Battle of Dreux (1870)

When Minister Yves-Louis Fiereck staged a breakout from the west of Paris which was under a siege, a mixture of forces from the Garde Mobile and French marines who were commanded by Captain Keatry, arrived into Dreux.[1][3] Keatry's objective was to flank the German 5th Army at Versailles and patrol the weak points of the German front line. However, he did not complete his plan. At Dreux (which had been recaptured by the French from the Germans a few days earlier) he was attacked by several forces belonging to the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. Several divisions of the German cavalry and the Bavarian army did not participate in the battle. French marines were credited for fighting bravely, attacking and massacring German artillerymen . However, the force Mobiles (except those who come from Calvados ) acted weak, and French marines, which have suffered heavy damage, to conduct evacuation. From 3 directions, the German army advanced against the town of Dreux, and they launched an artillery barragesize. On the streets of Dreux, they encountered fiercer resistance. The French army (including many between the ages of 14 and 16) fought behind floating fortifications, fleeing when the Germans approached, but then fired again. During the war, many French soldiers advocated forgiving the enemy at all.[5] But the battle was a defeat for the French, in which the French suffered far greater losses than their opponents.[6]

At the end of the battle, Kéracy's western army fled behind the Châteunef.[3][4] In general, the well-trained and disciplined German forces easily captured Dreux from the fiercely resisting French forces. After General Tresckow commander of the division of infantry of 17 master Dreux night 17 November,[2][7] on 18 January the army of the great Duke of Mekclenburg continued its advance. On 19 January the German 22nd Division also attacked Digny, capturing several French soldiers. The entire western French army retreated towards Châteaudun.[1][5]