Post by Leopold I von Habsburg on Feb 25, 2015 1:00:01 GMT
Following the quick and successful occupation of Swedish Pomerania by the armies of Austria, the Duchy of Mecklenburg, and the Duchy of Brandenburg, it was decided that lands further west, claimed by the Holy Roman Empire, also needed to be liberated. Riding on the success seen by Austrian forces in late 1687, the Holy Roman Empires congress in Frankfurt argues for a fresh campaign in early 1688. Here among the representatives from over the Empire, the decision is made that there exists a legitimate casus belli on Swedish Bremen, and that Austria should see it the return Bremen to Germany.
Austrian forces for the 1688 offensive were organised into a single army, that is 'Die Kasierliche Armee'
The position of 'Die Kasierliche Armee'
'Die Kasierliche Armee' was largely concentrated by the Austrian officer core in Swedish Bremen's neighbouring state of Stade, a province still strongly under the influence of the Holy Roman Empire and loyal to its government in Frankfurt. 'Die Kasierliche Armee' is comprised roughly of 12,000 line infantry, 2000 jaegers, 2000 hussars, 100 field guns, and 100 howitzers. The Austrian officer core argued continually amongst themselves about how the force should best be positioned for the attack. Some such as kaltenberg argued that the force should be placed to the Northern most point of the Swedish Bremen - Stade frontier, on the right bank of the Weser River. He felt that in doing this Austrian forces could do two things. Firstly, they would be able to cut the northern route of the Weser River, therefore blocking Bremen's only route to the North Sea, and so making it impossible for the Kingdom of Sweden to send reinforcements. Secondly, they could then advance south marching on Bremen from the north. Other generals, such as Charles Eugene, argued for another plan. Charles Eugene argued, with passion, that the plan suggested by Kaltenerg was cumbersome, that it would take far too long for Austria to reach and acquire its policy objective: the capture of Bremen. He therefore suggested that 'Die Kasierliche Armee' should be moved to the central area of the Swedish Bremen - Stade frontier. Here he suggested that the force should be split into two smaller sub-armies, as was the case with the liberation of Pomerania. He proposed a Nord-Armee to be placed north of Bremen, while another force, Süd- Armee, was to be placed on Stade's must southern frontier with Bremen, running adjacent to the Weser river. The Officer core was, of course, interested in winning quickly, however they were in favour of both plans. The result was that they went with both, however the army that would have made up 'Die Kasierliche Armee' under Kaltenbergs plan was to be substituted by the Army of Stade. Meanwhile, the 'Die Kasierliche Armee' was reorganised along the central and southern Bremen-Stade frontiers. Nord-Armee was assigned a rather modest 4000 line infantry, 1000 jaegers, 50 field guns, and 50 howitzers. Süd- Armee on the other hand was given significantly larger forces to play with, 8000 line infantry, 1000 jaegers, 2000 hussars, 50 field guns and 50 howitzers.
The advance
The advance started well for the Austrians. Süd- Armee, in its advance north along the right bank of the Weser River towards South Bremen met no resistance. The shortness of the journey meant that Austrian forces were able to establish short lines of communication and supplies running back down along the right bank of the Weser River into Stade. No live of the land policy was adopted here. These elements all factored in and allowed the Austrian forces of Süd- Armee, naturally, to make a quick and orderly advance north towards Bremen, which they reached after a few days straight marching.
To the north the same was true of Nord-Armee, however they did have slightly further to advance compared with Süd- Armee. However, the factors of relatively flat land, short lines of supply and communication, the lack of resistance, all meant that Austrian forces, though slightly smaller, could advance quickly and orderly south. They of course arrived but a day after Süd- Armee reached northern Bremen, however by then much of the city had already been surrounded, and it was now completely cut off. Charles Eugene, the master mind of the project, who was also leading Süd- Armee, sent a runnier to the city asking it, politely, to surrender. He promised that this "Was not a catholic invasion, rather a common liberation by a common peoples. It is nothing more than Germans freeing other Germans from foreign rule"
Meanwhile to the north, the Army of Stade had not troubles placing its self on either side of the River Weser, it was now in a position to block any shipping that might travel down the Weser river from Sweden.
