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. Future king of Serbia, Peter, took part in the battle on the French side. The French lost 20,000 men in two days of combat, including 18,000 captured or missing, as well as 74 guns and four gunboats.[2] German manpower losses amounted to 2,000, of which 400 killed and 1,600 wounded.[1] The Germans lost 368 horses, including 175 killed, 183 wounded and 10 missing.[3]

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 Ludwig von der Tann	Louis d'Aurelle de Paladines
Strength
86,000[1]	62,000[1]
Casualties and losses
400 killed 1,600 wounded[1]	3,000 killed or wounded 18,000 captured or missing 74 guns and 4 gunboats captured[1]