denis Bourbaki, and were attempting to relieve the Siege of Belfort. The Germans prepared XIV Corps and several other divisions, some 40,000–45,000 men, to halt the French advance of about 110,000 men.^[2] The Germans had their outer posts overran quite swiftly but the Prussians forced back and counterattacked the French forces, breaking the morale of French troops and leaving them to either die or retreat. In the end their efforts failed, and they were forced to flee into Switzerland where they were all interned soon after.^[3]

Battle of the Lisaine
Part of the Franco-Prussian War
Battle of the Lizaine by J.P Neri
Date 15–17 January 1871 Location near Héricourt, Lizaine River, France Result German victory
Belligerents
German Empire	French Republic
Commanders and leaders
August von Werder	Charles Denis Bourbaki
Units involved
XIV Corps	Armée de l'Est
Strength
40,000–45,000 146 guns	110,000
Casualties and losses
1,800 killed or wounded 400 captured[1]	4,000 killed or wounded 500 captured[1]

47.5°N 6.8°E / 47.5; 6.8

Citations

1. Bodart 1908, p. 569.
2. German General Staff 1883, p. 358.
3. Howard 1991, p. 336.

References

• German General Staff (1883). The Franco-German War 1870-71: Part 2; Volume 2. Translated by F.C.H. Clarke. London: Clowes & Sons.
• Howard, M. (1991). The Franco-Prussian War: The German Invasion of France 1870–1871. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-26671-8.
• Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905) (in German). Vienna and Leipzig: C. W. Stern. Retrieved 31 August 2023.