Siege of Neu-Breisach

The siege of Neu-Breisach [11] was a battle of encirclement in the Franco-Prussian War,[7] which took place from 13 October [1] until 10 November 1870 in France.[11] A few days after the surrender at Fort Mortier of Neu-Breisach,[12] with a divisional reserve, German General Hermann von Schmeling forced the fortress of Neu-Breisach (which held an army garrison under command of Shanghai Colonel Lostie de Kerhor) which surrendered,[3][13] and won many spoils from the French army here.[9] The siege demonstrated the high efficiency of the Baden batteries.[11] With the surrender of Neu-Breisach, the Imperial German Army captured the last of the fortifications at Alsace, except for the Belfort and of Bitche.[14] After this victory, Von Schmeling moved his cannons southwest to carry out the Siege of Belfort.[7]

Siege of Neu-Breisach
Part of Franco-Prussian War
Date October 13[1] — November 10, 1870[2] Location Neuf-Brisach, Haut-Rhin, France[3] Result German Victory.[4][5]
Belligerents
French Republic	North German Confederation  Prussia  Bavaria[6]  Baden[6]
Commanders and leaders
Lostie de Kerhor[3]	Hermann von Schmeling[7]
Units involved
Unknown	4th Reserve Division[8]
Strength
More than 5,000 garrisoned[9]	Unknown
Casualties and losses
100 officers and 5,000 soldiers were captured,[10] 108 fire cannons , 60 horses of the cavalry , 6,000 small arms and seized stocks[6][9]	70 Soldiers[9]

The French fortress of Neu-Breisach had a garrison of 5,000 men, while Fort Mortier, located near the Rhine, was built for independent defense.[9] In early October, detachments of the German Fourth Reserve Division command of General Schmeling were ordered beyond the Rhine from Breisgau to conduct a siege on Neu-Breisach. Near the evening of 10 May, a breakout of the French military from Neu-Breisach was attempted, only to be defeated. The same day, the German cannons caused heavy damage.[6] However, an intense field array of German troops could not force the officer commanding Neu-Breisach to surrender, so Schmeling switched focus to the Siege of Selestat.[3] After German artillery guns were brought in from Strasbourg,[6] Neu-Breisach was blockaded on 9 October 1870.[14] On 12 and 13 October, sporadic raids and engagements broke out, but to no avail.[6] On 13 October, the encirclement was completed, when in front of Neu-Breisach were 5,000 Prussians, who formed semicircular lines of battle, with the poles lying on the banks of the Rhine. On 16 October a French siege at Neu-Breisach was broken by the Germans.[1] Although Neu-Breisach was heavily damaged by German artillery during the siege,[11] the Germans remained unable to defeat Neu-Breisach quickly.[1]

On 26 October 1870, after defeating Sélestat, Major General Von Schmeling - as commander of the Neu-Breisach siege and blockade corps consisting of Prussian, Bavarian and Baden units - sited the bulk of his division and the artillery battery placed in front of Sélestat south along the Rhine to carry out the siege of Neu-Breisach.[3][6][7] He undertook the siege of Neu-Breisach forcefully,[2] and during this period German infantry forces approached Neu-Breisach. On 2 November, from several locations such as Alt-Breisach, German cannons commenced fire.[9] In the face of aggressive German artillery fire, the French garrison put up a fierce resistance, although on 3 November , the Mortier fortress and its structures were destroyed along with a few artillery pieces. France here was damaged.[11] Finally, on 7 November, the attack took effect: French Captain Castelli surrendered at Fort Mortier[3] beneath the rubble.[9] The German army took prisoners and cannons from the French.[1] The French defending at Neu-Breisach were in a difficult position.[11] Three days after the fall of Mortier,[2] Neu-Breisach surrendered on the same terms as those at Sélestat.[9] On 11 November, the Prussian army occupied the city walls; an hour later, their prisoners left their posts.[3]