Setting Up the Battle of Kunersdorf

Russian Observation Corps on the Muhlberg

After much planning, research, and an August 2019 anniversary battle goal that slipped through my fingers, I finally snapped into action to put the Battle of Kunersdorf onto the table.  Tactically, the situation for Frederick at Kunersdorf is similar to what he faced at Zorndorf, only worse.  A larger Russian army is dug in on a series of hillocks surrounded by difficult terrain.  These earthworks encompassed nearly the entire ridge.  Avenues of attack are limited and this is not good cavalry country.  Having not much in the way of earthworks, two orders to Battlescale were placed.  After finishing 40 pieces of earthworks, I was ready to begin.

Preliminary work on an Order of Battle had been formulating for some time. When I got down to work in earnest, the result was an eye-opener.  Kunersdorf is HUGE.  I thought the Zorndorf battlefield fought in an earlier series of battles was huge.  Kunersdorf is even larger with 50+ BMUs per side.  The battlefield takes up the entire 12' x 6' table.  

Russian gun emplacements on the Grosser Spitzberg

As one of my battlefield map guides, I used the map presented on BritishBattles.com.  Some of the period maps showed variation in the terrain but for the most part, I stuck with the map below:

Kunersdorf from Britishbattles.com

The Muhlberg upon which the Russian Observation Corps is deployed represents a salient to the Russian positions.  Most of the Prussian guns are positioned on surrounding hillocks all having the Muhlberg as their target.  If the Muhlberg falls, the Russian position remains formidable.  Kunersdorf with the string of lakes and marshes protect the Russian center. Attacking the Russian positions from the opposite side is broken up by marshland.

Major terrain features of Kunersdorf

Think of the ridgeline as an arrow with the Muhlberg as the arrowhead.  The arrow would point to the northeast.  Looking down upon the battlefield from the northeast, the exposure of the Observation Corps situated on the Muhlberg is apparent.  Historically, the Observation Corps collapsed quickly when the Prussian grenadiers (center formation) attacked from the Walkberg.  The Russians on the Muhlberg salient retreated back to the main body.  Luckily, the main Russian body was able to stabilize the situation before the Prussians could mount their next attacks upon the heights.

Initial dispositions

Russian right with Austrians behind the Juhlberg

Prussian left and center

Prussian right

The battle will pose challenges to both combatants.  Pushing troops around the battlefield could begin this weekend.