Post by Leopold I von Habsburg on Mar 4, 2015 2:11:09 GMT
The final thrust would take place in the South, the 'Kasierliche Armee' is ordered by the Austrian officer core to advance with speed on the city/ large town of Sundgau, which will allow Austrian forces to secure the entire surround province. The Austrian army here was placed under the command of General Karl Philipp Sebottendorf. The Austrian forces which had been stationed on the southern Rhine area of the HRE were well rested, they were also well stocked and supplied. Their advance on the French border was quick a swift, their initially advance into France was also just that. The complete lack of French forces in the area allowed again as with the advance of the other armies to the north, for a quick and orderly advance across the open plains of the French county side, which was flanked, to the south, by the Alps mount range. Though this advance took slightly longer to get under way, it was as with the advances of the other armies very successful. After several days march the leading units of the 'Kasierliche Armee' reached the outskirts of the town. Sebottendorf had no problems surrounding it, his army comprised the following forces -16,000 line infantry, 2000 jaegers, 2000 hussars, 200 field guns, 100 howitzers, 3,000 line infantry (Saxons), 1000 grenadiers (Saxons), and 1000 dragoons (Saxons). Sebottendorf was particularly impressed with the Saxon soldiers in his ranks, commenting that they were "true soldiers", to him the sight of Austrian and Saxon soldiers marching side by side brought back old memoires of the great war against Turkish forces during the last Austro-Turkish war. This army was also not to far south of Sud armee operating under 'Armee von Deutschland' just to the North. Supply lines were strong, the operational objective was not to far over the border - however controlling it was still essential to controlling the province as a whole
With the town surrounded and the reminder of the province quickly being secured by forward Austrian units. Runners were sent to the town carrying messages calling upon it to surrender. Sebottendorf, of course like other Austrian Generals placed field guns on hills surrounding the town, and deliberately left them in sight for the townspeople below. The message the runners carried was simple "We, the Austrian army call upon the town to surrender, if you do so now then there will be no need to fight and so no one will have to die needlessly. Austria promises to oversee a peaceful and co-operative occupation of the province as possible". However, after giving this message, Sebottendorf reported to his staff that "it would be necessary implement a live off the land policy straight away in order to acquire resources to feed our forces and other Austrian forces."
With the town surrounded and the reminder of the province quickly being secured by forward Austrian units. Runners were sent to the town carrying messages calling upon it to surrender. Sebottendorf, of course like other Austrian Generals placed field guns on hills surrounding the town, and deliberately left them in sight for the townspeople below. The message the runners carried was simple "We, the Austrian army call upon the town to surrender, if you do so now then there will be no need to fight and so no one will have to die needlessly. Austria promises to oversee a peaceful and co-operative occupation of the province as possible". However, after giving this message, Sebottendorf reported to his staff that "it would be necessary implement a live off the land policy straight away in order to acquire resources to feed our forces and other Austrian forces."
